It is excellent to have programs where people can live with a variety of cultures and interests, or just people with different opinions. However, it is also important that each person requires their own space. For example, this children’s librarian in Ohio focuses on having activities and programs specifically for children, but recently shared on Reddit that a caretaker from a special needs adult group wants to mix both groups in the library. It’s not about discrimination, but children deserve their own space, and so do adults.
Redditor The_tired_Librarian shared his concern in r/legaladvice about how a special needs adult caretaker wants them to share the children’s space at this Ohio library. The OP feels distressed, mainly because the caregiver threatened that if the librarian does not agree to allow adults to participate in children’s activities, the next step will be a lawsuit for discrimination. In addition, they are trying to defend programs and activities created specifically for children and want to protect the kids’ spaces. Also, having several unknown adults near children doesn’t seem appropriate, as the youngest of the special needs adults is already 35 years old. To this, many Redditors agreed with the librarian:
You’re not excluding them because they are disabled. You’re excluding them because they are adults trying to attend a children’s program. That is perfectly legal.
dragonpromise
Threatening to sue and actually finding an attorney to take the case are vastly different things. Not all discrimination is illegal discrimination.
shamrock327
Let your town’s attorney handle. She will very likely advise you to keep on as usual, ie limiting participation to children under 5, under 12, etc.
Regardless of whether they have special needs, everyone should be in groups that suit their needs and age. Some other users added that surely many adults do not want to be with children all the time and that sometimes people with special needs feel infantilized, which is very annoying for them. Not to mention that, as older people, many of their interests and topics of conversation may not be appropriate for children. Children and adults deserve a space that is created especially for each demographic. Adults will also have different requirements that are nothing like those of much younger people. Perhaps the caretaker should focus more on creating activities suitable for their group.
