I guess the answer here depends on what the job description includes and the
mobility limitations of the individual.   Many museums have "security
guards" whose jobs are more visitor services than actual protection.   These
people may be in a position to say "do not touch", but they don't
necessarily have the kind of training that would allow them to respond
appropriately to vandalism, theft or any other major crime directly (rather
than calling the local police).

I would think that sitting down while monitoring visitor activity would not
be a problem, but a disability that would prevent intercepting or pursuing a
criminal would be.

Of course even visitor services personnel might be expected to take on
"other duties as assigned" (which often includes heavy moving) especially in
those museums with limited staff size.

Hope this helps (I hate those "it depends" answers!)

janice

Janice Klein
Chair, SMAC
Director, Mitchell Museum of the American Indian, Kendall College
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-----Original Message-----
From: Indigo Nights <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Tuesday, June 18, 2002 8:40 PM
Subject: Accessibility - Museum Security Accommodation


>Ladies and gents in the US, you may be familiar with
>the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and have
>had cause to accommodate patrons and/or employees.
>
>One of my dear friends and a great advocate from
>Indecision2000 (my disability advocacy group), has an
>issue for which he'd like feedback from this group.
>Please respond to his question below and allow me the
>privilege of forwarding that information to the other
>forum.  A number of the best advocates and attorneys I
>know have already discussed it briefly, but we would
>like to know how you might handle it.  His concerns
>follow:
>
>Ok folks, here's one for you.  Let's say that a museum
>has a guard.  This guard can do all the essential
>functions of his position but he wants to be able to
>sit periodically during the day when he is not roaming
>the gallery(s).  Let's assume s/he is a person with a
>disability so we don't have to consider that
>parameter. My thought is if s/he can do all of the
>essential functions of the position then the person
>should be allowed to sit every once in a while because
>this wouldn't interfere with his/her ability to tell
>folks not to touch things, answer question, that sort
>of thing. What are your thoughts?
>
>Indigo, has there been anyone on your museum lists
>that has faced this type of situation?  Feel free to
>post this question on that list as well.
>
>=====
>Indigo Nights
>[log in to unmask]
>
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