Do I have to wear a mask if I have a disability?

Effective March 10th, the statewide mask requirement put in place by the governor's previous Executive Order EO-29 [PDF] has been rescinded by Executive Order EO-34 [PDF]. Under EO-34, only local governments in areas with high hospitalization rates can require individuals to wear masks. However, businesses in all areas can still require customers and/or staff to wear masks.

For more information on EO-34 [PDF], please see the Mask Laws page of the COVID-19 & Texas Law research guide. 

Exemptions in Legal Mask Requirements

Previously, Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued Executive Order EO-29 [PDF], a statewide mandate that individuals wear a face covering while in most public places. EO-29 included a number of exemptions, including:

this face-covering requirement does not apply to the following: [...]

2) any person with a medical condition or disability that prevents wearing a face covering

Even though the statewide mask mandate has ended, it's possible that a local order issued by your city or county may still require face masks in your area. Any local orders in place may include an exemption for those with relevant disabilities, so you should check your local orders for details.

Please see the Mask Laws page of our COVID-19 & Texas Law guide for more information on finding current state and local orders regarding face coverings and masks.

Disabilities That Might Affect the Ability to Wear a Face Mask

If you want to know whether you should avoid wearing a mask due to your disability or medical condition, you should consult with your doctor. People with certain disabilities may be entitled to reasonable accommodations to face mask policies under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other disability laws. It is important to note that disability laws like the ADA only ensure accommodations for those with disabilities. If you have questions about the ADA, you can contact the toll-free ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 (voice) or 800-514-0383 (TTY).

According to the Center for Disease Control, the following people should not wear a face covering:

• Children younger than 2 years old.
• Anyone who has trouble breathing.
• Anyone who is unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove the cloth face covering without assistance.

The CDC also recognizes that for some people, wearing a face covering may not be feasible. For others, there may need to be adaptations made to allow them to wear a mask. This could include:

• Some people who are deaf or hard of hearing (or those who care for or interact with them).
• Some people with intellectual or developmental disabilities, mental health conditions, or sensory sensitivities.
• People who work in places where there is a risk of a heat-related illness or where the wearing of a mask causes safety concerns.

The Southeast ADA Center provides additional examples of disabilities that may prevent a person from wearing a mask feasibly or safely. The examples they provide include:

• People with respiratory illnesses.
• People with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), severe anxiety, or claustrophobia that is triggered by wearing a mask.
• Some people with autism.
• Some people with cerebral palsy or other mobility disorders that may limit the person’s ability to remove their mask without assistance.
• People who use mouth control devices to operate a wheelchair or other assistive devices.

Accommodations at Business or Government Agencies

Governor Abbott's Executive Order EO-34 does not prohibit businesses and other establishments from requiring that their customers and employees wear masks. A  business could continue to require face masks as a matter of business policy, similar to the "no shirt, no shoes, no service" policy you may encounter at some businesses. Businesses and government agencies must consider making “reasonable modifications” to face mask policies for those who have a disability. According to the Southeast ADA Center's fact sheet on the ADA and face mask policies:

A reasonable modification means changing policies, practices, and procedures, if needed, to provide goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations to an individual with a disability.

The article includes several examples of “reasonable modifications” to a face mask policy such as allowing the person to wear a mask alternative, allowing curbside pickup, allowing the person to wait in their car instead of a waiting room, etc.

They also state that a business or government agency does not have to accommodate those with a disability:

• If the accommodation would require a “fundamental alteration” to the business or service.
• If the accommodation would pose an “undue burden” on the business or service.
• If the individual with a disability poses a “direct threat” to the health and safety of others. 

Accommodations at Work

According to the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission (see FAQ G.2) an employer can require employees to wear protective gear (such as face coverings or gloves). Employees may make a request for a reasonable accommodation under the ADA or a religious accommodation under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act (such as a modified mask that can be worn with a religious head covering). Employers should provide the modification or an alternative modification unless it would create an “undue hardship” for the employer.