Wearing a mask is the very least we can do to keep one another safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. And it’s even more important to wear one in public because some people simply can’t.

Those with severe respiratory issues and other disabilities can’t always stay home but simply can’t take the same precautions the rest of us can.

Of course, because so many people have decided to politicize this public health measure, great harm has come to those with disabilities. We simply don’t know if someone is without a mask by choice.

Now, some states and businesses have mandated masks. And that’s a good thing – at least most of the time.

Since everyone is still getting used to the new rules, there have been some unfortunate mishaps. The latest involves a 10-year-old Pennsylvania boy.

Colin Newman has Down syndrome. He’s also non-verbal and has sensory issues.

He simply cannot wear a mask.

And he wouldn’t have gone into a Jenkintown, Pennsylvania Boston Market with his mother if their car hadn’t broken down outside while there were there picking up dinner.

It was sweltering hot that day and Nadina Newman needed to bring her son inside to cool off while they waited to be picked up. Sitting in the car in 90-degree weather wasn’t a good option either.

She wore a mask inside the restaurant in accordance with guidelines, but store employees asked the pair to leave when they realized Colin didn’t have one.

“It was 91 degrees outside, Colin wasn’t feeling well, we needed to go inside so Colin could cool off,” said Newman. “So I asked her (the employee) if we could sit there for about 15 minutes until our ride came and she said ‘I have to call the owner.'”

It’s hard for restaurants since public health guidelines are particularly strict for them. The owner said the two really did need to leave.

But Newman refused – she knew her son was exempt.

“I found it shocking that the girl working at Boston Market didn’t understand that and didn’t have the proper training, the proper information and nor did she have common sense,” she told ABC 6 News.

The employee wasn’t sure what to do, so she called the police.

Abington Police Deputy Chief Kelley Warner said his officers were called in to respond to a disturbance.

“I felt anxious, I felt nervous, I was really shocked that this is what I was dealing with,” said Newman. “I felt sorry for my son that he was listening to this, that he was being treated this way.”

The police then gave Newman and her son a ride home to ameliorate the situation.

But Newman is still unhappy with the way the situation was handled and would like to raise awareness of the fact that those with disabilities are exempt from mask guidelines.

The problem is, it’s hard to tell when someone is truly exempt since so many people are refusing to follow the rules and making excuses.

After the local news reported on the story, Boston Market sent a statement apologizing:

“Boston Market strives to provide the best guest experience possible. Guest and employee health and safety is our top priority, and we sincerely apologize that the guest experience was not met while trying to maintain these safety standards. We are retraining our staff at this location to ensure a situation like this never happens again.”

That sounds like the right thing to do.

Be sure to scroll down below to see an interview with Newman.

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Source: WPVI News, 6abc Philadelphia via YouTube