Ontario Chapters-Indigo refuses to let disabled girl in store despite mask exemption

A Chapters-Indigo store in London, Ontario refused entry to a woman and her disabled daughter on the grounds that the daughter was not wearing a mask. This despite the fact that the daughter is medically exempt from mask-wearing on account of her disabilities, according to CBC.

By law, mandatory mask rules in the province include exemptions for those unable to wear one due to physical or cognitive challenges, including those who cannot place or remove a mask without assistance.

Hailey, who is non-verbal, prone to seizures, uses a wheelchair, and has the cognitive abilities of a 2 year old, cannot wear a mask. "She rips it off, gags and may vomit if she keeps it on. It could elicit a seizure in her,” said her mother, Casey Renneboog.

In a statement to CBC News, Indigo said: "We've made the decision to meet or exceed provincial or municipal requirements across Canada, mandating masks to be worn in-store for all employees and customers, aside from those under the age of two."

On the Indigo website, CEO Heather Reisman states "we now require that all employees and customers must wear a mask while in-store without exception, aside from guests under two years old." They also state that they provide a "variety of accommodations" for people who cannot wear masks, such as online shopping or curbside pickup.

This isn’t the first time the bookstore chain has discriminated against people with disabilities by not honouring the mandatory mask exemption. Last December, they denied service to a woman in Vancouver, BC who was born without hands. A boy with autism was also denied entry to a store in Burnaby, BC.

"These stringent protocols leave kids like mine left out, and it happens far too often," said Renneboog. "This really segregates and isolates people with disabilities."