Canadian Paralympian Elisabeth Walker-Young was denied entrance to a bookstore for not wearing a mask.
Elisabeth Walker-Young, a North Vancouver native, decided to go to a bookstore branch that had not allowed a mother and her son, who has autism, to enter their premises.
The mother told Elisabeth Walker-Young that she went with her son to Indigo Metrotown in Burnaby, British Columbia, on November 22. They were not granted access to the bookstore.
Upon hearing the complaint, Elisabeth Walker-Young informed the Global News, the Canadian news and current affairs department of the Global Television Network, that she would go to the bookstore's branch but in Broadway and Grandville in Vancouver.
Elisabeth Walker-Young found the incident to be degrading, as she said that putting on a mask by herself is impossible for her to do.
Moreover, the retired Paralympic swimmer protested that such a call is not fair to disabled persons.
Elisabeth Walker-Young exclaimed that she was not an anti-masker. She does not go outside often because she feels that people grow uneasy seeing her or other people with disabilities.
Tina Chiao, the mother who was denied entrance to the bookstore with her autistic son, had sought legal action and has decided to file a formal complaint on the human rights for what she believed was a 'wrong' move of the bookstore staff.
Her son, Andrew, who had been diagnosed with a neurodevelopmental disorder, became the epicenter of the issue. Chiao said that Andrew got the sensory processing disorder when he was two years old.
In addition, Chiao told the news outlet that her son has autism, epilepsy, and anxiety attacks. These have burdened her 'special' son to wear any form of personal protective equipment, even face masks or face shields, as they might cause some issues that would affect his demeanor.
Chiao had presented a pediatrician note to the bookstore staff, but the latter refused to accept the note.
Instead, the assigned staff told Chiao and her son to go online shopping or set an appointment if they want to buy from the store.
Chiao said that she was angry about the situation and claimed that the staff was inconsiderate to them.
"He doesn't read or write. He doesn't have the ability to use a computer. He doesn't understand the concept of online shopping," Chiao told Global News.
In response to the complaints, Indigo Books and Music Inc. released a statement via email that it is part of the store's policy to never allow people who do not wear masks from entering the stores, and there are no exemptions on this.
"In making the decision to update our mask policy, we've been mindful of our legal obligations, especially those relating to customer human rights. At Indigo, we deeply respect the rights and distinct needs of each of our customers. While we understand that access to our store may be more limited during the COVID-19 pandemic, we are dedicated to serving our customers and are confident that the reasonable accommodations we offer can ensure your continued access to Indigo's services and products," Indigo announced via email.
In October, the bookstore changed its policy of allowing exempted visitors in stores based in Quebec after the same incident happened. A woman and her eight-year-old son, who has autism, were denied entry for not complying with the "Wear a Face Mask" policy.
The provincial regulations in Quebec cover that children ten years old and below are not required to wear a mask, including those children with special needs.
The case of Elisabeth Walker-Young and Tina Chiao's son was only a few of the many cases of struggles during the pandemic.
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