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Als ich beim Schulamt anrief, um mich zu informieren, was ich nun tun soll, wurde mir ernsthaft gesagt, ich soll nachts, wenn die Kinder schlafen, heimlich den Abstrich bei ihnen durchführen.

We do not know what will come after the pandemic, but more pressingly, we don't know
what will come tomorrow, next week, or the following month. Constantly changing
protective measures imposed by governments on their enfeebled populations, bypassing
any public debate or accountability, have ruptured our lives as much as COVID-19 and
caused many autistic self-advocates to cease public activities, sometimes even silencing
them altogether, out of frustration, out of anger, out of feeling left behind. For some of us,
including myself, this feeling hinges on the issue of face masks. The Swiss Federal Office
of Public Health recognizes that "[t]here are many circumstances in which certain people
cannot wear a face mask for health or disability reasons [...]. Here are some of the
principle exceptions: [...] people with autism who, for example, cannot wear a mask
because they panic [...]. A medical certificate issued by a doctor or psychotherapist is
required as proof of dispensation on medical grounds [...]. The certificate must be shown
to transport or sales staff on request. [...] The purpose of this exception is to prevent
people who are exempt from wearing a face mask for health or disability reasons from
being denied access to publicly accessible establishments or services, and to prevent
them from being unduly discriminated against. [...] For some people with disabilities
wearing a mask is a severe hindrance to their daily life. [...] We ask everyone to show
solidarity and understanding" 2 . This leaflet would have been a lot more helpful had it not
been published only half a year after masks became mandatory in Switzerland and if it
had been accompanied by any kind of public awareness campaign.