Above video- 1/21/14 after Security Guard hired by Boston College at Bapst Library, Sean Armstead told me he would not allow me to enter Bapst Library, and called the BCPD officer to come to block me.
This is one of many incidents.
#rampupbc
BAPST LIBRARY INCIDENTS AND ARCHITECTURAL BARRIERS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES: (Note: No wheelchair or public access provided to Burns Library other than by stairs. Student art exhibit down flight of stairs).
Bapst Library is the art library at BC with Gargan Hall on the 4th floor, open 24 hours a day, 5 days a week, and open to all visitors, students, staff, faculty, etc. However, there are many incidents that show that even though there is an elevator and accessible door entrance , BC is actively placing limitations at this door so as to control and limit who is able to enter by wheelchair. This same level of limitation does NOT exist for the front stairs entrances.
Burns Library does not have a public accessible entrance other than by stairs. There is an interior door leading to Burns Library that is only accessible from the interior. Burns Library and exhibits are advertised as open to the public, including wheelchair users. One first needs to be able to access the wheelchair accessible door.
A citation from the MAAB was issued against BC on 1/17/14 regarding the policy and practice of keeping this door locked all of the time. The security guard has also taken actions to keep patrons from using this door, even after the order was issued on 1/17/14 (see below incidents).
Bapst Library Gallery is located down a flight of stairs. All exhibits not wheelchair accessible (built in 2004). All exhibits and participants to this gallery include members of the public who may use wheelchairs. This is an example of architectural barriers that block Access barriers.
Disability Discrimination Incidents at BC (awaiting resolution):
Access to use Bapst Library has been denied to me as a student on several occasions, Bapst Library is attached to Burns Library. Bapst has stairs On October 30, 2013, I visited Bapst Library at 3:00am, a time after the O'Neill Library was closed. My intent was to study. I was told in advance that Gargan Hall was open 24 hours a day 5 days a week, and that it was wheelchair accessible. I scooted there and found there was no visible ramp. I had difficult travel trying to get back to my car on the 5th floor garage at Commonwealth Garage (they locked the access to the elevators inside O'Neill to the level of the garage) . I managed to reach it, placed my scooter in the car and drove to BC Bapst Library. I parked in front.
(1) October 30, 2013: I walked up the front stairs and met a security guard who appeared to be resting with the lights out at the 3rd floor Circulation Desk (Sean Armstead). I asked him where the accessible entrance was. He told me that there is an elevator that closes at midnight. He said he was not hired to allow me to use the elevator, that this part of Bapst Library closed down at midnight. As such, he stated that BC Bapst Library had no accessible entrance after midnight. He told me that there were stairs in front of the elevator, that the lights were out in the hallway, trash barrels around, no lights outside, snow on the ramp, etc. He said he would not give me his boss's name and would not allow me to use the phone to call the BCPD. I did manage to use the phone, called twice. At 4:30, the BCPD Armed Patrol Officer showed up. He escorted me to the open elevator on the 3rd floor. I had waited 1.5 hours, while sitting on the front hallway stairs. The Officer said he was busy, and did not understand why Sean Armstead did not allow me to use the elevator. This is the first instance of disability discrimination.
I asked for the assistance of the ADA/504 Assigned Coordinator for Boston College, Richard Jefferson. He first told me to not tell anyone about the access problems, only him. And I understand he actively told others at the library to not talk with me about the access issues. He told me that he would not help me, that the issues were too "substantive" to address. After filing a 504 grievance, he wrote back that he would not be responsible for the 504 grievance (He is the 504 coordinator?) I requested an apology by January 8th. They refused.
On January 8th, I filed a complaint to the BCPD asking them to address the problem at Gargan Hall (Lt Postell). They did not respond back to me .
January 17, 2014 The Massachusetts Architectural Access Board sent a citation against BC for their blocking the Bapst Library door. All doors need to be kept open and unlocked. Days later, I was met with bullying from the security guard once again, with a locked door at Bapst Library (all other doors open to all patrons who can walk up and down stairs).
(2) January 21, 2014 incident: I was told the intercom was fixed and there was a note on the door to call the BCPD if there was a problem reaching the security guard at the Circulation Desk.
