[Libs-Or] Patron accommodation question

[Cindy Gibbon]

We haven't had this one exactly, but here's my thinking.  ADA requires that
we make "reasonable accommodations" for people with disabilities.  Turning
off the wifi so that nobody else can use it is probably not "reasonable."
But maybe there is something else you can do for this patron that would be
a reasonable way to help her use the library.

I know you probably don't have legal counsel readily available to advise
you.  One piece of advice we have had from our counsel is to not go down
the rabbit hole of questioning whether this person's disability is "real."
Since ADA does not allow us to ask for any kind of certification of the
disability, that isn't helpful.  We just take the patron's word that they
have a disability and then try to determine what we can reasonably do.

I hope this is helpful!
*Cindy*

*Cindy Gibbon*
*Director of Policy and Special Projects*
My schedule: Monday through Friday
Multnomah County Library
503.988.5496
multcolib.org

Pronouns:  She, her, hers





On Tue, Jan 29, 2019 at 12:50 PM Kari May <KMay at jcls.org> wrote:

> We have a patron with the following request:
>
>
>
> I suffer from a condition called Electro Hypersensitivity, also called
> microwave sickness. Many others also suffer from this condition (Alan
> DeBoer’s wife is one). When in the presence of a strong wifi signal, my
> symptoms of ringing in the ears (tinnitus) and headaches worsen.
>
>
>
> I am requesting there are days and times when wifi is turned off for
> people like me. I LOVE reading and have checked out many books from the
> library.
>
>
>
> Have any of you encountered similar requests? How would you handle this
> situation?
>
>
>
> *Kari May*
>
> Library Director
>
> Jackson County Library Services
>
> 205 S. Central Ave. Medford, OR 97501
>
> 541-774-6401
>
> [image: Jackson County Library Services Logo]
>
>
>
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