Disabled Denied Museum Entry: Wheelchair Would Dirty Carpets

[mark handler]

Disabled Girl Denied Museum Entry: Wheelchair Would Dirty Carpets

Friday, 12 Jul 2013 11:21 AM

By Alexandra Ward

Museum Denies Entry to Disabled Girl Because Wheelchair Would 'Get the Carpets Dirty'

An 11-year-old disabled girl was denied access to a Georgia maritime museum Monday after an employee told the family that the child's wheelchair would "get the carpets dirty."

Lexi Haas, who suffers from a brain dysfunction that leaves her physically nonfunctional, and her family traveled to the Ships of the Sea Museum in Savannah, Ga., Monday, but when they attempted to enter the facility, an employee told them it wouldn’t be possible, according to WBTV.com.

After saying the wheelchair would get the carpets dirty, the employee offered the Haases one of the museum's own wheelchairs for Lexi to use. But the chair didn't have the necessary straps needed to stabilize her so the employee offered to "have Lexi sit outside and watch a video on a tiny TV while the rest of us walked through the exhibits," the Haas family wrote on Facebook earlier this week.

Museum curator Wendy Melton admits that is what happened but said it is not the museum's policy to refuse entry to anyone because of a disability.

"We share your shock and disbelief, since the way in which the staff member chose to answer the Haas family's very reasonable request was in violation of the both the letter and the spirit of the Museum's accessibility policy," Ships of the Sea said in an apology letter to the Haases Wednesday, WBTV reports.

"Until the day after the incident, both in practice and in staff discussions regarding accessibility there has never been any time when the state of the carpet was even discussed as a cause for concern. Hence our own shock and dismay when we heard of the incident," the letter read. "While the staff member did not act with malice, her unilateral disregard of Lexi and her family, our written policy, and violation of the spirit of our policy was a shocking, unilateral, and egregious departure from our policy, both written and understood and a heartbreaking lack of judgment. She has been dismissed."

The Haas family does not plan to file an Americans With Disabilities Act complaint, but said they hope the matter will be resolved for future museum customers.

 

[TheCommish]

I am glad the administration stepped up to the plate acknowledge the event and did the right thing, hopefully that include a refresher for all staff

 

[peach]

This is one case that a lawsuit would be appropriate, however, if it can be resolved outside the courts.. that's even better.

 

[tmurray]

"While the staff member did not act with malice..."

How is that true?

I'm not asked to change my shoes when I enter, so I'm pretty sure the number of people walking in off the street would be more detrimental to carpet than the amount of people who would be using a wheel chair.

 

[error404]

This is what lawsuits dreams are made off!!!

 

[Mech]

Soap and water no longer removes dirt from wheels ? ? ?

 

[Jobsaver]

It is a fair question to ask, "Were the wheelchair wheels exceptionally dirty or muddy?", and, "Are people having exceptionally dirty or muddy shoes denied entrance unless they clean up a bit?".

I have asked plumbers not to come in the permit office again wearing ridiculously muddy boots as to unnecessarily cause a burden to our cleaning staff.

 

[fireguy]

I have asked plumbers not to come in the permit office again wearing ridiculously muddy boots as to unnecessarily cause a burden to our cleaning staff.

Have you asked your customers, the contractors, if they think there is an adversarial relationship with your office?

 

[Jobsaver]

Have you asked your customers, the contractors, if they think there is an adversarial relationship with your office?

As a whole, my customers, the contractors, applaud my efforts at providing excellent customer service. And, they all know my boots get muddy too. Still, in every arena in life, there are adversarial types whose response to a logical request will be an abrasive and disrespectful response.

 

[conarb]

Plumbers are neither a suspect class nor a quasi-suspect class that, by law, demands preferential treatment, read about suspect classes.