[nagdu] Questions about Federal regs regarding paratransit

[Margo and Elmo]

Charlene, I just spoke with a couple of folks in the know about these 
things.

Generally speaking, they are not doing anything illegal by asking you to 
mention that your guide dog is accompanying you on each trip.  Now, it was 
suggested to me that perhaps it might be possible that the paratransit 
service might be using an outdated software program on their computers.  it 
was further suggested that they look at a software called Trapeze which is 
extremely accurate--not perfect but accurate.  For example, our paratransis 
sytem which is a very good and reliable system uses Trapeze.  On the 
application I filled out, I checked that I have a guide dog.  that info went 
into my records on this software and that fact automatically goes into my 
trip when I make a paratransit reservation.  the reason they like to know 
these things is to ensure comfortable space for the dog.  They also know 
about scooters, wheelchairs, PCA's and such to ensure space on the van.

hope this helps.

margo and Elmo
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Charlene Ota" <caota at hawaii.rr.com>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, January 21, 2009 11:27 PM
Subject: [nagdu] Questions about Federal regs regarding paratransit


> Several of us in Hawaii are having a problem with guide dogs on 
> paratransit.
> We've all notified the company and validated that the fact that we have
> guide dogs is in our records and the reservationists see this at the time 
> we
> make reservations.  However, even so, we're having a problem if we make a
> reservation when we are picked up we are at times given a hard time about
> because we didn't tell the reservationists that we have a service dog. The
> other day I was almost put out of a cab from one of the companies that
> paratransit contracts with. When I pointed out to the reservationists that
> it is in my record that I have a guide dog so why do I have to tell you
> every time that I take him she kept arguing that it's assumed that if you
> don't mention that you're taking the dog then you're not taking the dog. 
> She
> compared it to having a PCA. I tried to tell them that it's actually the
> norm for me to have my guide dog with me, but this didn't matter to her.
>
> So, my question is, can we be put off of paratransit if we don't
> specifically mention our dog every time we make a reservation? Is a 
> service
> dog or guide dog comparable to a PCA? Personally, I think this is going 
> too
> far and it is verging on discrimination.  Also, one final question, are 
> our
> HIPA rights violated when our information is discussed over the air of the
> radio or cell phone with the drivers?  To me, paratransit is public
> transportation and I don't feel they have the right to do some of these
> things. But, I need the Federal regs to do much about the situation.
>
> Any help would be appreciated.
>
> Charlene
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