Along with the new mandate in Washington state to wear a cloth face covering, fraudulent flyers and wallet cards have been circulating citing exemptions for individuals from the American with Disabilities Act (ADA). The Washington State Emergency Management Division notes that although there are exemptions these efforts are being used by people as a reason to walk into any business they choose without a mask.

The governor’s mask mandate does have exemptions, including people with certain disabilities or health conditions.

But a business or government agency is not forced to allow you inside. They can make reasonable accommodations. Examples include:

• Allow a person to wear a scarf, loose face covering or full-face shield instead of a face mask;

• Allow customers to order online with curbside pick-up or no contact delivery in a timely manner;

• Allow customers to order by phone with curbside pick-up or no contact delivery in a timely manner;

• Allow a person to wait in a car for an appointment and enter the building when called or texted; or

• Offer appointments by telephone or video calls.

• The Northwest ADA Center is referring residents to this website from their partner agency for more information: https://www.adasoutheast.org/ada/publications/legal/ada-and-face-mask-policies.php

• There are also many fake ADA flyers that were never issued by the Department of Justice. More information here https://www.ada.gov/covid-19_flyer_alert.html

• For more on the myths and facts about cloth face coverings via the Washington State Department of Health: https://medium.com/wadepthealth/myths-and-facts-about-cloth-face-coverings-f68513ad501a