[IL-Talk] FW: A Guide Dog issue on PACE Paratransit that Needs Attention!

[Ray Campbell]

Hi All:

 

If anyone has had issues on Pace Paratransit with guide dogs, please reach
out to Pam directly.  I serve as Vice Chair of Pace's Suburban ADA Advisory
Committee and have not heard of this happening.

 

Thanks,

 

 

 

Ray Campbell

 <mailto:Ray153056 at gmail.com> Ray153056 at gmail.com

 

Blog: farmers-boy.livejournal.com

Twitter: @packerbackerray

Facebook:  <http://www.facebook.com/packerbackerray>
www.facebook.com/packerbackerray

 

From: Pamela Berman <pamelacberman at gmail.com> 
Sent: Wednesday, March 17, 2021 8:05 PM
To: pamelacberman at gmail.com
Subject: A Guide Dog issue on PACE Paratransit that Needs Attention!
Importance: High

 

Have you or do you know anyone who's been denied access on Pace Paratransit
because of a service animal? If so please contact me. 

On 6/29/18 I was denied access by a PACE Paratransit driver who claimed to
have allergies & would not transport me & my guide. I filed a formal
complaint with The Chicago Commission on Human Relations against Pace & MV
Transportation at that time and I've been working with an attorney from
Access Living ever since. Today was my much awaited mediation session with
attorneys & the Commission on Human Relations via Zoom. 

We are asking for paratransit drivers to be trained & the Pace attorney
feels this is an isolated incident & this isn't a case of training being
needed. Me & my attorney don't agree with that. I feel very strongly that
training is Needed! This isn't the first time I've been denied access by a
paratransit driver, but it's the first time I made a formal complaint about
it with the Commission. On 4/10/17 another paratransit driver refuse to
transport us because of her allergies. This happened after she was more than
40 minutes late & I was in a hurry to get to work.

I've had drivers insist I sit in the way back of an other than me empty
vehicle, I've had drivers tell me where they felt my guide would or wouldn't
fit and I've been disrespected more times than I can say.

Let's fix the problem & help PACE to do the right thing by training their
drivers and dispatchers!

Please let me know your issue with service animal upsets on Pace
paratransit. I look forward to hearing from you.

Thank You,

Pambo