[nagdu] Fwd: RE: Questions about Federal regs regarding paratransit SEE ATTACHED - HIGHLIGHTED AREAS

Ed and Toni Eames eeames at csufresno.edu
Fri Jan 23 01:33:58 UTC 2009


Dear Sharlene,

Below is a response from the Fresno Area Express director of 
paratransit services for the city.

Ed and Toni


>From: Greg Eisner <Greg.Eisner at fresno.gov>
>Subject: RE: [nagdu] Questions about Federal regs regarding paratransit  SEE
>  ATTACHED -  HIGHLIGHTED AREAS
>To: Ed and Toni Eames <eeames at csufresno.edu>
>Thread-topic: [nagdu] Questions about Federal regs regarding paratransit  SEE
>  ATTACHED -  HIGHLIGHTED AREAS
>Thread-index: Acl8UgsSVJVzD01fRdqwjf0rCDHQgwAYPi8A
>
>Ed and Toni-
>
>Unbelievable! No! You do not have to mention that you will be 
>traveling with a service animal when scheduling a trip. At least 
>according to Project Action which I consider the authority on these issues.
>I've attached and highlighted the excerpts that apply to your 
>situation from Project Action. It also sounds as though your HIPPA 
>rights were violated too although I'd get a legal opinion on that 
>one. Below is one of the  primary excerpts from Project Action that 
>addresses your issue. View the attached for greater detail.
>
>   #12) "Is the customer required to notify the transportation 
> provider that she will be traveling with a service animal when 
> scheduling a trip?"
>No. However, if a customer is applying for ADA complementary 
>paratransit eligibility, she may be asked if she will be traveling 
>with a service animal, just as she may be asked if she is traveling 
>with a wheelchair or other mobility aid.
>
>Hope this helps.
>
>Greg Eisner
>559-621-5588
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Ed and Toni Eames [mailto:eeames at csufresno.edu]
>Sent: Wednesday, January 21, 2009 9:15 PM
>To: dwight sayer; Paul Kwiatkowski; Greg Eisner
>Subject: Fwd: [nagdu] Questions about Federal regs regarding paratransit
>
>
> >From: Charlene Ota <caota at hawaii.rr.com>
> >Subject: [nagdu] Questions about Federal regs regarding paratransit
> >Sender: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org
> >To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,       the National Association of Guide 
> Dog Users'"
> >  <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> >Thread-index: Acl8ScJFZDb2ZhRqQXuGB78cL6L3XA==
> >
> >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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>
>
>
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