[Flagdu] article pre-demonstration in Tallahassee

[Sherri]

While the link that Marion sent out did not work, I did find this article.

Sherri

Protest at museum in aftermath of blind woman's treatment

A protest is scheduled Friday afternoon to highlight an incident where a 
legally blind woman said she and her guide dog were harassed by contracted 
security
guards at the Museum of Florida History.

Tiffany Baylor, who works for the Florida Department of Education's Division 
of Blind Services, said when she visited an exhibit at the museum Oct. 1 
security
guards, U.S. Security Associates employees contracted with Department of 
Management Services, told her she could not have her guide dog in the 
museum.

The week was also the kickoff of Disability Awareness Month and Baylor was 
attending an exhibit featuring a Braille quilt created by a vision 
rehabilitation
therapist at Lighthouse of the Big Bend.

She told the Democrat the guards harangued her 2-year-old black lab Lando as 
she viewed the exhibit and began demanding to see paperwork proving she was
blind and required the dog for mobility.

"You know you're disabled, but you want to go through the community like 
everybody else," Baylor said. "When someone centers on that, but then 
harasses
you openly in front of everybody, it's kind of humiliating."

The museum is housed in the bottom level of the Florida Department of State 
building on Bronough Street.

In a letter to Baylor, U.S. Security Associates' Southern Division Vice 
President Deborah Kalert said the company regretted the actions the guards 
took
and that officers must uphold the constitutional rights of all people.

"That their actions were perceived as being anything less than that is not 
what we or our officers expect," Kalert wrote. "As a testament to our strive
for perfection, we have implemented additional training for our officers and 
are committed to providing you and all visitors with the highest level of
service."

Baylor said Secretary of State Ken Detzner called her Thursday morning and 
apologized. She said Detzner told her he would advocate for disciplinary 
action
and training for the security guards and offered to walk her through the 
museum next week.

A DOS spokeswoman confirmed Detzner had spoken with Baylor.

He "emphasized that the museum is open and welcoming to all," she said in an 
email.

"He owned it," Baylor said. "He said 'if this is my building, then I'm the 
one responsible. I'm really sorry this happened.'"

Interfering with admittance to a public space by a person with a disability 
or their guide animal is a second-degree misdemeanor under Florida law.

In a statement submitted to state officials about the incident, Baylor 
wrote, "the security guard continued and replied that he wanted to see proof 
that
it was in fact a guide dog and not just a pet. I pulled the dog away from 
him a second time, and stated that there was a harness on the dog which 
clearly
states 'Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc.' He stated that the harness was not 
enough proof and that I needed to show him a card or papers as proof."

Ben Wolf, spokesman for the Department of Management Services, the state's 
building manager, said the agency is aware of the incident and has released
security video that captured a small portion of the encounter. The agency 
has also called on the security company to review protocols and provide 
training.

"Capitol Police are currently looking into the matter and DMS has directed 
the private security company to review its protocols with respect to 
training,"
Wolf wrote in an email. "The Department of Management Services strives to 
make all guests feel comfortable in its buildings with respect to 
accessibility
and safety. We will continue to make every effort to ensure all guests can 
access our managed buildings appropriately to conduct business or enjoy 
Florida's
history. The company is apologizing and we feel that is the right thing to 
do."

The almost three-minute video obtained by the Democrat shows 20 seconds of 
Baylor on camera. In it, security guards do not roughly handle the dog and 
they
can briefly be seen confronting Baylor, but it is unclear what they are 
saying as she moves out of view.

Surveillance video from the Museum of Florida History

Disability advocate J.R. Harding said there are no public portions of state 
buildings that are exempt from the Americans with Disabilities Act.

"Essentially all public building are open and service animals cannot be 
denied," Harding said, adding that officials can ask what service a guide 
animal
provides, but not about an individual's disability.

In her statement Baylor said she moved away from the security guard, who 
again approached her asking for proof that the dog was a service animal, 
telling
her he would "let her stay in here this time, but you cannot come back in 
here without papers for the dog."

Friday's protest is scheduled from 2 to 4 p.m. outside of the museum at 500 
S. Bronough St. and will include members of the National Federation of the
Blind and their service dogs.

The organization is calling for criminal charges against the security guards 
involved and that they be disciplined.

Baylor said if the experience has been educational to security staff and can 
prevent another incident involving an individual with disabilities then she
sees no need for criminal charges.

"I really want to make sure that my clients, or the students, or the people 
coming to the community who have guide dogs are safe to enter because the 
people
know the rules and the laws," she said. "If they (security guards) learn 
what there is to do and really ingest it and realize there is a real reason 
to
do so. That's what the goal is."


Character is the side of yourself you choose to show the world.
Integrity is what you do, what you say and how you act when you think no one 
is paying attention.


Sherri Brun
NFBF Newsline Chair
flmom2006 at gmail.com