WARWICK PUBLIC LIBRARY BANS TEEN DIAGNOSED WITH AUTISM FROM TEENSPACE FOR SIX MONTHS IN VIOLATION OF THE LIBRARY’S BEHAVIOR POLICY AND FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS

The mayhem that occurred during December of  2012 in Sandy Hook, Connecticut was sparked by Adam Lanza’s infatuation with violent video games, such as, “Call to Duty.”

On April 17, 2013 and April 28, 2013, Mr. and Mrs. Jacobowitz, found violent video games in the teen area of the Warwick Public Library, known as “Teen Space.”    The Jacobowitz’s 13 year old son, Arizona, who is diagnosed with PDD-NOS (Autism) wanted to play “Zelda” which contain scenes of fighting with swords, blood content, etc.  Mr. & Mrs. Jacobowitz did not allow Arizona to play the violent games on either day and as a result, on April 28, 2013, Arizona tantrumed. 

     On April 29, 2013, Mr. and Mrs. Jacobowitz, returned to the Warwick library to express their discontent for the library possessing and allowing the teens to play violent video games at the library and consider this to be a form of mental abuse.

     Two weeks later, on May 15, 2013, Diane Greenwald, the director of the Warwick Public library, forwarded a letter to Mr. and Mrs. Jacobowitz banning Arizona from “Teen space” for 6 months in violation of the library’s behavior policy.  The behavior policy states, “Unacceptable behavior includes any form of harassment which could result in physical, emotional, or mental injury to oneself or others, or when it could result in damage to library facilities, equipment, or materials.”  The Warwick Public Library did not accept any level of liability for providing “Teen space” with violent videos.  Ms. Greenwald stated, “I will be willing to review this restriction with you after 6 months if you feel Arizona is ready to use the Teen space appropriately.” 

Mayor Scott Avedisian was contacted and received the following response from Ms. Greenwald, “[T]he decision was made following several fairly serious incidents that, according to reports at the time, involved screaming, hitting, and disruptions that lasted for more than 15 minutes, and were the result of Arizona being told that it was time to leave and when he was told he had to wait his turn.”  Greenwald also stated, “[A]ny games in the Teen space are rated appropriate for teens, and that the library does not carry violent videogames.”  Ms. Greenwald further stated that she will be willing to meet and discuss when and how Arizona can return to Teen space.

In our reply letter to Mayor Avedisian, we noted several key factors-(1) The behavior policies for most libraries are out dated and does not address behaviors that are a manifestation of one’s different ability; (2) the decision was made, not following several “fairly serious incidents,” but two weeks after a tantrum and concerns were expressed about videos that contained violence being allowed at Warwick Public Library in the Teen space; (3) The rating teen appropriate on a videogame does not necessarily mean that it is appropriate for teens per se, adults usually determine what’s appropriate for the child or teen; (4) Banning Arizona from the “Teen space” for 6 months fail to offer a correlation between the inappropriateness of his behavior (tantrumming) and the ban in a way that he could understand the reasoning; and (5) Places of Public Accommodations are required to provide accommodations by law.  Several suggestions for accommodations were forwarded to the mayor.

Today, a place of Public Accommodations may decide to ban individuals with autism and other special needs, tomorrow they may decide to ban- senior citizens, people of color, various races, gay or lesbians, and maybe you.

We are waiting to hear back from Mayor Scott Avedisian and Diane Greenwald on a plan to accommodate people with special needs, rather than excluding them.