Buzz
While masks can indeed be uncomfortable, especially for those in the U.S. who aren’t accustomed to them, they also symbolize the profound changes brought by the pandemic. However, if you’re seeking an excuse to avoid wearing one, refrain from misusing the ADA or fabricating medical conditions. Under no circumstances should you rely on or accept a fake government-issued 'freedom to breathe' card found online.
Many individuals genuinely struggle with medical conditions or disabilities that make wearing a mask challenging or unsafe. Conditions such as COPD, severe asthma, autism-related sensory issues, severe anxiety, or PTSD can make mask-wearing difficult. Additionally, those who have trouble breathing or cannot remove a mask independently should avoid wearing one. For more details, visit the Southeast ADA Center’s website.
Videos have surfaced of individuals refusing to wear masks in stores, claiming undisclosed medical conditions and demanding entry without a mask. This behavior is not only inappropriate but also misrepresents how such situations should be handled.
Understanding the True Requirements of the ADA
When a store mandates masks and you are unable to wear one, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) stipulates that the business must provide reasonable accommodations. These accommodations depend on the nature of the business, and the Southeast ADA Center provides examples of what might be considered reasonable:
permitting a loose scarf as an alternative to a mask
providing online ordering with curbside pickup
offering phone or video consultations for services typically conducted in person
In the widely shared Gelson’s video, the store employee offers to shop on behalf of a woman who claims she cannot wear a mask. Although she refuses, this would legally qualify as a reasonable accommodation.
Those so-called 'freedom to breathe' cards are completely fraudulent
A fabricated 'freedom to breathe' card has been circulating on social media—a printable item designed to lend credibility to a nonexistent medical condition. It appears official, albeit in a photoshopped manner, featuring a Justice Department seal and a phone number supposedly for reporting ADA violations.
It’s obvious that these self-created cards hold no legal weight, and the Justice Department has explicitly warned against them. The provided phone number connects to the ADA’s information line, intended for learning how to file discrimination complaints, not for lodging immediate grievances. If you’re determined to make a scene over masks, consider calling this number instead of berating store employees.
Additionally, the counterfeit 'Freedom to Breathe Agency' has co-opted a phrase often associated with air pollution and climate justice. While everyone deserves breathable air, this issue is systemic and unrelated to the minor discomfort of wearing a mask while shopping.
Initially, I found the idea of these cards laughable, but they—and the entitled attitude they embody—are harmful, ableist, and discriminatory. Faking a disability to harass store employees shows a lack of consideration for those with genuine disabilities. This behavior parallels falsely claiming a pet is an emotional support animal or feigning an injury to skip lines at amusement parks. People with real medical conditions are already facing hostility from those who assume maskless individuals are simply being inconsiderate. For the sake of society, please refrain from using these fraudulent cards.
Accommodations are designed to help individuals with disabilities and medical conditions access the same experiences and conveniences as others. They are not intended for able-bodied individuals to exploit and further center the world around their demands.
