Most facemasks discriminate against deaf people who need to lip read. @NicolaSturgeon knows — her advisors told her. She could have worn a see-through mask (like those made by Edinburgh’s @breatheasyinfo to promote accessible use. Instead she made a political statement 1/5

Coronavirus restrictions (& especially the way @scotgov have handled them) fall hardest on the most vulnerable who they are supposed to protect. @InclusionScot found support for those shielding has been cut during lockdown when it should have increased

The disabled can find Covid regs impossible. The short-sighted (like me) can’t socially-distance to see signs & people. Stigma attached to things we can do, but aren’t meant to, like holding handrails, are unbearable: imagine strangers shouted at you daily to ‘keep your distance’

Governments take these steps for good reason: saving lives. But lives of the disabled matter. There’s always an inclusive alternative (clear facemasks) that don’t discriminate. Public shaming has become public health policy. It has increased fear among those it’s meant to protect

The @scotgov must now act to reassure disabled people, by informing itself & the public of our different needs. Moving forward, public health bodies must act in sync with disability organisations to ensure that future decisions don’t have such deleterious effects for equality