I dread each day at work, but quitting is not a good option.

I wear a modified mask because of disabilities. Also dark glasses because the lighting was turned up drastically. Some of the customers are staring and asking intrusive questions about the mask and the glasses.

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Fernie · F

It's a teachable moment.....they'll never stop asking...just explain it to them instead of thinking of it as intrusive

purplepen · 51-55, F

@Fernie I told her the truth. Hopefully she won't try to get me fired.

Fernie · F

@purplepen FIRED? Why would she do that? That truth sounds intense.....do you wear the mask because you rob gas stations? Maybe you're overreacting a tiny bit. Let them stare...I'm in a wheelchair...let ME tell you about people staring and being ignorant...you must practice not letting them bother you...we all have that power...to not let others stupid behavior bother us....they forget all about us after they leave to go and stare at someone else

purplepen · 51-55, F

@Fernie They have made lots of public health complaints already, about all sorts of things (mostly false). Customers get crazy because they're afraid of the pandemic. People in wheelchairs are not seen as a threat, but anyone who cannot wear a standard mask (even behind a barrier) is.

I'm not the only one going through this of course. Some people have lost their jobs because they couldn't keep a mask up for hours.

Visible disabilities of course have their own set of challenges. Invisible disabilities that affect functioning have another set of challenges, including widespread verbal condemnation and disbelief.

I'm not overreacting because people around me are losing their jobs as their workplaces get shut down, or as they fail to meet required standards for PPE.