Thread by @bufanator

Thread: The lifting of mask mandates in healthcare settings HURTS US ALL. But let’s talk about how the burden continues to fall on disabled and chronically ill patients to keep themselves and everyone around them safe. Predisabled people, listen up. (1/9)

Scheduled physical therapy bc of limited mobility and pain. Was informed that masks are no longer mandatory & the office doesn’t supply masks to staff. I had to ask that my physical therapist (pt) wear a mask when working on me, and thankfully the pt is willing to wear one. (2/9)

So I’m bringing different types of high rated masks so my pt can try which fits best. I’ll be wearing my gvs elipse p100 elastomeric. I’m also bringing a portable hepa air purifier bc they have none. Affording these (even on sale) is a huge privilege. But it shouldn’t be! (3/9)

Access to safety should be for everyone! I’m not even going to focus on the fact that my pt was willing to wear a mask for me bc 1) doing so is the BARE MINIMUM LEVEL OF DECENCY (thanks for actively not trying to kill me) and 2) it’s a HEALTHCARE facility. (4/9)

The responsibility should not be on patients, especially marginalized patients, to provide PPE to their medical providers. Healthcare workers are also being failed here! The physical, mental, social, and financial costs of eugenicist policies are dangerous…(5/9)

It’s dangerous for disabled folks to exist & for predisabled folks to stay safe too! Y’all WE ARE BEING FAILED systemically (except the wealthy #DavosSafe). Of course disabled & chronically ill folks are most impacted because this is eugenics full stop. ARGUE WITH A WALL (6/9)

But also any marginalized predisabled person from every system impacted community. QTBIPOC folks that are unhoused; incarcerated; uninsured, etc. Any worker and CHILD forced to be exposed to an airborne pathogen repeatedly without access to: (7/9)

well fitted masks, air filtration, free vaccines and testing, healthcare, paid time off, sick leave, etc. We all lose in this scenario while the rich and corporations PROFIT. Yes, even you, the predisabled person who thinks they “control” their health. YOU’VE BEEN DUPED. 🤡 (8/9)

Anyone who can access and wear masks in public but CHOOSES not to is contributing to the mass death and exclusion of disabled people - and contributing to the mass disabling of predisabled people. BUT THAT CAN CHANGE. Ableism is insidious but we can fight it. #WearAMask (9/9)