TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Surveillance video showing security guards contracted by the state of Florida appearing to harass a blind woman and her service dog as they tried to enter the Museum of Florida History has provoked a protest from the disabled community.
The video shows two guards stationed at the entrance appearing to confront Tiffany Baylor and her dog earlier this month.
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The incident comes at the start of Disability Awareness Month and Baylor was going to an exhibit of a Braille quilt.
State and federal law allow guide dogs to go pretty much everywhere people can, including the building she had trouble getting in to.
The video has outraged members of the blind community, including Marion Gwizdala, the president of the National Association of Guide Dog Users.
"This is happening all over the state of Florida, not just in state buildings, but also in restaurants, in hospitals, in taxi cabs and in hotels," Gwizdala said. "People are being denied access."
Baylor, who works with the state's Department of Education Blind Services Division, did not return calls for comment or show up at a protest Friday outside of the building. The guards are contracted out by the Department of Management Services from U.S. Security Associates. Both have issued apology statements.
Disability advocate J.R. Harding says it shouldn't have been a problem
"Service animals provide a critical role in the independence and freedom of people with disabilities, they are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act," said Harding.
U.S. Security Associates said it has implemented additional training. The Secretary of State's office, which is housed in the same building, declined comment but confirmed the secretary called Baylor to apologize.