Hello readers its Emily and William here this week talking face masks

How life has changed due to COVID-19! Everything is different and nothing is the same. People talk about when it will go back to normal, but we believe there is no such thing as normal any more.

We think it’s good we must wear face masks in shops and other places now, unless you have an Exemption Card, like if you have a disability or are relied on for lip reading. We know it can be incredibly difficult to wear a mask for some people. It can also be easy to judge negatively if you see someone not wearing one. Please stop and think if you catch yourself doing this, that they may have a hidden disability. Equally we don’t agree with people making a fuss about wearing them for the sake of it.

Neither of us go into many shops but when we do, we always wear a mask. Like many people, we don’t like wearing them as they make us feel sweaty, and when you are wearing glasses, they can fog up. Sometimes I, Emily have felt hot, bothered and a bit panicky in one, so have done my shopping as quickly as possible! However it’s important to wear them, and so we do.

I Emily, am also extra careful as I work in a nursing home and would hate to pass on the virus to anyone there. I, William, now volunteer outside. We work in small groups instead of big ones. I wear a visor, which I find easy to use and to clean after. We also like how shops are protecting us, like the screens at tills.

So, let’s do our best to enjoy those masks and keep COVID-19 at bay.

The writers of the Our View column are supported in their editing by The Friendship Club– a project for adults with learning disabilities, run by People First Dorset