Information about Mask Exemption Requests
What is a mask exemption?
Please refer to the most recent campus mask requirements, which can be found here: https://covid-19.ucla.edu/wear-your-face-mask/
Mask exemptions will only be considered in instances in which a student:
- Cannot wear a mask, or cannot safely wear a mask, because of a disability as defined by the ADA (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/colleges-universities/considerations.html).
Accommodation options as alternatives to mask-wearing, determined in consultation with infectious disease experts & legal counsel, include:
- Loose-fitting mask, face shield, loose scarf, a face shield with drape, or combination of such.
How do I request a mask exemption through CAE?
Any students requesting a mask exemption should contact CAE Associate Director, Laura Czajkowski, at lczajkowski@saonet.ucla.edu to discuss next steps. Please provide documentation with your email.
What information does my documentation need to include?
Below is the information the university is looking for in evaluating an individual’s request for disability-related mask exemption. Providers should include the following in your letter of support:
- Describe your professional relationship with the student on which you are basing your treatment plan (e.g. type of treatment, length/history of relationship).
- Confirm the student’s relevant medical or mental health diagnoses that you feel rise to the level of disability.
- A statement of support for accommodations to specifically address mask-wearing. There should be a clear connection made between functional limitations of the noted disability and the associated request for an exemption to the mask requirement.