Face masks and hidden disabilities

[Firef1y72]

So I'm guessing those of us with hidden disabilities such as autism are going to have to wear some sort of huge badge or lanyard now if we want to use public transport.

I've tried using a face covering, I last less than a minute before the sensory overload starts to kick in. I can't wear my glasses that help me see, so wont be able to wear a mask. Cant stand things over my ears.

So I've been trying to get used to wearing a running buff over my mouth/nose. It's not happening, feels like I'm suffocating and no way I'd last the 40 minute bus journey in to town, without going in to sensory overload.

So if (and it's a big if) I am going to be exempt then I'm going to be even more of a social pariah than I am now with my stimming. The world just seems to get more dystopian by the day.

I was wondering about hearing people too. But I am so used to telling people I am deaf (I have significant hearing loss) so if masks become mandatory elsewhere I will carry on with that. People won’t always notice a hearing aid.

The articles say young children, the disabled and those with breathing problems will be exempt so I will wait for the more detailed guidance.

'The solution is not to make it mandatory. Not sure why everyone is finding this so hard to grasp?'

Because it will exclude people with certain conditions/ illnesses from accessing public transport.

People who the transport sector have been trying to make things easier for, as public transport is for everyone. And it's well acknowledged in the sector that more should be done.

People who are statistically more likely to use public transport for a variety of reasons.

People who need to do things like get to the hosp.

A young adult with learning disabilities. No mask no travel?
An elderly person on oxygen. No mask no travel?
A person who has compromised breathing and a mask is suffocating. No mask no travel?
A pregnant woman who finds the mask makes her throw up. No mask no travel?
A middle aged asthmatic whose symptoms are exacerbated by a mask. No mask no travel?

Etc etc etc

This is a brilliant encapsulation of the struggles that people with various illnesses and disabilities etc go though all the time. The world is built for the standard person (essentially, average height, able bodied, unencumbered male). It is often not a good for for others. Transport services have been working to improve things. This happens. What do we get. Mandatory! Can't wear a mask, don't go on public transport. Leave it to the more advantaged people. Don't be so selfish....

Fuck this shit tbh. I have not fitted all my life and it's invisible. I don't like talking about it. It doesn't prevent me from wearing a mask. But unless you have limitations you have no idea how much is impacted by disability. How you are reminded constantly that you are different. Etc etc. Having to think about where to go and how etc. It's a constant background noise.

That was a rant but I'm glad to get it off chest!

That's quite a lot of exempt people, are they going to check everyone who isn't wearing one?

I'm asthmatic, I think I would be OK so long as I wasn't already feeling wheezy. I've got a very thin silk scarf that I could wear and pull up over my mouth and nose if needed. Luckily I drive so don't need to take public transport, and dp has been doing most of the shopping.

Asthmatic autistic in Wales who cant drive. Also worrying about this if it gets brought in here.

I'm not sure what the solution is. 2 of my dc have autism, 1 has sensory processing issues and 1 is terrified of surgical masks. I'm not sure how it will work if any of them need to wear a mask.

No they can't check everyone.
They will rely on the majority of people following the guidance as they did with lockdown, knowing that some people would not adhere to it.

No one wants to tell their medical history to a bus driver in a loud voice so everyone can hear!

And it would slow down the buses which they don't want.

And the bus drivers are not medical experts and don't want to make these calls.

And the bus drivers, in London anyway, are cordoned off due to the high death rates of those in that job.

It will be the other people on the bus glaring, whispering, challenging, dishing out abuse. Which is exactly the sort of thing people with day to day struggles with disability don't need. And will put some/ many off doing it. Which will impact their ability to go to work/ go to hosp/ get their kids from school/ go to hosp spots etc.

Which will make those like 'what's so hard to understand about mandatory' very happy indeed.

As the public largely have not given 2 hoots up until now, I really don't think people will be getting shirty. As for recieving fines, the government has plenty of other countries to learn from on how they have handled it. Not aimed at you OP, but in general it's funny how so many countries have just got on with it, yet here we can't seem to manage it.

It will be the other people on the bus glaring, whispering, challenging, dishing out abuse

Very few people were doing this at the height of the pandemic, why do you think they'll be that arsed now? People will begrudgingly wear something because they have to, but for those who can't like OP, now things are edging back to normal and we should have done this ages ago if we were going to bother; I'd be surprised.

