[nagdu] EXTERNAL:Re: Cab drivers in DC pass blind people with guide dogs

Thu Sep 9 12:58:44 UTC 2010

Jewel, you don't have a dog, at least not that I know of. A better
anology for you might be a doctor's office. Would you be okay with a
receptionist who had dislexia telling you to "bring someone with you"
because she can't assist with filling out paperwork? Would you be okay
giving personal medical info to a friend? Would you be okay with the
power imbalance that might cause? Would you trust that friend to take
down your information accurately?Would agreeing to this treatment cause
the doctor to treat you as a child instead of an adult? How would that
impact your overall care? 
It's very easy to say "Just go to another doctor" and that may indeed be
the solution. But, how pracitcal is that? 
I had such an encounter with a receptionist some months back. In theory,
I could have "just gone to another doctor" but I'd already taken the day
off work, I needed a prescription, something that you do need a doctor
to sign off on, and I was in pain. Why should i suffer any more
discomfort then anybody else? And, laws are on my side what with HIPA.
Why should I agree to someone breaking the law? 
Finally, if I am expected to pay for the goods and services I consume as
an adult would, why should I be okay with not being treated as an adult
in terms of how I am treated? 
Your theory makes sense, and your application makes sense. It just
doesn't work on a practical level, nor should it. You don't have a dog,
and you are very young. I'd be curious to see how your attitudes change
once you have some more experience. Just wait until you are told "John
can't take you, wait for someone else" and you very much need or want to
be someplace. 

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Jewel S.
Sent: Thursday, September 09, 2010 6:37 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: EXTERNAL:Re: [nagdu] Cab drivers in DC pass blind people with
guide dogs

I have to politely disagree.  A person with a severe allergy to dogs
has a smuch right to be a taxi driver as a blind person has the right
to be an engineer or plumber.

And if the allergy is a disability, then it is not a possibility of
not having a job based on that allergy. That would be discrimination
under the ADA and a possible lawsuit.

See, what I think I see is that people want their accommodations met,
and don't give a rat's butt if it interferes with the needs of someone
else. If a person can handle a dog nearby for a few moments, but can't
handle the dander on the cab's upholstery for the hours that it will
remain after, why shouldn't they be allowed to refuse based on special
accommodation and provide alternative transportation.

personally, my feeling is that if it is such a major concern, call the
company beforehand and request a driver that isn't allergic. Why hail
a cab off the streets in this day of cell phones? Just call the
company and ask for a cab, and it'll be there in 5 minutes.

If the problem is with a particular company, then don't call that
company, and tell eveyrone you know about the problem you had with
them. The fewer clients, the less likely that company will be around.

Me, if I were told I couldn't ride because of a severe allergy, I'd
say "That's fine, as long as yuo have a second taxi here within 10
minutes. 10 minutes will not make a difference. If it is going to make
a difference between getting on time to an interview or work and being
late, you need to give yourself more time! Ten minutes is not enough
leave-way.

I think we'll just have to agree to disagree on this one. I am willing
to "bend over backward" as you call it. I am willing to accommodate
other people's special needs in return for them accommodating mine.
How can we say we want our accommdations met, but not meet the
accommodations of others? Isn't that rather hypocritical?

On 9/9/10, Dan Weiner <dcwein at dcwein.cnc.net> wrote:
> Well, my friend:
> I am going to sound combative, but I am expressing an honestly held
opinion,
> an opinion which is not meant in any way to belittle you as I'm sure
you're
> a nice person and so on.
> Give me a break, is my opinion.
> I think that a lot of us are really too much in to bending over
backwards to
> accommodate, in quotes.
> Malarkey.
> It is necessary for companies, entities to accommodate the presence of
a
> service animal because of the special status service dogs, etc. have
been
> given in society.  This is the result of long struggle and advocacy.
> We are not the ones to do the accommodating, jeeze.
>
> I will quote both my sister, who has bad dog and cat allergies, and a
doctor
> I spoke to.
> The instance of dog allergies is quite a bit less than sever cat
allergies.
> The instances of severe medical consequences from dog dander is
actually
> rare.
> Discomfort someone might have is, and frankly should be, none of my
concern.
> And now the doctor: he told me that if a dog dander allergy were
severe,
> then the person would react to even dander brought in on someone's
cloths,
> packages, shoes, etc.  So, where do we draw the line.
>
> I base a lot of my opinions on the experience with my sister, c, who
can't
> have dogs and cats in her house and so on.. She has been a royal burr
in my
> rear since I got a dog, but we've had discussions and she's in total
> agreement about the guide dog  access issue.
>
> What is this, because I have a guide dog I have to spend my whole life
> bending over backwards to be considerate.
>  I don't think so. Now, you are saying,  don't you want to be
considerate?
> Yes, but only in the same way I'm considerate to everyone everywhere I
go,
> not a special consideration for dumb ass cab drivers who have a thing
or an
> imagined thing about dogs.  Boy, that felt good, let it all out
Dan--lol.
>
> My consideration is shown in my brushing my dog, in my keeping him
> well-behaved, etc.
>
> If these guys would just suck it up and do their job then life would
be much
> simpler.
>
> A severe allergy, as I think I stated so wordily in another
> message--smile--if it is a disability would require a record of such
and
> drivers I've talked to don't want that because then it could be a
reason for
> them not to have the job in the first place.
>
> I'm not sure either, Jewel, that that's such an original
accommodation, in
> quotes.
> Plenty of drivers in Maryland told me I'd have to have another cab or
they
> called dispatch.  The point is it doesn't wash.
> As long as a significant amount of the guide dog using population
feels that
> we're walking on eggs and the mere fact of being allowed treatment
with
> dignity is such a hardship for the public, the longer this will go on.
>
> Now, I need my coffee.
>
> Remember, the only thing I know about you or anyone else here is what
you
> say on the list, so please don't take it personally.
>
> Cordially,
>
> Dan W. and the big black bear, I mean dog, Carter
>
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-- 
~Jewel
Check out my blog about accessibility for the blind!
Treasure Chest for the Blind: http://blindtreasurechest.blogspot.com

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