Protest at museum in aftermath of blind woman's treatment

A protest is scheduled Friday afternoon to highlight an incident where a legally blind woman said she and her guide dog were harassed by contracted security guards at the Museum of Florida History.

Tiffany Baylor, who works for the Florida Department of Education's Division of Blind Services, said when she visited an exhibit at the museum Oct. 1 security guards, U.S. Security Associates employees contracted with Department of Management Services, told her she could not have her guide dog in the museum.

The week was also the kickoff of Disability Awareness Month and Baylor was attending an exhibit featuring a Braille quilt created by a vision rehabilitation therapist at Lighthouse of the Big Bend.

She told the Democrat the guards harangued her 2-year-old black lab Lando as she viewed the exhibit and began demanding to see paperwork proving she was blind and required the dog for mobility.

"You know you're disabled, but you want to go through the community like everybody else," Baylor said. "When someone centers on that, but then harasses you openly in front of everybody, it's kind of humiliating."

The museum is housed in the bottom level of the Florida Department of State building on Bronough Street.

In a letter to Baylor, U.S. Security Associates' Southern Division Vice President Deborah Kalert said the company regretted the actions the guards took and that officers must uphold the constitutional rights of all people.

"That their actions were perceived as being anything less than that is not what we or our officers expect," Kalert wrote. "As a testament to our strive for perfection, we have implemented additional training for our officers and are committed to providing you and all visitors with the highest level of service."

Baylor said Secretary of State Ken Detzner called her Thursday morning and apologized. She said Detzner told her he would advocate for disciplinary action and training for the security guards and offered to walk her through the museum next week.

A DOS spokeswoman confirmed Detzner had spoken with Baylor.

He "emphasized that the museum is open and welcoming to all," she said in an email.

"He owned it," Baylor said. "He said 'if this is my building, then I'm the one responsible. I'm really sorry this happened.'"

Interfering with admittance to a public space by a person with a disability or their guide animal is a second-degree misdemeanor under Florida law.

In a statement submitted to state officials about the incident, Baylor wrote, "the security guard continued and replied that he wanted to see proof that it was in fact a guide dog and not just a pet. I pulled the dog away from him a second time, and stated that there was a harness on the dog which clearly states 'Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc.' He stated that the harness was not enough proof and that I needed to show him a card or papers as proof."

Ben Wolf, spokesman for the Department of Management Services, the state's building manager, said the agency is aware of the incident and has released security video that captured a small portion of the encounter. The agency has also called on the security company to review protocols and provide training.

"Capitol Police are currently looking into the matter and DMS has directed the private security company to review its protocols with respect to training," Wolf wrote in an email. "The Department of Management Services strives to make all guests feel comfortable in its buildings with respect to accessibility and safety. We will continue to make every effort to ensure all guests can access our managed buildings appropriately to conduct business or enjoy Florida's history. The company is apologizing and we feel that is the right thing to do."

The almost three-minute video obtained by the Democrat shows 20 seconds of Baylor on camera. In it, security guards do not roughly handle the dog and they can briefly be seen confronting Baylor, but it is unclear what they are saying as she moves out of view.

Disability advocate J.R. Harding said there are no public portions of state buildings that are exempt from the Americans with Disabilities Act.

"Essentially all public building are open and service animals cannot be denied," Harding said, adding that officials can ask what service a guide animal provides, but not about an individual's disability.

In her statement Baylor said she moved away from the security guard, who again approached her asking for proof that the dog was a service animal, telling her he would "let her stay in here this time, but you cannot come back in here without papers for the dog."

Friday's protest is scheduled from 2 to 4 p.m. outside of the museum at 500 S. Bronough St. and will include members of the National Federation of the Blind and their service dogs.

The organization is calling for criminal charges against the security guards involved and that they be disciplined.

Baylor said if the experience has been educational to security staff and can prevent another incident involving an individual with disabilities then she sees no need for criminal charges.

"I really want to make sure that my clients, or the students, or the people coming to the community who have guide dogs are safe to enter because the people know the rules and the laws," she said. "If they (security guards) learn what there is to do and really ingest it and realize there is a real reason to do so. That's what the goal is."