A message from Commissioner McCosh: Masks and face coverings for people with disabilities

A weekly message from Commissioner McCosh in support of the local disability community.

Dear Disability Community Members,

My goodness, isn’t it nice to have the sun shining and warmer weather? I don’t know about you, but I was thrilled to get a chance to have the sun on my face and the windows a bit more open these last few days!

With this warmer weather comes the urge to be outside. As many of you know, Governor Baker's order requiring people to wear face masks goes into effect today. This order mandates all residents to wear face masks or cloth face coverings in public places where social distancing is not possible, both indoors and outdoors.

There are also certain places where masks are required to be worn at all times, regardless of our ability to social distance. These places include:

Inside or waiting in line outside of grocery stores, pharmacies, and other retail stores;
Providing or using the services of any taxi, car, livery, ride-sharing, or similar service;
On any form of public transit, including train or bus; and
In an enclosed or semi-enclosed transit stop or waiting area.

While I know that wearing a mask may not always be comfortable, it is crucial that we make every effort to cover our faces in order to ensure the safety of ourselves and others - so I encourage everybody to take this order seriously and do their best. However, there are some exceptions to the mandatory face mask order that are relevant to people in the disability community. Some of these exceptions include:

Those who cannot breathe safely
Those who, due to a behavioral health diagnosis, are unable to do so
Those communicating with people who rely upon lip-reading
Those who require supplemental oxygen to breathe

Those of you who meet any of these conditions can be exempted from the mandatory face mask order, but we’d encourage people to do so only when it is absolutely necessary - we want everyone to stay safe!

If you’d like to try making your own mask, the City of Boston has information on face-covering basics and youtube videos on DIY (do it yourself) face coverings in 11 languages. I encourage you to lean into this new reality and find ways to make it enjoyable whenever possible. People have started to make their own masks fun and interesting through fabric designs, color choices, and even additional sewn-on accessories! This is just one small way to put a positive spin on the current situation. Feel free to send a photo of you in your face covering to arts@boston.gov or tag @ArtsinBoston on social media. Maybe your design will brighten someone else’s day!

Over the last few weeks, we have encouraged you to take steps that will balance both your physical and mental health needs. During this public health emergency where we are being encouraged to stay home, it is crucial for people with disabilities to prioritize self-care. Society will soon begin to start opening up, so hopefully, the isolation we’ve had to deal with for the past few months will begin to ease up.

In the meantime, my office is available for support, so please reach out to us if you need assistance. You can dial 311 to reach City Hall, or call us at 617-635-3682. Our email is disability@boston.gov, and the latest updates are available at www.boston.gov.

Until next week, please stay informed, stay home, and stay healthy.

Sincerely,