It was approximately 5:30am. No one answered the intercom. I used my cell phone to call. It was extremely cold and I was using my (wheelchair) scooter. I called the phone 617-553-3200 front desk. Sean answered and told me that he was not allowing me to come into the library. He said that it is only for wheelchair users and that I used a scooter. He continued to argue that he was not allowing me to use the elevator because I had a disability. He said he was calling the Sgt or Lt. I went back to the library, called again to tell him I needed to enter. At that point, the BCPD Officer Reynolds opened the door. He told me that he was called by Sean Armstead because I was "trouble." He did not know that I was a student and had a right to enter the library. The videotaped incident is posted above. The Sgt. called and was heard as telling Office Reynolds to not report the incident to the BCPD, because it was "only a disability issue" . I reported this to Dean Durrett. She said it was a police issue. To date, there has been no resolution. A third incident occurred (three times met Sean Armstead).
(3) February 21, 2014 incident (time approx 6:50am). The door was unlocked. The elevator broken. I called Sean Armstead. He told me that it was not his problem, and to go somwhere else. Told me that he would wait until he was off shift and tell the next person. I let him know that I need the elevator to get to Gargan Hall. He left me sitting on my scooter in the hallway. The lights were not turned on downstairs. A carpenter was working and overheard it. He went upstairs and talked to Sean. He came back downstairs and told me that Sean told him that he was instructed to not talk to me or help me. He said that I was using a laptop, so that I did not need to use the library. The carpenter called the elevator company (Stanley Elevator). I also contacted the police twice. They did not call the elevator company. At approximately 8:45, the elevator company came. I was delayed again upstairs until around 9:30am and left.
One would expect an apology or explanation from the BCPD on why they instructed the security guard to reportedly, never help a student access the services while I am at the library and BC. According to Sean Armstead, he could help others and students, staff, faculty have rights to access the library. But due to using a mobility aid, would be denied this right.
This is unacceptable. BC is a Jesuit College. BC is obligated under the law of the 504 Rehabilitation Act as well as other requirements to make access to these buildings and provide programmatic access.
This is one of many incidents.
#rampupbc
BAPST LIBRARY INCIDENTS AND ARCHITECTURAL BARRIERS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES: (Note: No wheelchair or public access provided to Burns Library other than by stairs. Student art exhibit down flight of stairs).
Bapst Library is the art library at BC with Gargan Hall on the 4th floor, open 24 hours a day, 5 days a week, and open to all visitors, students, staff, faculty, etc. However, there are many incidents that show that even though there is an elevator and accessible door entrance , BC is actively placing limitations at this door so as to control and limit who is able to enter by wheelchair. This same level of limitation does NOT exist for the front stairs entrances.
Burns Library does not have a public accessible entrance other than by stairs. There is an interior door leading to Burns Library that is only accessible from the interior. Burns Library and exhibits are advertised as open to the public, including wheelchair users. One first needs to be able to access the wheelchair accessible door.
A citation from the MAAB was issued against BC on 1/17/14 regarding the policy and practice of keeping this door locked all of the time. The security guard has also taken actions to keep patrons from using this door, even after the order was issued on 1/17/14 (see below incidents).
Bapst Library Gallery is located down a flight of stairs. All exhibits not wheelchair accessible (built in 2004). All exhibits and participants to this gallery include members of the public who may use wheelchairs. This is an example of architectural barriers that block Access barriers.
Disability Discrimination Incidents at BC (awaiting resolution):
Access to use Bapst Library has been denied to me as a student on several occasions, Bapst Library is attached to Burns Library. Bapst has stairs On October 30, 2013, I visited Bapst Library at 3:00am, a time after the O'Neill Library was closed. My intent was to study. I was told in advance that Gargan Hall was open 24 hours a day 5 days a week, and that it was wheelchair accessible. I scooted there and found there was no visible ramp. I had difficult travel trying to get back to my car on the 5th floor garage at Commonwealth Garage (they locked the access to the elevators inside O'Neill to the level of the garage) . I managed to reach it, placed my scooter in the car and drove to BC Bapst Library. I parked in front.
