[nagdu] Concerns arise over Uber's accessibility for persons with disabilities
Cindy Ray
cindyray at gmail.com
Wed Jan 14 21:34:51 UTC 2015
I thought they did screen. My son-in-law was told he couldn't drive for them
because of his particular car. Anyway, I see what they are doing is calling
themselves a Ride Share, which implies that they don't have fixed rates. My
ex- used to belong to a ride share group that went to Ames. He had to pay
because he couldn't participate in the driving.
Uber is a technology company byt, though I've had good service from them
sofar, I'm not sure they should be exempt from whatever taxes and
requirements the taxicab companies have.
Cindy
-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Marion Gwizdala
via nagdu
Sent: Wednesday, January 14, 2015 2:51 PM
To: 'Abigail Bolling'; 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of
Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Concerns arise over Uber's accessibility for persons
with disabilities
Abigail,
I am generally opposed to any sort of advance notification of the
presence of a service dog. Places of public accommodation are required to
modify their policies, practices, and procedures to allow an individual with
a disability access to all the good and services enjoyed by other customers
unless doing so poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others,
imposes an undue burden, or if the animal is out of control and the handler
does not take immediate, effective action to correct the behavior. The
presence of a dog does not pose a direct threat to a person with allergies
to dog dander except in .05% of the public. This means that about 150,000
people in the U.S. have an allergy to dog dander that would pose a
significant risk to their health or safety.
I often hear others say they give advanced notification out of
consideration. I am not sure what this means. Should my drummer give
advanced notification to a restaurant, hotel, or taxicab that he is black?
Since both race and disability, including the presence of a service dog, are
irrelevant as to access, what is meant by consideration. What about their
consideration of you and your legal rights? Advanced notification only
serves to promulgate discrimination, not resolve it, as the entity wonders
why you told, them, what they need to do for you, and often provides an
unequal benefit as the result. JMHO!
Also, does everyone know that Uber does not screen its drivers, does
not require a mechanical inspection of their vehicles, and their drivers do
not have any additional insurance coverage other than what is required for a
private vehicle? Commercial vehicles require specific insurance because
their exposure to risk is so much higher.
Marion Gwizdala
Uber contends that it is not a public accommodation; rather, they
say they are a technology company. As the Chair of the Hillsborough County
Public Transportation Cimmission stated yesterday, no matter how a vehicle
is dispatched, if what happens is someone pays for a ride in a vehicle, that
vehicle is a taxicab. Taxicabs are places of public accommodation.
-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Abigail Bolling
via nagdu
Sent: Wednesday, January 14, 2015 11:02 AM
To: Ginger Kutsch; NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog
Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Concerns arise over Uber's accessibility for persons
with disabilities
Personally, for UBER, I use the IPhone app...
But, when I call for a regular taxi, I make sure I tell them I have a
service dog... Out of respect for the Driver.
What do you guys think about having the UBER app add an option where you can
let them know if you have a dog or a wheelchair... Just because most of the
uber or lift drivers are using their own personal vehicles.
Especially for a wheelchair. because then maybe at the base dispatch they
could have a few wheelchair vehicles available.
Thoughts?
Abigail Bolling
"Keep a smile on your face and a song in your heart, and just let the music
play." (Julie Anderson Diamond)
> On Jan 14, 2015, at 8:22 AM, Ginger Kutsch via nagdu
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
wrote:
>
> Concerns arise over Uber's accessibility for persons with disabilities
>
> By Caitlin Johnston
>
> Tuesday, January 13, 2015
>
> Source URL:
> http://www.tampabay.com/news/transportation/concerns-arise-over-ubers-
> access
> ibility-for-persons-with-disabilities/2213526
>
>
>
> TAMPA - Ride-share company Uber has operated around Tampa Bay since
> April, but advocates are concerned that the company has no
> wheelchair-accessible vehicles here and that its representatives seem
> misinformed on federal regulations.
>
>
>
> A representative from Uber discussed concerns with advocates and
> community members during a forum Tuesday organized by the Hillsborough
> County and Tampa Mayor's alliances for people with disabilities.
>
>
>
> Ana Mahony, Uber's general manager for Tampa, said the ride-share
> company is piloting programs in several cities in hopes of finding the
> best method of providing services for people with disabilities.
>
>
>
> Tampa, however, is not one of those cities. Currently, there is no way
> for riders in Tampa to request a wheelchair-accessible vehicle, Mahony
said.
>
>
>
> "I would love to be able to do something like that here,'' she said.
> "Those kinds of situations require partnerships. . Right now we don't
> have the luxury of being able to test something like that."
>
>
>
> Uber, which connects passengers with nearby drivers via a smartphone
> app, has several variations on its typical rideshare model that could
> improve service here for people with disabilities, Mahony said.
>
>
>
> UberWAV, which is only available in New York City's outer boroughs,
> allows users to request a wheelchair-accessible vehicle. UberASSIST
> aims to assist seniors, but does not have wheelchair-accessible ramps.
> UberACCESS, according to its website, does include vehicles with a ramp.
>
>
>
> But wheelchairs are only a part of the ongoing discussion about
> accessibility. Marion Gwizdala, president of the National Association
> of Guide Dog Users, said he was worried when Mahony said that drivers
> are not required to provide rides for service dogs if the drivers have
allergies.
>
>
>
> A second Uber representative, spokeswoman Kaitlin Durkosh, confirmed
> Mahony's statements to a reporter later in an email.
>
>
>
> "Driver partners are instructed in (Americans with Disabilities Act)
> regulations and while they are permitted under the law not to take a
> service animal for issues like allergies, safety or religious beliefs,
> drivers with those concerns are directed to wait with the rider until
> another Uber arrives," Durkosh wrote.
>
>
>
> According to ADA regulations, allergies and fear of dogs are not valid
> reasons for denying access or refusing service to people using service
> animals.
>
>
>
> "I'm concerned that they don't want to be regulated, and they're not
> fully aware of what their responsibilities are under ADA," Gwizdala said.
>
>
>
> Ben Ritter, co-chair of the Tampa Mayor's Alliance for Persons with
> Disabilities, said he was glad there was such a strong turnout and
> thought the conversation was productive. However, he doubts whether
> Uber or other ride-share companies will enact any changes.
>
>
>
> "They're not going to do anything until they're forced to," Ritter said.
> "They're not going to make these changes because they don't have the
> incentive."
>
>
>
>
>
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