As the coronavirus crisis continues to rage on around the world, we’ve all been forced to change our way of life and adjust to ‘the new normal’.

Many people have spent months in lockdown and are only just beginning to emerge onto the streets and into the businesses that are starting to open up, but we still need to be so careful, which is why many authorities recommend wearing face masks.

However, even though wearing a mask might seem simple to many, there are some people who struggle with the idea, like young Colin Newsman, a 10-year-old boy with Down syndrome.

Even though governors and experts have recommended wearing masks as much as we can, and many businesses state that you need to be wearing a mask to go inside, there are some exceptions for people with certain conditions or disabilities that prevent them from wearing these kinds of facial coverings.

Unfortunately, when Colin and his mom, Nadina, tried to enter a restaurant without a mask on Colin’s face, the workers didn’t seem to be aware of the rules and barred the mom and son from stepping inside!

Now, Nadina is hoping to raise awareness and spread the word about the exceptions to the rule, reminding businesses all across America that some people, like her son, are allowed to walk around without wearing masks.

The story all began on one very sunny and hot day when Nadina and Colin were driving to a local Boston Market to pick up some dinner. Just outside the restaurant, Nadina’s car broke down and she had to call a friend to come and pick her up.

Since the sun was beating down and the day was particularly hot, Nadina decided to take Colin into the restaurant to cool off while they waited for their ride.

She was wearing a mask, but because of Colin’s Down syndrome, he was not.

Immediately, one of the workers of the Boston Market told Nadina that her son wasn’t allowed to enter the restaurant without a mask, saying “He needs to leave, he doesn’t have a mask on.”

Patiently and calmly, the mom tried to explain about Colin’s condition, adding that they just wanted to cool off for 15 minutes until their ride arrived.

Unfortunately, the workers didn’t seem willing to understand the situation, with the store manager getting involved and eventually calling the cops.

Nadina felt very sad for her son, who she felt was being treated with a total lack of respect and understanding by the restaurant’s workers.

Luckily, the cops were very understanding when they arrived on the scene, offering the mom and son a ride home in one of their own vehicles in order to defuse the situation.

But even though the incident had ended well, Nadina was still upset about how the workers had behaved, showing a complete lack of awareness of the rules.

Nadina knows that she’ll always be there to defend her son in these kinds of situations, but says that there are many people out there who won’t be able to advocate for themselves.

Those same people could end up in very stressful and damaging situations, all because certain workers and businesses aren’t fully aware of the rules.

That’s why she’s now hoping that this story will help to spread the word and encourage businesses all across America to thoroughly understand the new rules around face masks and adjust their approach in accordance with these rules, taking more time to listen to people like Nadina and understand those like Colin.

In the end, Boston Market issued a statement of apology, saying that staff at that particular location would be retrained in order to ensure that the same situation didn’t happen again.

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Source: 6abc Philadelphia