Disney Sued by Mother of Autistic Boy Over Face Mask Policy

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Face Masks

A report by The Morning Call details the story of the mother of an autistic boy suing Disney over their face mask policy. To their information, the autistic boy and his family were turned away from entering a Disney store at the Lehigh Valley Mall in Northampton, Pennsylvania, because the boy could not comply with the store’s face mask policy.

Here are the details:

When Shea Emanuel took her sons to the Lehigh Valley Mall in Whitehall Township last month on a birthday outing for the boy’s younger brother, staff at the Disney Store would not allow them to enter because he was not wearing a mask. Emanuel explained to the store manager that her son is autistic, which prevents him from wearing a face covering, but the manager refused to allow the boy into the store, the lawsuit claims.

The experience was humiliating for Emanuel and her sons because they were turned away in front of about a dozen other patrons waiting. Her elder son, “was especially distraught since he was unable to fully comprehend why he was not allowed to enter the Whitehall Disney Store,” the suit says.

The report details how the lawsuit claims Disney violates the Americans with Disabilities Act. We will continue to monitor the developments of this story.

Health and Safety Requirements
Credit: Inside the Magic Reporter Bailee Abell

Related: Honest Review: Social Distancing at Disney Springs

Tips for Visiting Disney Parks With Kids After Reopening

This is not the first instance of families being asked to leave a Disney Store over the face mask guidelines. Earlier this year, we reported on a similar incident where a family was asked to leave the Disney Store because their six-year-old, also on the autism spectrum, had difficulty keeping her mask above her nose during their visit.

The Disney Store has a great “Know Before You Go” section on its website. You can look at it here to know the latest health and safety guidelines before you visit a location in person. It lists the rules and regulations for the Disney Store’s in-person locations.

What do you think about this situation? Please share your thoughts with us in the comments.

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