<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div dir="ltr"></div><div dir="ltr">Hi all,</div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">I experienced five or six denials using Uber with my guy dog in mid winter to late spring 2023. I don't have the exact dates but definitely drivers would pull up to my home and deny me access to the ride. I am so happy to know that the NFB and ACB are working toward resolving the difficulty that we have using the service with our guide dogs. It infuriates me when I want to go somewhere and I am denied because I use a guy dog.</div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">Warmest regards,</div><div dir="ltr">Laurie Mattioli </div><div dir="ltr"><br>On Jul 20, 2023, at 1:43 PM, Shara Winton via Massachusetts-NFB <massachusetts-nfb@nfbnet.org> wrote:<br><br></div><div dir="ltr"><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><style>@font-face { font-family: "Cambria Math"; }
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--><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><span>_______________________________________________</span><br><span>Massachusetts-NFB mailing list</span><br><span>Massachusetts-NFB@nfbnet.org</span><br><span>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/massachusetts-nfb_nfbnet.org</span><br><span>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Massachusetts-NFB:</span><br><span>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/massachusetts-nfb_nfbnet.org/lacdm11%40gmail.com</span><br></div></body></html>