I would say, very briefly, that you can't ask someone whose disability is
not visible who is saying he/she is disabled.  You just have to let them go,
and hope no one is abusing the situation.
Candace Perry

-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
Of Glyn Balkwill
Sent: Thursday, November 06, 2008 12:04 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [MUSEUM-L] Free Access for persons with disabilities : Guidelines

Hullo Museum-l'ers

Could you please offer me some assistance here' The museum is currently
hosting an exhibition of works of persons with disabilities. The organisers
of the exhibition negotiated free access for persons with disabilities for
the duration of the exhibition.

A number of issues have arisen for which I asked the organisation concerned
and my management to provide guidelines. Naturally none were forthcomimg and
for raising the isssue a got handed the task of developing the guidelines.
Since the issue is urgent and I need something in place for the front of
house staff this weekend when there is no-one present for them to refer
difficult issues to.

We are well aware of the issues with assstane animals and have no problems
there. The issue is with the human assistants. While I have no problem with
one assistant I need guidance where the person insists the whole family
should enter free because they are all `assisting'.

The second is how to define / identify a person with a disability. While I
am extremely short-sighted and have an extreme stigmatism for which I
require spectacles whose cost far outstrips the medical aid limits, I am
still not classified as disabled in terms of the revenue services in order
to be able to claim the shortfall. People who would not think twice about
paying under normal circumstances are now claiming they are persons with
disabilities

While it is easy to identify a person who is physically challenged, how to
you deal with persons claiming they are bipolar, manically depressed, etc.

What is the position with these roman chariot-like devices that can move
very rapidly?

I know these issues have been discussed here but I was hoping that some of
my fellows out there had an easy-to-use set of guidelines I can give my poor
front of house staff who sit in the firing line on the weekend dealing with
an issue which management has failed to think through thoroughly before
implementation.

Thank in advance for your help

Glyn ([log in to unmask])


Glyn Balkwill
Senior Curator, Collections Management
Northern Flagship Institution
National Cultural History Museum
PO Box 28088 Sunnyside, Pretoria, 0132 RSA
149 Visagie Street, Pretoria Central
Phone +27 (0)12 324 6082
Fax     +27 (0)12 328 5173
Cell    +27 (0)82 770 7826
Home +27 (0)82 468 9462
Email [log in to unmask]

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