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Face Covering

Tanuki

Has anyone else experienced extreme abuse over not being able to wear face mask ?

I seriously have tired different masks and problem with sensory processing has made it challenging, Honestly i would be ecstatic to be able to wear a face mask because i have issues expressing mood in my facial expression and it would hide the issue that make others uncomfortable. I've tried getting a exemption card but they have been out of stock for the last few weeks and i personally cannot deal with individuals physical grabbing and assaulting me because i am not wearing mask. i am wearing the sunflower lanyard and they still think its OK to come up to me, grab me and aggressive interrogate me, its not the retail staff its random strangers and it has lead to me having a few meltdown in the local supermarket its gotten to the stage i am refusing to leave the house. 

The worst experience i have had is someone saying i am using autism as an excuse not to wear mask and i don't look autistic, it is not the autism that stopping me from wearing the mask. it the impact of my stupid brain translating the sensation of the mask as discomfort and pain that lowers my tolerance to other stimulation that leads to meltdown. I also get the same abuse when i use sunglasses and headphones when i am shopping, attending hospital appointments and in some work environments.

In the supermarket the other day someone claimed they where a nurse and shouted over an entire isle how would i manage if i was on a ventilator and another self claimed nurse suggested that i would properly be sedated to stop me from inflicting self harm and harming others and it resulted in two grown women which i don't actually know either one of them fighting in the middle supermarket. when they where done fighting one of these self claim nurses partner who continued to shop after his partner was escorted out of the shop followed me round the supermarket making comments such as how do you manage to blow your nose. I feel extremely embarrassed as my nineteen year old niece had to get him to back off.

I have an exemption letter from my General Practitioner that i carry with me everywhere when i am out shopping , but showing it to these people results in an abusive speech on how i should be quarantining or anyone can be diagnosed with autism, sensory processing disorder and Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder these days to get out of working and how their taxes pay for my benefits.

My question is has anyone else experienced anything similar ? and How did you manage the manage the situation ? 

Parents

  • I'm shocked to hear you've suffered such physical and verbal abuse, Tanuki.  It's not your brain that's "stupid" but those of the idiots attacking you.  Have you tried simply ignoring these "random strangers" or, without responding directly to them, reporting their behaviour to the shop staff?  My understanding is that only shop staff and the police are entitled to demand an explanation of why someone isn't wearing a face covering. 

    My approach is to print out the words  "MASK EXEMPTION.  PROOF ON REQUEST" about a dozen times on a sheet of A4 sticky label paper, cut them out and fix one of these white labels on my shirt or coat around the shoulder blade area (likely to be noticed by anyone staring at my maskless face).  This conveys a clearer message than sunflower lanyards, which probably mean nothing to most other shoppers. 

    I also carry my autism diagnosis letter and a print-out of the gov.uk list of exemptions (on which I've highlighted "autism").  However, I'd only show these to people who clearly have the authority to question me.  The first time I went in a shop maskless I took a Diazepam in advance, mainly to prevent a meltdown if I was abused.  But so far nobody at all has challenged me to the best of my knowledge.  Perhaps it helps that I'm hard-of-hearing and tend (even in normal times) to show a severe, aggressive expression during the unpleasant chore of shopping!

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  • I'm shocked to hear you've suffered such physical and verbal abuse, Tanuki.  It's not your brain that's "stupid" but those of the idiots attacking you.  Have you tried simply ignoring these "random strangers" or, without responding directly to them, reporting their behaviour to the shop staff?  My understanding is that only shop staff and the police are entitled to demand an explanation of why someone isn't wearing a face covering. 

    My approach is to print out the words  "MASK EXEMPTION.  PROOF ON REQUEST" about a dozen times on a sheet of A4 sticky label paper, cut them out and fix one of these white labels on my shirt or coat around the shoulder blade area (likely to be noticed by anyone staring at my maskless face).  This conveys a clearer message than sunflower lanyards, which probably mean nothing to most other shoppers. 

    I also carry my autism diagnosis letter and a print-out of the gov.uk list of exemptions (on which I've highlighted "autism").  However, I'd only show these to people who clearly have the authority to question me.  The first time I went in a shop maskless I took a Diazepam in advance, mainly to prevent a meltdown if I was abused.  But so far nobody at all has challenged me to the best of my knowledge.  Perhaps it helps that I'm hard-of-hearing and tend (even in normal times) to show a severe, aggressive expression during the unpleasant chore of shopping!

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