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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>Thank you all so much for your interest in the responses. If you would please respond to me at my personal email, rather than on the email list. This is just to keep our email list a little less congested for everyone. Thanks so much. <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><a href="mailto:sharawinton@gmail.com">sharawinton@gmail.com</a><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><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>From:</b> Massachusetts-NFB <massachusetts-nfb-bounces@nfbnet.org> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Jennifer Bose via Massachusetts-NFB<br><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, July 20, 2023 10:10 PM<br><b>To:</b> NFB of Massachusetts E-mail List <massachusetts-nfb@nfbnet.org><br><b>Cc:</b> Jennifer Bose <jen10514@gmail.com><br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Massachusetts-NFB] Uber denials with the Ride flex<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I have been denied rides with my dog. That hasn’t happened to me through the Ride flex app, but I don’t use that program. Too much anyway right now. I will have to see once I use it a little bit more this month. I have had denials through Uber and Lyft, though, Once in a while from my home, but mostly when I’m somewhere else. <o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>It’s great that we are gathering this information and trying to do some thing about this pervasive problem.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Jen.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>Sent from my iPhone<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><br><br><o:p></o:p></p><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>On Jul 20, 2023, at 4:22 PM, Stephanie Paoli via Massachusetts-NFB <<a href="mailto:massachusetts-nfb@nfbnet.org">massachusetts-nfb@nfbnet.org</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p></blockquote></div><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>Hi Hai had many denials with over over the years. I think my most recent one was last year in August when I got denied it three times in a row. I have also been denied with Lyft, but I normally just use Uber due to the fact that I have the pilot program. The only difference is that when I have been denied with Lift, they have removed the drivers from the platform and giving me the access to what’s going on on the investigation. With Uber, I have only receive a credit back into my account and nothing else.<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>Sent from my iPhone<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><br><br><o:p></o:p></p><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>On Jul 20, 2023, at 1:43 PM, Shara Winton via Massachusetts-NFB <<a href="mailto:massachusetts-nfb@nfbnet.org">massachusetts-nfb@nfbnet.org</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p></blockquote></div><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p></o:p></p><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>From:</b> Justin Heard <<a href="mailto:braillemasterjustin@gmail.com">braillemasterjustin@gmail.com</a>> <br><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, July 20, 2023 9:49 AM<br><b>To:</b> NFB of Massachusetts E-mail List <<a href="mailto:massachusetts-nfb@nfbnet.org">massachusetts-nfb@nfbnet.org</a>><br><b>Cc:</b> <a href="mailto:sharawinton@gmail.com">sharawinton@gmail.com</a><br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Massachusetts-NFB] Uber denials with the Ride flex<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p>Good morning. <o:p></o:p></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><br><br><br><o:p></o:p></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><p class=MsoNormal>_______________________________________________<br>Massachusetts-NFB mailing list<br><a href="mailto:Massachusetts-NFB@nfbnet.org">Massachusetts-NFB@nfbnet.org</a><br><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/massachusetts-nfb_nfbnet.org">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/massachusetts-nfb_nfbnet.org</a><br>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Massachusetts-NFB:<br><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/massachusetts-nfb_nfbnet.org/stephanie.p.valdes%40gmail.com">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/massachusetts-nfb_nfbnet.org/stephanie.p.valdes%40gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></p></div></blockquote><p class=MsoNormal>_______________________________________________<br>Massachusetts-NFB mailing list<br><a href="mailto:Massachusetts-NFB@nfbnet.org">Massachusetts-NFB@nfbnet.org</a><br><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/massachusetts-nfb_nfbnet.org">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/massachusetts-nfb_nfbnet.org</a><br>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Massachusetts-NFB:<br><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/massachusetts-nfb_nfbnet.org/jen10514%40gmail.com">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/massachusetts-nfb_nfbnet.org/jen10514%40gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></p></div></blockquote></div></div></body></html>