ABSTRACT
People with mental illness are people with disabilities, who are explicitly covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Abnormal behavior is the defining external manifestation of mental illness as a disability. Mental illness is recognized by the law as a disability, with the same protections as other disabilities such as paraplegia, blindness, or hearing impairment. The Americans with Disabilities Act mandates accommodations for people with disabilities so they can participate in employment and in all other aspects of society, including public places and public events. Since the Americans with Disabilities Act has taken effect, mental illness may be viewed from a new perspective, the disability model. Rather than applying the label of problem patron to persons with mental illness, librarians must recognize people with mental illness as people with disabilities who ought to receive a measure of understanding and accommodation.
