[NABS-L] NABS-L Cab driver suspended

Tue Jul 17 20:59:56 UTC 2018

I can assure you that I've taken many many more than 6 flights. I can
also assure you that most attendants didn't even pay attention to the
service animal being checked. That said, I can tell you that sometimes I
was given an empty seat if it were available, but that kind of thing was
done at the gate--sometimes, rarely at the counter.

I can also tell you that I am the point of contact for Massachusetts for
the Lyft and Uber guide dog denial work that the NFB is doing. One of
these resulted in a lawsuit, the other resulted in structured settlement
and the NFB is extending resources to pursue this issue. While I am glad
that you have not been denied a cab due to a service animal, I've had it
happen to me many many times, and so have many other blind people. It's
important not to project your luck into these issues by saying that this
doesn't happen, then throw responsibility at the feet of those of us who
have been denied numerous times. I've probably had well over 100 Lyft
denials, and some of those were in cities I've taken flights too, well
over 6 flights as a matter of fact, some of them were in my own home city.

It's also worth note that it is not my obligation, nor my duty to
provide information that I have a guide dog to any cab company.
Conversely, it is my right, and the duty and obligation of the cab
company to follow federal law and not deny me simply because of a
service animal. This said, I have informed many Lyft drivers of the fact
that I do have a guide dog, and many times this concept doesn't sink in
because the drivers that end up denying me are shocked at the idea of a
dog in their car.
Thanks,
On 7/17/2018 4:52 PM, Ben Fulton via NABS-L wrote:
>
> I have taken 6 flights so far, and an extra seat has been provided on every
> flight. I guess it is because I extended the courtesy to let them know that
> I have a dog with me. Also, when ordering a cab, I've never had it take
> longer because I told them I have a dog. It hasn't been a problem at all,
> and I've never had a cab driver show up and then be unable to provide me
> with service. What responsibilities should lie with the person seeking
> accommodations in making their request known to the service provider, in a
> way that allows the service provider to provide those accommodations.
>
> Subject: Re: [NABS-L] NABS-L Cab driver suspended
> Message-ID: <5b4cde07.1c69fb81.5c72e.9333 at mx.google.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>
> Tyler is quite right. I travel by air and by cab all the time, and neither
> requires that I disclose my service animal. They offer that as a courtesy to
> those who wish to disclose, but we are not required. Under the law, your dog
> cannot take up more than your allotted seat space, so airlines do not have
> to give that to you. I know that some airlines, mainly in Canada, will give
> an extra seat upon request, but you still do not have to disclose. 
> Aleeha Dudley 
>
>
> Sent from Mail for Windows 10
>
> From: Littlefield, Tyler via NABS-L
> Sent: Monday, July 16, 2018 1:18 PM
> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
> Cc: Littlefield, Tyler; Ben Fulton
> Subject: Re: [NABS-L] NABS-L Cab driver suspended
>
> I travel a few times a year. airlines ask if you have a service animal, but
> they're not asking so they can keep the seat open. They will put someone in
> the seat next to you if it's a full flight, and if there's no room you need
> to learn how to position your dog properly.
>
> Taxi services -do not- need to ask you if you have a guide dog. They should
> legally transport you, and predisclosing this information ahead of time is a
> problem. I am, nor should I be required to disclose that I have a guide dog
> so that they can try to find a cab driver who will accept my dog, because
> that (from experience) takes longer to get a cab.
> Thanks,
> On 7/16/2018 1:08 PM, Ben Fulton via NABS-L wrote:
>> I am also a guide dog user. So, I can say that some airlines do 
>> require you to let them know if you are travelling with an animal. - 
>> Some of the webpages even have a button that asks yes/no if you have a
> service animal.
>> This makes sense if they are to have your dog in the cabin, they need 
>> to make sure there is room. I have never been charged extra, but the 
>> airline does need to know because they keep the seat next to you open for
> your dog.
>> Not to be on the seat, of course, but because there is not enough room 
>> for your dog at your feet, and blocking the aisle is a hazard. I have 
>> flown with my dog several times now. So, I know what I'm talking about.
>>
>> Similarily, when you are travelling with multiple people the cab 
>> companies want to know how many people, so they know what vehicle to 
>> send. - They are not collecting information about you specifically, 
>> I'm not reading anything in all of this that says that the person has 
>> to give their name, so all that I'm saying is that the companies know 
>> what they are transporting, not the name of you or your dog. Just if they
> need space that is suitable for a dog.
>> Like if I was booking a cab for four people, I would let them know, 
>> and if I didn't and the company sent a two-door hatchback I couldn't 
>> blame them for it.
>>
>> The law is that they cannot deny you, that person's with a diability 
>> need to be accommodated, but it must be possible for them to 
>> accommodate. The accommodations cannot create undue hardship. If they 
>> are attempting to accommodate and failure to communicate results in 
>> there being undue hardship in implementing the accommodations then the 
>> person with a disability will have a more difficult time in 
>> establishing that their rights have been violated.
>>
>>
>>
>> Subject: Re: [NABS-L] NABS-L] Cab driver suspended
>> Message-ID: <5b4bbea1.1c69fb81.cad4c.7068 at mx.google.com>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>>
>> As a service animal user myself, I feel that it is totally 
>> inappropriate for a taxi company to collect information about me and 
>> my service animal. The law says that allergies and fear of dogs are 
>> not reasons a driver can deny someone with a service animal. Airlines 
>> also do not require notice of travel with a service animal.
>> Aleeha
>>
>> Sent from Mail for Windows 10
>>
>> From: Ben Fulton via NABS-L
>> Sent: Sunday, July 15, 2018 4:01 PM
>> To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>> Cc: Ben Fulton
>> Subject: [NABS-L] NABS-L] Cab driver suspended
>>
>>
>> I agree. This is totally unacceptable. I wish that cab companies would 
>> start collecting information about whether the person requesting the 
>> ride has a service animal, so the company could send a driver who is 
>> not allergic. The data collection is lacking, and I wonder if any of 
>> the cab companies even ask their drivers about allergies.
>>
>> A number of airlines now ask about service dogs, and are quite 
>> accommodating when given the proper notice. Cab companies need to follow
> suit.
>> & what about the health risk that dog might experience riding in the
> trunk.
>> It seems like the dog might be breathing in more exhaust, it is 
>> certainly not legal for people to ride in trunks. The cabbie should 
>> have had dispatch send a replacement.
>>
>>
>>
>> Date: Sat, 14 Jul 2018 16:20:40 +0000
>> From: Armando Vias <a.vias at outlook.com>
>> To: "nabs-l at nfbnet.org" <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>> Subject: [NABS-L] Cab driver suspended
>> Message-ID:
>> 	
>> <BL0PR01MB40340D4130120FB7695834AB9E5F0 at BL0PR01MB4034.prod.exchangelab
>> s.com>
>> 	
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>>
>> Hey guys. I just came across the story. A cab driver got suspended for
> this.
>> It is about a blind woman and her service dog. Some of you might have 
>> heard about this. I believe that this is wrong. This is totally 
>> unacceptable. Here is the link.
>> https://abcnews.go.com/Health/Allergy/allergic-cabbie-forces-eye-dog-r
>> ide-tr
>> unk-fined/story?id=13791380
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>
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