MYTH - "Under the ADA, I am exempt from having to wear a facemask"

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Fraudulent-Facemask-Flyers.jpg

*COVID-19 ALERT: Fraudulent Facemask Flyers*

These flyers may look official… but they’re NOT.

It is true that some people with disabilities may not be able to wear a facemask safely, however these flyers are often displayed by people without disabilities and used as a “loophole” to avoid wearing a facemask into stores that require them. The ADA does not protect people without disabilities.

The DOJ has been made aware of the fraudulent facemask flyers and issued an alert on the ADA.gov website. Below is a copy of the DOJ alert:

The Department of Justice has been made aware of postings or flyers on the internet regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the use of face masks due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many of which include the Department of Justice’s seal. 

These postings were not issued by the Department and are not endorsed by the Department.

The Department urges the public not to rely on the information contained in these postings and to visit ADA.gov for ADA information issued by the Department.

For more information and technical assistance about the ADA, please contact the ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 (voice) and 800-514-0383 (TTY).

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Cory Cabral

Cory Cabral is our co-founder and Senior Certified Access Specialist. He graduated from San Diego State University with bachelors degree in Business Administration. After college he began his career in the sign industry where be became an expert in the field of ADA signage. During that time, he found that many of his clients were being put out of business because of ADA lawsuits. In most cases, the business owners simply did not know that their businesses had barriers to accessibility. He soon began searching for resources to help his clients avoid accessibility lawsuits and discovered the California Certified Access Specialist program. After immersing himself in all aspects of accessibility in the built environment by studying at the CalCasp Academy and the DSA, he became a California Certified Access Specialist. He is now CASp-630 and helps businesses limit exposure to ADA lawsuits by providing them with the resources necessary to make their products and services accessible to all.