Posted 23.02.2021

In October last year Disability Action was asked to comment on a story published in the Down News on the wearing of face coverings.  As the wearing of face coverings continues to be an issue, below is a comment from Orla McCann, Disability Action.

Disability Action encourages everyone who can wear a face mask to do so to protect themselves, their families and others. We as a society, however, need to recognise that for some disabled people to wear a face covering could cause genuine risk to their individual health and safety. The Government Guidance on this has always been clear that there are exemptions to this regulation.

Disabled people should not be made to fear intimidation or discrimination, nor should someone feel the need to disclose their personal circumstances or to carry documentation to prove that they are exempt. There are options available for those who would prefer to carry some form of an exemption notice, notably developed by disability organisations.

A simple approach to this is for everyone to be kind to each other.

View from the Chair article published in The News Letter, 16 February 2021 by Geraldine McGahey, Chief Commissioner, Equality Commission takes a look at the debate on the wearing of face coverings.

Click here to read the article.