[nagdu] discrimination by taxi and other transportation providers

Sat Jul 30 01:00:17 UTC 2011

Dear All,
    Let me share with you an actual experience I had. I am a professional 
entertainer, a solo act generally necessitating the use of a cab. Many of 
the cabbies in my area with the company I usually use, know me and like 
transporting me because I was a cab driver when I was sighted and going to 
school. I say this because I know the importance of a good tip. BTW, the 
word "tip" is actually an acronym that stands for "to insure promptness".
    One morning after a gig (about 3:00 am) I called for a cab. I did not 
tell them I had a dog; however, my cell number is associated with my call 
and there is a file on everyone who calls for a cab with some information, 
such as the person's name and address. Well, my file apparently indicated 
that I had a service dog. I waited an unusual length of time for a cab home. 
When the cabbie arrived, he said he came in from the airport (about 45 
minutes from where I was) because no one was bidding on the ride. He told me 
the dispatcher was asking, "Anyone in zone 58 willing to transport a dog?" 
The cabbie said he knew it was me and, since no one else bid on it, he knew 
it was worth the trip in to pick me up.
    I called the company the following day and filed a complaint with the 
county Public Transportation Comission, alleging I was discriminated against 
by the company because my file was flagged as having a service dog, 
resulting in an unequal benefit. The ADA states

"
(ii) Participation in unequal benefit. It shall be discriminatory to afford 
an individual or class of individuals, on the basis of a disability or 
disabilities

of such individual or class, directly, or through contractual, licensing, or 
other arrangements with the opportunity to participate in or benefit from a

good, service, facility, privilege, advantage, or accommodation that is not 
equal to that afforded to other individuals." (

42 USC 12182.)

Whether the place of public accommodation is a taxicab, hotel, health care 
facility, restaurant, or any other place, the presence of your service 
animal is irrelevant. By notifying them in advance that you will be 
accompanied by a service animal, you passively communicate that this is 
something they need to know about and, therefore, that there is something 
they need to do. Not knowing what that "something" might be, they will 
certainly make something up, setting you up for discrimination. Furthermore, 
alerting them in advance sends the message that this is proper protocol and, 
when someone does not provide advance notice, sets up an adversarial 
situation.

    I pose the following question on this topic for debate: What is the 
reason for giving advance notice that you will be accompanied by a service 
dog? I ask this question in an effort to offer a challenge to this practice. 
I promise my challenges will be respectful and dignified, definitely not 
attacking. This is a great issue for lively, respectful debate!

Fraternally yours,

Marion Gwizdala

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Michael Hingson" <mhingson at sbcglobal.net>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, July 29, 2011 7:58 PM
Subject: [nagdu] discrimination by taxi and other transportation providers

All,

I am with Marion on this.  Although some may feel that there is no wrong
answer I think that at some point we need to take a stand.  I personally
have found many instances when I gave advanced notification either I had
long delays, staff sent a huge van to take me instead of a taxi which in
turn caused delays, or other rules about how my dog was suppose to be
transported were made up.

The law is clear that we and our guides are to be treated the same as any
other passenger.  There is no excuse for any company providing
transportation to the public insisting on advanced notice for our guides.
There is no excuse for any such company permitting any of its drivers or
pilots to discriminate against us.

At the same time I do understand why some on this list take a different
tact.  While I will not say advanced notice is wrong I would encourage
everyone to work toward taking a strong stance.  If we do not company
personnel will never learn that discriminating against us is wrong.

Best,

Michael Hingson

The Michael Hingson Group, INC.
 "Speaking with Vision"
Michael Hingson, President
(415) 827-4084
info at michaelhingson.com
To learn more about my upcoming book, speaking topics and speaking
availability please visit www.michaelhingson.com
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-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Marion Gwizdala
Sent: Friday, July 29, 2011 4:05 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Re Guide Dog and taxis

Gary and all,
    I generally advise that one not give advance notice that we will be
traveling with a guide dog. The presence of the service dog is irrelevant to

whether or not they transport you. If the dispatcher broadcasts, "I'm
looking for someone willing to take a fare with a dog!" you may wait longer
for a ride than if they didn't know. This sets you up for the type of
discrimination known as an unequal benefit. I have dealt with several people

who gave advance notice and regretted it because of the long wait times.
JMHO!

