Dear Want to be Tactful/Need to be Clear,
That’s a tough but important question. Because
our classes are open to the public it is possible for anyone and everyone to come to our door. There are some PPL ground rules
that must be kept in mind. The Fli checked in with Steve O'Brien, PPL's Security Supervisor, who had the following comments:
· You need to make a subjective assessment if the person is actually dangerous or just unusual.
· Based on the Americans with Disabilities Act, we can't discriminate on the basis of mental illness.
· However, we can remove a person if they do anything that disturbs the class. Be sure to inform
the security guard who will take steps to rectify the situation.
· There are PPL rules posted in every library -- review
these to help make the determination if there are grounds to ask the person to leave.
Offering them additional community referrals, like the
LVA phone number, would also be appropriate.
Obviously, we need to consider the needs of the entire
group when considering a new student for enrollment. However, as Steve reminds us, we cannot exclude someone simply because
they have a mental illness. So, unless the person is clearly in violation of the posted library rules, you will need to put
them through the normal class registration and screening process, including giving them the pretest. If they are able to meet
the attendance requirements and do not disturb the class, then they should be treated as any other student.
If you are not sure
how to proceed, if security is not able to help you, or if you need support in making the judgment call on whether the person
is disruptive or just very unusual, please bring the situation to the attention of Pat and Evelyn immediately.
Good luck with this tough
situation,
- The Fli
