A WOMAN with hidden disabilities has spoken out on the abuse she’s experienced for not wearing a face mask during the coronavirus pandemic.

Joanne Brixton, aged 45, has been campaigning for the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower scheme for two months after she had first-hand experienced abuse on the street for not wearing a face mask due to hidden disabilities. Sunflower lanyards have become a popular way for people to spot if someone has a non-visible disability.

Miss Brixton, from Worcester, is hoping to raise awareness of hidden disabilities and health conditions which exempt people from wearing a face mask by sharing posters and leaflets in Worcester shops.

She said: “I have had verbal abuse from people – but I always say to them that I don’t need to explain my conditions. It’s personal.

“It’s hate crime. When I have tried promoting the scheme on social media I have been abused.”

READ MORE:

Yard Fried Chicken restaurant opens in Worcester

Woman believed to have jumped from railway bridge taken to hospital in 'serious condition'

Miss Brixton said she has also witnessed people scamming the scheme by wearing a fake sunflower lanyard pretending to have a hidden disability, so they don’t have to wear a face covering.

She added: “People are wearing none sunflower lanyards. Also, lots of people are trying to abuse the scheme. They have not got a hidden disability but are taking advantage of the scheme.

“It’s disgraceful. I am going out there to raise awareness and help people understand why we wear a lanyard, but others abuse it.

“People are selling them for profits. You can go on Amazon and eBay and people are selling them for hundreds of pounds.

“That money doesn’t go to the charity.”

Miss Brixton suffers from a damaged spinal cord which means she’s in constant pain and Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) which is a disorder related to high pressure in the brain.

She is also asthmatic and has tinnitus.

She said: “So many people can’t wear face masks for different reasons."