LOS ANGELES – When it comes to legal protections for the disabled community, Lillibeth Navarro knows what’s legitimate and what’s not. When she sees images of a card making the rounds on social media exempting the owner from wearing a face mask, citing protection under the Americans with Disability Act, she only has to glance at it to know it’s not legitimate.

“My first thought on that was, oh gosh, here we go again,” said Navarro.


What You Need To Know

  • Fake 'face mask exempt' cards are circulating on social media 

  • Lillibeth Navarro is the Executive Director for Communities Actively Living Independent and Free, a non-profit that provides services for people with disabilities and advocates for their civil rights

  • Navarro explains these phonies put the disabled community at risk

  • The Department of Justice issued a warning that the cards circulating online are fraudulent

Navarro is the Executive Director for Communities Actively Living Independent and Free, a non-profit that provides services for people with disabilities and advocates for their civil rights.

Navarro knows firsthand what it’s like to have a disability. “I’m a survivor of a virus. It’s called the poliovirus,” said Navarro. “I got sick when I was 5-months-old. I regained the use of my arms but I’ve never walked.”

The activist explains there is life after a virus and she’s making the most of it, especially as a leader in the disability rights movement.

“It’s really important for us to keep an eye on our people and make sure that we’re protected from discrimination,” she said.

So when she sees cards circulating online that claim the holder has a disability and cannot wear a mask because it “poses a mental and/or physical risk”, Navarro is disappointed.

“Our label – people with disabilities – is very useful to some people who want to take advantage of it, who may not be disabled,” she said.

The Department of Justice recently issued a warning that the cards circulating online are fraudulent, saying the “Department did not issue and does not endorse then in any way”.

Navarro says the phony cards encourage people to pretend to have a disability in order to avoid wearing a mask, putting those who are truly disabled at risk.

“I have only part of a whole lung capacity,” she explained. “I have 33%, so I’m really vulnerable.”

Navarro hopes people realize the cards are fraudulent and heed recommendations from health experts to wear face masks.

“Do not use the label of disability to just get away with not wearing a mask because it will harm us," she said. "It will harm other people”