I was outraged by the ignorance and hate in Sarah Crews first post re
handicap access and when I saw the responses that followed I thought I
would not respond, but her second post is beyond the limit.  I just
hope she is not part of the museum profession, especially in a decision-
making capacity.  The attitudes expressed in her post have no place in a
community that seeks to serve people and almost always receives some tax
payer assistance -- if only 501(c)3 status.  Ms. Crews, the ADA is the
law, to ignore it is to violate the law and expose your institution to
severe legal penalties -- that is a serious breach of professional
responsibity. Further, and much more important, to willfully exclude
any group from "public" programs is short-sighted and callous at best.
If any of my students are lurking, expect to hear a lot about ADA and
affirmative responsiblity of museums and other cultural institutions to
make themselves accessible to everyone, EVERYON on fair and equal basis
next semester.  It is only a burden if you make it one and it is really
something public institutions should want to do.

William H. Mulligan, Jr.
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF HISTORY
Murray State University
PO Box 9
Murray, KY 42071-0009
Phone: (502) 762-6571 (office)
       (502) 762-2231 (department)
       (502) 753-9033 (HOME)
FAX:   (502) 762-6587
E-MAIL: [log in to unmask]