[nfbwatlk] [nagdu] article pre-demonstration in Tallahassee

[debby phillips]

 ---- Original Message ------
From: Sherri via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org
Subject: [nagdu] article pre-demonstration in Tallahassee
Date sent: Sun, 12 Oct 2014 20:19:18 -0400

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
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