[nagdu] Uber denies ride to blind man's service dog

[Dan Weiner]

I agree, however I would say that frankly even regular cab access is
terrible and the Uber thing is adding a whole new demension.
And the religious exemption is a crock of...well you fill in the word I
want.

Dan the frustrated

 

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jenine Stanley
via nagdu
Sent: Saturday, July 25, 2015 4:32 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Cc: Jenine Stanley
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Uber denies ride to blind man's service dog

Maybe this was a misquote but why is the man filing a complaint with the
EEOC? Is that the body in Maddison that handles these types of complaints or
am I missing something? 

My husband took Uber this week and one of the drivers said they all got a
series of memos instructing them to be prepared to carry service animals and
if they had religious or medical reasons not to do so, they were to wait
with the person. His driver also said it was suggested to carry a blanket or
old sheet for the dog to lie on in the car. Of course since most of our dogs
lie on the floor whenever possible, this wasn't necessary but the driver was
really excited to convey this info to my husband and his dog. 

I think, like so many other things, this whole system is a work in progress.
It's not going to be perfect, yet we can expect it to be so without being
unreasonable. 
Jenine Stanley
jeninems at wowway.com

http://www.twitter.com/jeninems

> On Jul 25, 2015, at 4:18 PM, Dan Weiner via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
wrote:
> 
> You know cab access is so rampant it's not even funny, and now Uber is 
> getting in to the act, My god, won't be too long, folks, till we won't 
> be able to get any cab rrides with our dogs.
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Ginger 
> Kutsch via nagdu
> Sent: Saturday, July 25, 2015 2:55 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Cc: Ginger Kutsch
> Subject: [nagdu] Uber denies ride to blind man's service dog
> 
> Uber denies ride to blind man's service dog
> 
> NBC News
> 
> Published: July 24, 2015, 10:52 pm
> 
> Source:
> http://ksn.com/2015/07/24/uber-denies-ride-to-blind-mans-service-dog/
> 
> MADISON, Wis. - A Madison, Wisconsin man says he was denied service by 
> an Uber driver because of his service dog.
> 
> 
> 
> It was the man's first time trying to use Uber, and he says it 
> couldn't have been a worse experience.
> 
> 
> 
> Dave Tolmie and Divit have been a pair for the last five-and-a-half years.
> And Divit is far from your average dog.
> 
> 
> 
> Tolmie was born blind, and he says his service dog, Divit, is a blessing.
> 
> 
> 
> Thursday, Divit needed his nails trimmed, so Dave ordered an Uber 
> after first checking it's website to make sure Divit would be welcome.
> 
> 
> 
> But, that was far from the case when the car rolled up.
> 
> 
> 
> Dave said, "He said, 'I have a problem with getting the dog in the 
> car.' I said, 'Oh it's ok, he's used to riding in the car.' He said, 
> 'No I don't want the dog in the car.'"
> 
> 
> 
> Dave says he told the driver that Divit was a seeing eye dog, and that 
> under the Americans with Disabilities Act he's allowed to go with him 
> everywhere he goes. But, Dave says the driver didn't care.
> 
> 
> 
> Dave said the driver cancelled his ride and charged a one dollar 
> cancellation fee.
> 
> 
> 
> According to a statement from an Uber spokesperson: "Driver partners 
> are instructed in ADA 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."
> 
> 
> 
> Dave says he's not so much concerned about getting his dollar back as 
> he is about making sure no one else has to go through what he did.
> 
> Tolmie has filed a complaint with the Equal Opportunities Commission 
> and the city of Madison, Wisconsin.
> 
> 
> 
> He says he's also contemplating getting a private attorney to handle 
> his case.
> 
> 
> 
> Tolmie says he's just lucky the trip wasn't an emergency.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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