Handicap accessibility
Our library has definite limitations. It is unfortunate, but it is not what I would call accessible. There are a number of tables in the middle of aisles that make it extremely difficult for those in a wheelchair to maneuver.
I have a spot in the library where I camp out on weekends. I have plenty of table space, a power outlet, and an extremely comfortable chair. When I set up camp, it takes me a significant amount of time to get all my crap out and arranged so I can get at it easily. Moving would be a major endeavor.
There is a handicapped lady with her son in the library. I don't believe that she is affiliated with the law school, but rather is a member of the general public, who is welcome in our building. She has been incredibly loud and distracting, but I have done my best to ignore it.
I think we all have an unwritten duty to be considerate of others. At times, it is written. For example, larger people are sometimes required to purchase two seats on an airplane; you can be escorted out of a movie theater for being too loud; and just because you paid for that football ticket doesn't mean you can curse up a storm in the presence of 100 young children.
So my question is this: Should a handicapped person consider the rights of others when deciding whether to use a private library? Although I am sympathetic to those who have some sort of handicap, at what point is her right to access the library subsumed by our right to utilize it peacefully? At what point do you look at a situation and say you know, this just isn't the best place for me to manuever, and doing so would be incredibly disruptive to those around me who are innocently using the facilities.
Now I helped her as I could, however I am here to get a job done. That's the long and short of it. Is it selfish? Sure. I could spend hours helping her get through aisles and do her research, but I just don't have the time.
Maybe I am being incredibly inconsiderate.
I have a spot in the library where I camp out on weekends. I have plenty of table space, a power outlet, and an extremely comfortable chair. When I set up camp, it takes me a significant amount of time to get all my crap out and arranged so I can get at it easily. Moving would be a major endeavor.
There is a handicapped lady with her son in the library. I don't believe that she is affiliated with the law school, but rather is a member of the general public, who is welcome in our building. She has been incredibly loud and distracting, but I have done my best to ignore it.
I think we all have an unwritten duty to be considerate of others. At times, it is written. For example, larger people are sometimes required to purchase two seats on an airplane; you can be escorted out of a movie theater for being too loud; and just because you paid for that football ticket doesn't mean you can curse up a storm in the presence of 100 young children.
So my question is this: Should a handicapped person consider the rights of others when deciding whether to use a private library? Although I am sympathetic to those who have some sort of handicap, at what point is her right to access the library subsumed by our right to utilize it peacefully? At what point do you look at a situation and say you know, this just isn't the best place for me to manuever, and doing so would be incredibly disruptive to those around me who are innocently using the facilities.
Now I helped her as I could, however I am here to get a job done. That's the long and short of it. Is it selfish? Sure. I could spend hours helping her get through aisles and do her research, but I just don't have the time.
Maybe I am being incredibly inconsiderate.
4 Comments:
At 4:51 PM, Cat said…
Welcome back to Blogland
At 2:06 AM, Mix said…
interesting thoughts. I'd probably lean towards your opinion.
At 12:00 PM, lizzie said…
Your comments are unclear. Is it child that is making noise? Or the fact that she is disabled that bothers you?
If it is the child, I agree. A loud child does not belong in a library of higher learning. Public libraries provide child-friendly reading rooms. However, many disable adult often need the assistance of someone, even a child to help them. So if the child is respectful for those around them and tries to be quiet the child should be allowed to visit with the parent.
But... if you are complaining that her wheelchair bothers you because she bumps into tables and chairs and makes noise. That I have a problem with. Would you really deny someone knowledge because they have been crippled? Instead of trying to get her banned from the library why not use your legal intelligence to get the library to fulfill their obligation to make their environment friendly to everyone. Did you ever thing someone with a disability might actually be smart enough to get accepted to your school? What would happen then? You couldn't get them banned and you'd be in the same boat. Solutions aren't always easy and since she can't stand up, maybe you should and complain to the school.
At 12:19 PM, Alfredo said…
The point of my post was that everyone has a choice to make every second of every day. At what point do you have to take other people into consideration when making a choice.
And we are securing funds for a new building. This is an issue that has already been identified.
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