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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Right now, we are simply attempting to find out the frequency of these denials and how it is affecting the riders. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>As this progress’s I will let you know. Thanks. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Shara<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>From:</span></b><span style='mso-ligatures:none'> Justin Heard <braillemasterjustin@gmail.com> <br><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, July 20, 2023 9:49 AM<br><b>To:</b> NFB of Massachusetts E-mail List <massachusetts-nfb@nfbnet.org><br><b>Cc:</b> sharawinton@gmail.com<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Massachusetts-NFB] Uber denials with the Ride flex<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p>Good morning. <span style='mso-ligatures:none'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p>What exactly is our goal? Are we trying to mount pressure on Uber, or pressure MBTA to remove rideshare from the Ride Flex program? <o:p></o:p></p><p>Service animal denials are frequent with both Uber and Lyft. I would hate for us to target Uber when Uber has, at least on the surface, been working with NAGDU. <o:p></o:p></p><p>Don't get me wrong. I'm all for pressuring Uber and Lyft to do their part in stopping discrimination. However, I would hate to see either Uber and Lyft disappear from the MBTA program. <o:p></o:p></p><p><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>On 7/19/2023 5:28 PM, Shara Winton via Massachusetts-NFB wrote:<o:p></o:p></p></div><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal>Hello All, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Most recently, Several RIDE Flex participants have shared repeated complaints an videos of Uber drivers refusing riders with service and guide dogs. The MBTA cannot legally use state and federal funding to subcontract with an entity that they are fully aware is discriminating against a subset of the population that they are contracted to serve. Uber states that "the state and federal law prohibits drivers using the Uber Driver app from denying service to riders with service animals because of the service animals and from otherwise discriminating against riders with service animals." However, this problem continues to happen. I am looking to gather stories relating to any guide or service dog users who have experienced any Uber or Lyft refusals, whether through the RIDE Flex paratransit program or the regular app. Would you all please share this message with your network and members?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Shara Winton<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>President, National Federation of the Blind of Massachusetts<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>617-304-0347<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:none'><br><br><o:p></o:p></span></p><pre>_______________________________________________<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>Massachusetts-NFB mailing list<o:p></o:p></pre><pre><a href="mailto:Massachusetts-NFB@nfbnet.org">Massachusetts-NFB@nfbnet.org</a><o:p></o:p></pre><pre><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/massachusetts-nfb_nfbnet.org">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/massachusetts-nfb_nfbnet.org</a><o:p></o:p></pre><pre>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Massachusetts-NFB:<o:p></o:p></pre><pre><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/massachusetts-nfb_nfbnet.org/braillemasterjustin%40gmail.com">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/massachusetts-nfb_nfbnet.org/braillemasterjustin%40gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></pre></blockquote></div></body></html>