[nagdu] Questions about Federal regs regarding paratransit

Margo and Elmo margo.downey at verizon.net
Thu Jan 22 21:04:21 UTC 2009


I agree, Craig, but what our system does is it knows the person has a guide 
dog so it always makes space for the person and his or her dog.  In other 
words, if they updated their software, that info would be there, the 
schedules would already be made so that space would be there and that could 
solve a bunch of  problems.

I do believe, however, like you, that if there is a problem that a van or 
sedan or whatever they use in their system could be dispatched or even a 
supervisor could come to get the person and take the person where he or she 
is going.

margo and Elmo
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <craig.borne at dot.gov>
To: <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, January 22, 2009 12:34 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Questions about Federal regs regarding paratransit


> Hi Margot,
>
> You are correct; the provider is not doing anything "illegal" when
> asking if she has a service dog with her.  However, I would argue that
> the provider is not within the law if it denies her a ride or terminates
> a ride simply because the driver did not know that a guide dog was
> present.  In Baltimore, our Paratransit has sedans and cut-away vans
> with lifts.  If three individuals are already in the sedan (1 up front
> and 2 in the back), then it might be reasonable to dispatch another
> sedan for the individual because 3 in the back of the sedan with a guide
> dog as well might not be safe or practical.  However, the fact that your
> records have that you are a guide dog user is ample notice to the
> provider.  The notion that "if you don't tell us, we will assume that
> you do not have your guide dog" is ridiculous.
>
> Craig
>
> Craig Borne
> NHTSA/DOT
> (202) 493-0627
> craig.borne at dot.gov
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Margo and Elmo
> Sent: Thursday, January 22, 2009 9:41 AM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Questions about Federal regs regarding paratransit
>
> 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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