Prof. Befort Quoted in USA Today on Claims Regarding ADA Protection Against Face Mask Requirements

Professor Stephen Befort ’74 was quoted in a USA Today article examining the claim that the American with Disabilities Act exempts people from face mask requirements imposed by governments and retailers under the “direct threat” clause. A “direct threat” under the ADA is any substantial risk to the health and safety a disabled person poses to others, which cannot be countered with reasonable accommodation. “Basically, only an individual with a disability who can show that wearing a mask would significantly interfere with their ability to breathe or some other necessary function could claim that an exemption from a mask requirement would constitute a reasonable accommodation,” said Befort.