Lisa Lewis was collecting her neighbour’s prescription at their local pharmacy in Leicestershire when she was questioned for not wearing a face mask.
Lewis has a variety of hidden disabilities like Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia and Fibromyalgia which severely impacts her breathing and her body.
“I smiled, said hello to the staff member and asked politely for my neighbour’s prescription,” Lewis said, who had worn a Sunflower lanyard at the time. “I did not expect her to look at me, pause, and ask if I was definitely exempt from wearing a face mask.”
She said she felt sick, embarrassed and judged having to explain herself when she should not have to.
Lewis had made numerous efforts to wear a mask when she went out but on both occasions she went into the Post Office, she “almost passed out”.
“Not all disabilities are visible,” Lewis said. “I do not understand where compassion and understanding has gone during Covid-19 in relation to mask-wearing. I guess it comes from fear but it’s so divisive and feels horrible.”
According to charity organisation Scope, one in four disabled people feel forgotten by the Government during Covid-19, with 35 per cent saying their finances have gotten worse since the start of the pandemic.
The Sunflower Lanyard Scheme and the introduction of the face mask exemption card were created to help identify those with a hidden disability who may need extra support yet the distrust and stigma are still there.
“People, on the whole, have been quite understanding of hidden disabilities but I have had to explain a few times why I am exempt from wearing a mask,” John Cowan, who has Charcot Marie Tooth disease, said. “The Sunflower Lanyard Scheme is very good as it helps people out.”
It was only recently that charity organisation Disability Rights UK reported the attempts to get Parliament to review the Coronavirus Act went “unheard” in September.
Catherine Hudson, who lives with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and once campaigned for hidden disabilities, said the concern is that the lower level support will continue after the pandemic is resolved.
Hudson said: “A lot of my friends are worried it was a back door way of reducing our rights to support longer-term. Surely people with additional needs require more, not less, help in times of crisis?”
Supermarkets had made changes during the Coronavirus pandemic to ensure everyone could still access them like normal.
Hudson said she was very impressed with Asda after it gave her a weekly free slot to have her groceries delivered, but she is now concerned because supermarkets are changing this due to the upcoming Christmas period.
“They don’t want to give you the slots that they can charge a lot for,” Hudson said. “I don’t mind paying for the slots but having the regular slots are helpful so I don’t have to worry about it being three weeks before I can get food delivered.”
Scope and Disability Rights UK are currently campaigning for free parking in hospitals in England and to ensure people are not forgotten.
By Abby K Lake
Written: 19/10/20