Face Covering

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
  • You are not required to explain why you can't wear a mask, or carry any proof of any condition - it states that clearly on the government website (GOV.UK). If people treat someone like that they are being abusive and breaking laws regarding disability - we should not be denied access to a shop because we are unable to wear a face covering.

    The Government website does have an exemption badge/card that you can download into a phone or print off and attach to a lanyard. I have one which I wear in a badge holder on a plain lanyard and have had no problems. The guy working in the post office asked me and my partner if we had a mask when we went in this morning, but before we could reply he saw our badges and said that was fine.

    It's a difficult situation, but if someone challenged me I would advise them to look on the government website for information about why some people are exempt. If that didn't stop them, I would speak to a member of staff and explain that I am being forced to leave their store due to anti disability abuse and walk out and go elsewhere to do my shopping.

    I really think there should be signs in shops telling people that some are exempt. The Government are not getting this message out enough.

  • I got my neighbour to print out the exemption signs from the Gov dot UK site and ordered a pair of Black Lanyards from Amazon.

    The masks are like the Internal Passports used during the Soviet Union.

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