Her seven-year-old granddaughter is on the autism spectrum and has sensory issues, which makes it difficult, if not impossible, for the girl to wear a mask.
“I’m hoping to educate,” she said. “Everyone doesn’t understand the concept of someone being unable to wear a mask. When approached with no understanding and literally being bullied or attacked, we, as the caregiver, start to react with a hurt so emotionally deep that it appears as anger. It’s a fear of what’s going to be said next, or actions taken next.”
Autism, or autism spectrum disorder, refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviours, speech and non-verbal communication. Autism Canada reports that the consensus among health professionals is that autism is a neurodevelopmental condition.