[NAGDU] FW: An Unfortunate Lift Incident

Wed Apr 26 16:48:12 UTC 2017

Cindy,

	I'm not sure what you mean by it not going to the list. Did you reject the message or did he not send it to the list. It seems from the headers that it was sent directly to you. I also saw a messageto the list with a subject line and response to him, I think.

Marion

Marion Gwizdala, President
National Association of Guide Dog Users Inc. (NAGDU)
National Federation of the Blind
(813) 626-2789
President at NAGDU.ORG

The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise expectations because low expectations create barriers between blind  people and our dreams. You can live the life you want! Blindness is not what holds you back.

-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Cindy Ray via NAGDU
Sent: Wednesday, April 26, 2017 10:04 AM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Cc: Cindy Ray
Subject: [NAGDU] FW: An Unfortunate Lift Incident

I am sending this message as it did not go through to the list.

Cindy Lou Ray, Moderator

From: james boehm [mailto:jimmydagerman80 at gmail.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, April 26, 2017 8:56 AM
To: Cindy Ray <cindyray at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: Your Last Message

Dear friends,

Unfortunately, it seems access denials  occur at the worst times. Yesterday, it jeopardized my guide’s life. I am so glad that starting in May we will work together as a federation, in strategic locations in the US, to ensure Lyft and Uber follow through with the settlement requirements to train all of their drivers. If they don’t we will know about it! Please find below my letter to the regional Lyft official explaining my experience yesterday. Also, below my letter , you will find a link that outlines Lyft’s policy and provides a direct phone number for any service animal who experiences an access denial.I ask for your prayers and thoughts as Shep recovers. He is a strong boy! Unfortunately, the tumor he had in his spleen was leaking into his abdomen and stomach. The cancer is circulated by the blood. Thus, there is no way of knowing where else the tumor spread as the tumor was rupturing. But the doctor hopes that we will have 6-12 more months with him. Thank you for all the wishes, emails, and texts I already received. You are all dear to my heart during this difficult time. Please find the letter and link below, which may help some of you in the future.

Dear friend,

 I hope you're doing well. I had a disastrous experience yesterday and wanted to let you know as well as get some information from you. Yesterday morning, my guide dog was not acting himself. He would not eat and he would just lay in pant. I knew something was wrong. So a few minutes before 8:45 AM I requested a lift driver. The driver arrived around 9:10 AM as I was walking with my guide dog towards the car which was parked across the street where we had to cross traffic the man yelled out the car that he would not transport us because he is afraid of dogs. I told him that Shep is my guide dog and as a service animal and I am a blind person with a disability. I told him that he is well trained and that he will condense himself in   the back floorboard of the car. I also told them kindly that it is a state and federal law and is a criminal offense and that my guide dog and I have to be transported but that I promise that he will be well mannered. The driver canceled the ride and just drove off and left me stranded. I had to then requested another Lyft driver. This was horrible because come to find out my guide dog had a ruptured spleen because of a tumor and was bleeding eternally and every minute counted. Fortunately , Shep my guide dog, is in stable condition, but the doctor said the delay could of jeopardized his survival. I immediately contacted the helpline and they took the information, sent me an email, but I have not heard from anyone else. I  replied to the email thread asking for assistance and for what information I should provide the Nashville police officer who filed the report without a response. Can you please contact me with the necessary information that I will need to provide Sargeant Snowden and the upcoming detective who will investigate the case. They will need to get further information on the driver so that charges can  be filed. I know you have been cooperative in the past, and I appreciate your attention to the matter. Feel free to contact me anytime today. 

Best,

James Alan Boehm

The following is the Lyft policy with the direct phone number to call. It may be a good number to store in your phone:

 https://help.lyft.com/hc/en-us/articles/214589657-Service-Animal-Policy#!

Lyft Link:

James Alan Boehm
Peabody College of Vanderbilt University
Human Developmental Counseling/Clinical Counseling: M. ED.

Contact Information:
Phone: 901-483-1515
Personal Email: jimmydagerman80 at gmail.com <mailto:jimmydagerman80 at gmail.com> 
Graduate Email: James.A.Boehm at Vanderbilt.edu <mailto:James.A.Boehm at Vanderbilt.edu> 
NFB Email: secretary at nfb-tn.org <mailto:secretary at nfb-tn.org> 
Kustom Cane: kustomcane at gmail.com <mailto:kustomcane at gmail.com> 

-Audrey Hepburn: "Nothing is impossible, the word itself says ‘I’m Possible'"
Live the life you want!

James Alan Boehm
Peabody College of Vanderbilt University
Human Developmental Counseling/Clinical Counseling: M. ED.

Contact Information:
Phone: 901-483-1515
Personal Email: jimmydagerman80 at gmail.com <mailto:jimmydagerman80 at gmail.com> 
Graduate Email: James.A.Boehm at Vanderbilt.edu <mailto:James.A.Boehm at Vanderbilt.edu> 
NFB Email: secretary at nfb-tn.org <mailto:secretary at nfb-tn.org> 
Kustom Cane: kustomcane at gmail.com <mailto:kustomcane at gmail.com> 

-Audrey Hepburn: "Nothing is impossible, the word itself says ‘I’m Possible'"
Live the life you want! 

On Apr 26, 2017, at 8:46 AM, Cindy Ray <cindyray at gmail.com <mailto:cindyray at gmail.com> > wrote:

Jimmy, I am so sorry to hear about Shep. Remember you are to report such incidents to the E-mail listed below:

Please be sure to email Tim Elder at  <mailto:telder at trelegal.com> telder at trelegal.comabout the incident.

Please be sure to email Tim Elder at  <mailto:telder at trelegal.com> telder at trelegal.com

Can y ou forward yhour message to me. I had accepted it and deferred all the spam but when I submitted the data it didn’t come through. If you could forward it to me, I can let it through.

Cindy Lou Ray, NAGDU List Moderator

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