[Colorado-Talk] Survey results Ride Share from Guide Dogs for the Blind

Tue May 7 18:43:46 UTC 2024

A message from the Guide Dogs for the Blind Alumni Association:

Dear GDB Alumni,

In 2023, 185 of you participated in a Rideshare survey. This survey was
developed by the GDB Alumni Association Board of Directors and distributed
to help gather data around the continuing issue of Rideshare denials. Your
efforts and participation yielded undeniable results.

Recently GDB released these results to enhance the general public's
awareness of this issue; and to promote change among Rideshare agencies and
drivers. 

To review the results please click  here 

The survey and results were also part of a Michigan news broadcast:  

https://communications.guidedogs.com/e/896181/denying-people-with-guide-dogs
/yf5r7/1444178595/h/xpFKZDLYxv6poY_LR9akwtbZdiIOcDJpfNdHxJtj818 

What can you do? In addition to sharing the results and information; here
are tips that can help you advocate for yourself and others. As well as
information for reporting a denial. 

TIPS FOR NAVIGATING RIDESHARE SERVICES AND REPORTING DENIALS

When booking and waiting for your ride:

*	You are not obligated to inform the company or drivers that you are
accompanied by a guide-dog. 
*	You are not restricted to the "pet service" options. You have the
right to ANY service options ridesharing or taxi companies offer. In
addition to being unnecessary and more expensive, these options may limit
the number of potential drivers responding to your request. 
*	For your records, once a ride is booked and a driver is assigned,
take a screenshot of the open app which includes the driver's name, vehicle
and license plate number, and estimated arrival time.
*	A few minutes prior to your estimated pickup, call or message the
driver to inform them precisely where you are waiting; that you will not be
able to locate them visually; and that you have a service dog. Take a
screenshot of this message as proof of your efforts to communicate with your
driver.
*	When the app informs you of your driver's arrival, take a photo of
the car with your smart phone for proof that your ride showed up (or showed
up and left). If you use a live visual assistance app such as Aira or Be My
Eyes, that service can assist in locating the vehicle for you to then
capture a photo. 
*	If the driver has an issue with providing a ride because you are
traveling with a guide dog, DO NOT CANCEL THE RIDE VIA THE APP.  If you do
cancel, you will be charged a cancellation fee, and the incident will not be
accurately reflected in the driver's records as having turned down your
request.
*	During an active or confrontational denial of service use your smart
phone's video or audio-recording feature to create a record of your negative
experiences with the rideshare provider

Reporting rideshare denials: 

Filing a discrimination complaint with the appropriate government authority,
and National Federation for the Blind (NFB), provides government regulators
and watchdogs with data to address civil rights discrimination more
effectively. Reporting denials directly to ride share companies helps hold
the driver and the rideshare company accountable.

*	Share your experience with the National Federation of the Blind
(NFB) Rideshare Discrimination Survey via its NFB's Rideshare Survey. (NFB
led the 2016-2020 agreement with Uber to report and gather data on
discrimination against guide dog teams. NFB continues to collect data for
future advocacy efforts.)
*	As complaints of rideshare discrimination against service-dog
handlers persist, advocates have reached out to the U.S. Department of
Justice (DOJ), Civil Rights Division for better law enforcement. Reporting
your personal discrimination experience to the DOJ provides needed data to
justify legal actions. Visit the Department of Justice website to report a
civil rights violation through a simple, easy-to-use online form, or call
855-856-1247.

*	If a driver denies you service, inform them that it is against the
law to refuse a service dog and that you will be filing a discrimination
report with the company.
*	If denied, follow the prompt on the rideshare company's app to
report a service animal ride denial.
*	Contact one or more of the relevant following companies or agencies
where appropriate:

o    Uber: Report an Assistance Animal Issue or call 833-715-8237

o    Lyft: Dedicated Service-Animal hotline: 844-554-1297.

Here are links and contact information to file reports against guide-dog
discrimination in Canada: 

*         Alberta: Alberta.ca or call 780-427-9136.

*         British Columbia: Bchrt.gov.bc.ca
<http://bchrt.gov.b/
c.ca%2F&data=05%7C02%7C%7C3d836ce788734237c7a008dc6ec3f785%7C84df9e7fe9f640a
fb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638507035174076456%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWI
joiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&s
data=1SrdcoNRrcDePmcwTBu9RCRhQ86wpiV1eDCRz0D1MSo%3D&reserved=0>  or call
604-775-2000.

*         Newfoundland and Labrador:  <mailto:humanrights at gov.nl.ca>
humanrights at gov.nl.ca or 800-563-5808

*         Nova Scotia: Email novascotia.ca/servicedogs
<http://novascotia/.
ca%2Fservicedogs&data=05%7C02%7C%7C3d836ce788734237c7a008dc6ec3f785%7C84df9e
7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638507035174085604%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZs
b3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7
C%7C%7C&sdata=PB6w1s31EJt57yw01wClN0J7T25HQ0FGInYsP5bSeYk%3D&reserved=0>  or
call 888-760-5577

*         Ontario: Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario

Our mailing address is:

Guide Dogs for the Blind
National Headquarters
P.O. Box 151200
San Rafael, CA 94915

 <tel:8002954050> 800-295-4050

<https://communications.guidedogs.com/l/896181/2023-07-03/wdnl1/896181/16884
26581PJ3jSt83/Candid_GDB_2023.png> 

Theresa Montano
Senior Solutions Architect of Accessibility PMP/CSM
Technology Accessibility Program

P 303.862.1683

1575 Sherman Street, Denver, CO 80203
State Scoop Innovation Award 2022
International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP)

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