(1) October 30, 2013: I walked up the front stairs and met a security guard who appeared to be resting with the lights out at the 3rd floor Circulation Desk (Sean Armstead). I asked him where the accessible entrance was. He told me that there is an elevator that closes at midnight. He said he was not hired to allow me to use the elevator, that this part of Bapst Library closed down at midnight. As such, he stated that BC Bapst Library had no accessible entrance after midnight. He told me that there were stairs in front of the elevator, that the lights were out in the hallway, trash barrels around, no lights outside, snow on the ramp, etc. He said he would not give me his boss's name and would not allow me to use the phone to call the BCPD. I did manage to use the phone, called twice. At 4:30, the BCPD Armed Patrol Officer showed up. He escorted me to the open elevator on the 3rd floor. I had waited 1.5 hours, while sitting on the front hallway stairs. The Officer said he was busy, and did not understand why Sean Armstead did not allow me to use the elevator. This is the first instance of disability discrimination.
I asked for the assistance of the ADA/504 Assigned Coordinator for Boston College, Richard Jefferson. He first told me to not tell anyone about the access problems, only him. And I understand he actively told others at the library to not talk with me about the access issues. He told me that he would not help me, that the issues were too "substantive" to address. After filing a 504 grievance, he wrote back that he would not be responsible for the 504 grievance (He is the 504 coordinator?) I requested an apology by January 8th. They refused.
On January 8th, I filed a complaint to the BCPD asking them to address the problem at Gargan Hall (Lt Postell). They did not respond back to me .
January 17, 2014 The Massachusetts Architectural Access Board sent a citation against BC for their blocking the Bapst Library door. All doors need to be kept open and unlocked. Days later, I was met with bullying from the security guard once again, with a locked door at Bapst Library (all other doors open to all patrons who can walk up and down stairs).
(2) January 21, 2014 incident: I was told the intercom was fixed and there was a note on the door to call the BCPD if there was a problem reaching the security guard at the Circulation Desk.
It was approximately 5:30am. No one answered the intercom. I used my cell phone to call. It was extremely cold and I was using my (wheelchair) scooter. I called the phone 617-553-3200 front desk. Sean answered and told me that he was not allowing me to come into the library. He said that it is only for wheelchair users and that I used a scooter. He continued to argue that he was not allowing me to use the elevator because I had a disability. He said he was calling the Sgt or Lt. I went back to the library, called again to tell him I needed to enter. At that point, the BCPD Officer Reynolds opened the door. He told me that he was called by Sean Armstead because I was "trouble." He did not know that I was a student and had a right to enter the library. The videotaped incident is posted above. The Sgt. called and was heard as telling Office Reynolds to not report the incident to the BCPD, because it was "only a disability issue" . I reported this to Dean Durrett. She said it was a police issue. To date, there has been no resolution. A third incident occurred (three times met Sean Armstead).
(3) February 21, 2014 incident (time approx 6:50am). The door was unlocked. The elevator broken. I called Sean Armstead. He told me that it was not his problem, and to go somwhere else. Told me that he would wait until he was off shift and tell the next person. I let him know that I need the elevator to get to Gargan Hall. He left me sitting on my scooter in the hallway. The lights were not turned on downstairs. A carpenter was working and overheard it. He went upstairs and talked to Sean. He came back downstairs and told me that Sean told him that he was instructed to not talk to me or help me. He said that I was using a laptop, so that I did not need to use the library. The carpenter called the elevator company (Stanley Elevator). I also contacted the police twice. They did not call the elevator company. At approximately 8:45, the elevator company came. I was delayed again upstairs until around 9:30am and left.
One would expect an apology or explanation from the BCPD on why they instructed the security guard to reportedly, never help a student access the services while I am at the library and BC. According to Sean Armstead, he could help others and students, staff, faculty have rights to access the library. But due to using a mobility aid, would be denied this right.
This is unacceptable. BC is a Jesuit College. BC is obligated under the law of the 504 Rehabilitation Act as well as other requirements to make access to these buildings and provide programmatic access.