It will be the other people on the bus glaring, whispering, challenging, dishing out abuse. Which is exactly the sort of thing people with day to day struggles with disability don't need

In the digital age they need to accept and be okay with the fact that if they dish out abuse in a public place they risk being filmed doing so....................

and the footage being tweeted or offered to Channel 4 news or Dispatches

Tea, because I've experienced it!

People who stand out, don't fit the norm, for whatever reason, attract attention. You must have noticed this if you have limitations etc!

The less obvious stuff, not an assault or a torrent of abuse, still hits hard when you are struggling. I'm sure you know that Helena

Are you ok with wearing a hat? I saw an inage of a sunhat for a kid with a visor (cause making a little kid wear a mask is a challenge)
Maybe you could attach a piece of clear plastic to the rim of the hat

images.app.goo.gl/HHJGtu2YVWugeK6NA

PTSD here. I've tried several, had to rip them off. Psychiatrist is going to write a letter but it's not authority types that bother me. It's the ones who pop up in every mask thread calling people selfish etc. I can probably avoid public transport for a while but I'm terrified it's going to spread to other things or remain in place long term. I don't want to be explaining myself to angry strangers or turning up on local Facebook pages.

I've essentially rebuilt my life after the trauma. Apart from dh, people in a support group I attend and medical professionals, no one here knows what happened to me. They do know however I don't have breathing difficulties, autism, sensory issues etc. My friends know I see a psychiatrist but I've let their assumptions stand (I know) because before when I did tell people, I saw that brief flicker of pity cross their faces and it felt just like they were looking through my attacker's eyes. I feel so trapped.

It's a tricky one; whilst I fully sympathise, you will be putting others at risk if you do not wear one

I think we need to remember the whole reason why this has been brought in: to protect other people from any unintended symptoms you may have. To prevent the spread of the virus. If you can't, for whatever reason, tolerate wearing a mask, I think the best thing to do is avoid using public transport rather than putting others at risk.

I’m not sure it’s a good idea for children to wear them anyway as they are likely to fiddle with them a lot thus increasing the possibility of the virus getting into their mouth.

I’m also interested in how this has affected autistic people in other countries. I could well believe that there are differences is how autism presents itself across countries as I know that males and females present differently largely due to how they are socialised.

What about one of those hats with the attached visor so nothing is touching / restricting your face? My auntie is looking at getting one because she feels she can't breathe with her mouth covered

@ShinyFootball I agree with you. I was saying that I don’t believe the government should have made wearing a mask mandatory. Advice is fine. Public health campaign encouraging it fine. Mandatory - not ok. For the reasons you set out. X

It’s alarming how many posters feel we as members of the public need to be able to differentiate between people with a legitimate reason to go mask-free, and people deemed to not have a legitimate reason.

Why? There’s literally no reason any member of the public needs to know why someone isn’t wearing a mask, anymore than you need to know why a healthy-looking person isn’t giving up their seat.

Are you planning on turning vigilante and confronting anyone who isn’t wearing a mask?

I had to buy a bloody badge that explains that I lip read as mask-wearing and distance is a nightmare for me, I haven’t a clue what people are saying.

I’m genuinely confused. It was said today that “young children, disabled people and those with breathing difficulties would be exempt” from wearing a face covering so they will be able to travel without wearing them. So why we are talking about solutions like visors or silk scarves or covering your mouth by hand? We don’t need a solution for those who can’t wear masks as they are allowed to travel without them.
We only need clarification what kind of prove will be needed. There will be a lot of people in this situation. It was advertised widely that some people will be exempt.

By the way a problem with lip reading is a very different issue imo, there was info on FB about special masks with clear front which make lip reading possible. I would love to see at least health professionals wearing them.

My son has autism and sensory issues and he will not be wearing one. Not surprised to see the usual ableist comments and zero understanding of disabilities though.

As difficult as that sounds you’re increasing risk to others and does your right to go into town on a (non-essential) trip, trump others rights to be kept safe.

That’s right, fuck disabled people, let them just stay indoors all the time, lest some random person get infected with a virus that 99.75% of people don’t even have.

Such ignorance

So why we are talking about solutions like visors or silk scarves or covering your mouth by hand

Because of other members of the public being potential abusive ableists.

I know any face covering will be too restrictive/distressing for many people to wear anyway but the Government says this is fine.....

'It can be as simple as a scarf or bandana that ties behind the head'

I'm not good with face masks, any of them, and I can't stand anything round my ears but I'm just about OK with a bandana.