True to my promise, I went to Chester and pitched him a plea. He was obdurate. "No way," he said, "Not a discussion" as he walked away from me rapidly. Before his rapid retreat, however, he did let me know that he'd given her three stiff warnings before restricting her from the store.
Is someone lying here? The Jane who swears and verbally abuses people--that Jane I have never met. Could it be her differentness make people less tolerant than they otherwise would be?
The dilemma of how to deal with Jane raises some fundamental questions regarding how we include people with disabilities into our communities despite the behavioral challenges that often end up isolating them. It's true that folks from group homes for the developmentally disabled visit the same bookstore, but they have staff that come with them.
Under Title III of the ADA, a bookstore is a place of public accommodation. They are not allowed to discriminate against people with invisible disabilities. If there is a problem, the store should offer reasonable accommodations to a person like Jane. In that regard, I'm not sure that a stiff warning is quite what Congress intended.
I believe that given the proper supports, Jane could find a way to get along in the store, and if she did, she'd have the warm friendships available to her that she'd made until she got thrown out. But first the management of the store needs to accept responsibility, and acknowledge that someone like Jane is worth the time. We aren't there yet.
Now, my job is to call Jane and tell her that I have been unsuccessful. I have a feeling she will understand. Like many people with various disabilities who look, speak, or act in unexpected ways, she is used to rejection.
You may wonder how I was considered the friend best suited for the job. I suppose it is because I am most tolerant of her because I had a mother with mental health disabilities who was also pretty wild and eccentric on occasion. Luckily, my Mom was able to function reasonably well.
I believe everyone is a human being and deserves respect. My hope is that with time as the ADA is applied as it was intended, more people like Jane will find acceptance in the world.
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