Fraternally yours,
Marion

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "GARY STEEVES" <rainshadowmusic at shaw.ca>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, July 29, 2011 6:13 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Re Guide Dog and taxis

>
> Hi:
>
> Generally, I don't have a problem just telling the company I have a dog
> since, if there is the potential for an issue this should remove it. The
> issue I have and am going to talk to my current cab company about is that
> they have one letter symbols for things. I learned this two weeks ago when

> three trips in a row I got a van cab. I found out that my file had a V for

> van and A for animal. I think they need to add another symbol that
> represents service dogs since an animal is a bit vague. I got cabs who
> don't mind dogs but sometimes I think they believe it is a pet, especially

> cuz it's a poodle which they never see as guide dogs. Also, being that we
> are getting picked up right in front of my house and I've usually just
> been walking bogart around the block for his morning relief, he is often
> not in harness. the harness is in  my hand. However, why I use the same
> company all the time is so that many drivers get to know me and often show

> up with the front passenger seat put way forward to
> give Bogart more room and cute things like that.
>
> Gary
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Tami Kinney <tamara.8024 at comcast.net>
> Date: Friday, July 29, 2011 2:34 pm
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Re Guide Dog Forced to Ride in Trunk
> To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
>
>> Lyn,
>>
>> Well said. When I lived nearer to downtown, I would just tell the
>> dispatcher about the dog, although it seems they do have a note about
>> her attached to my number. This actually worked in my favor
>> there, where
>> you couldn't swing a cat without hitting one of their cabs. Now I'm
>> still in the Portland Metro area, but apparently this does not prevent
>> me living in the boonies as far as the cab companies are
>> concerned. So
>> I've learned to just fail to mention anything at all about a dog or
>> being blind or anything because that does seem to increase the
>> odds a
>> cab will get out here eventually. I've tried a couple of other
>> companiesthat supposedly serve this area, but... Sigh. Anyway,
>> if they want to
>> drive all the way out here and then refuse to take my dog, I
>> guess I'll
>> be putting up a big fuss about that, won't I? /evil grin/
>>
>> Then again, what with having a private driver and on-demand car
>> serviceright here, I guess I won't be giving many cabby's an
>> opportunity to
>> refuse me a ride because of my dog.  Ain't that just too
>> bad for
>> me. /lol/
>>
>> Either way, with cabs or hotel reservations or whatever, I tend
>> to do
>> what I believe is most likely to achieve the best results when
>> it comes
>> to deciding whether to mention the dog beforehand or not. Which
>> does not
>> mean I always make the right guess, but I have had few hassles, so
>> that's what matters to me. /smile/
>>
>> Tami
>>
>> On Thu, 2011-07-28 at 12:42 -0700, Lyn Gwizdak wrote:
>> > I agree with you, Bibi.  I will tell the cab dispach that
>> I have a guide dog
>> > and to just send a driver who has no problem with a dog.
>> this way, I get my
>> > cab and no BSing with the driver.  People do what you
>> feel is best for you.
>> > There's no right or wrong in this matter.
>> >
>> > Lyn and Landon
>> > ----- Original Message ----- 
>> > From: "Criminal Justice Major Extraordinaire"
>> <orleans24 at comcast.net>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National
>> Association of Guide Dog Users"
>> > <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> > Sent: Saturday, July 23, 2011 5:54 PM
>> > Subject: Re: [nagdu] Re Guide Dog Forced to Ride in Trunk
>> >
>> >
>> > > Hi, Brenda,
>> > > I remember when attending a couple of guide dog schools and
>> not hearing
>> > > one word or thing mentioned about if being asked by a cab
>> driver to put
>> > > the dog in a trunk of the car.
>> > > Thankfully, I've not had any experiences with that and
>> hopefully with my
>> > > fourth guide, that won't happen either.
>> > > I know many people here won't agree with what I'm about to
>> say here, but
>> > > here it goes...
>> > > There were times I'd just go ahead and let the cab company
>> know that I
>> > > have a guide dog and it did help and minimize a possible problem.
>> > > In the same aspect, I'd get a cab quickly too.
>> > > I only would do this during stressful situations to avoid
>> getting
>> > > frustrated around Odie.
>> > > He is one sensitive boy who would pick up on my anxiety
>> rather quickly.
>> > > If I knew where that dog handler was living here in
>> Colorado, I'd gladly
>> > > help her out or at least be willing to give her some
>> encouragement and
>> > > advice on dealing with situations like that.
>> > > unfortunately, I have no idea if she lives in Denver or
>> another city close
>> > > by to me.
>> > > If someone told me to put Odie in the trunk, I'd happily say
>> right on tthe
>> > > spot, "Would you like it if I just rolled you up and stuck
>> you in that
>> > > area?"
>> > > I know. I'm a tough person when it comes to stuff like that.
>> > > *Smiles*
>> > > Bibi and Odie
>> > > the retired one
>> > >
>> > > _______________________________________________
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et
>> >
>> >
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