[NAGDU] Hello, and Uber Letdown

Thu Mar 9 19:31:13 UTC 2017

Hello Joe, no I don't do this. What I do however, is have my phone on 
hand, ready to record. So, if driver shows up and cancels on me, I tell 
him that I'm going to get it on camera. I also try to work with them, 
not against them by telling them they have rights too. For example, if 
my dog were not a service animal or if my dog were acting up, barking, 
biting, ETC, he would have the right to refuse me.

I don't generally tell the Uber drivers I am blind or have a dog unless 
it becomes a matter of finding me.

Hope that helps.

--
Raul A. Gallegos
Assistive Technology Trainer - RGA Tech Solutions
Voice and Text: 832.554.7285
Office: 832.639.4477
Personal Email: raul at raulgallegos.com
Work Email: training at rgats.com
Twitter: @rga7285 and @RGATrainer

“Any teacher that can be replaced with a computer, deserves to be.” - 
David Thornburg

On 3/9/2017 1:15 PM, Joe Orozco via NAGDU wrote:
> Has anyone ever used the Contact feature to alert the Uber or Lyft
> driver to the presence of a guide dog? I know, I know, we shouldn't
> have to do this, but in terms of efficiency, I would rather we get the
> potential discrimination out of the way up front so I can go about my
> business and file my complaint. I understand it becomes harder to
> prove discrimination if you handle it this way, but I have never had a
> driver cancel on me thus far. I would imagine they would if the dog
> was a problem? I don't know. I'm curious about people's thoughts
> though.--Joe
>
> On 3/9/17, Cindy Ray via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> There has been a class action settlement gainst Uber on these issues in
>> California, and it hold nationally. The National Federation of the Blind
>> has
>> lawyers, but I can't remember how to reach them. One is Tim Elder, and I
>> can't remember the name of the other. We will get you the information so
>> that you can contact them.
>>
>> Cindy Lou Ray
>> cindyray at gmail.com
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Ed Rizzuto via
>> NAGDU
>> Sent: Thursday, March 9, 2017 12:56 PM
>> To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
>> Cc: Ed Rizzuto <edrizzutolaw at gmail.com>
>> Subject: [NAGDU] Hello, and Uber Letdown
>>
>> Hi folks,
>>
>>
>>
>> I'm new to this list, and a new guide dog user.  I returned home from
>> training two weeks ago with my German Shepherd and it's going well, for the
>> most part. I live in Durham, North Carolina.
>>
>>
>>
>> I'm pretty sure the following situation is not a first. I'd appreciate any
>> help in how to proceed.
>>
>>
>>
>> I use Uber on an almost daily basis.  Last Thursday, I requested a ride to
>> my daughter's school, I confirmed the ride, it was picked up by a driver, I
>> waited 17 minutes, the driver arrived and pulled into my driveway.  I
>> approached the car with my dog in harness.  The driver stated through the
>> passenger side window: "I'm not taking the dog."  I explainted that I am
>> blind and that the dog is my guide dog. I explained the law and  explained
>> Uber's policy. The driver just kept repeating, "I don't care, the dog can't
>> ride in my car."  He locked the rear passenger door. He backed out of my
>> driveway and drove off.
>>
>>
>>
>> I filled out the'service dog issue' report template on the Uber app and a
>> support rep called me several days later.  The rep advised that Uber takes
>> these matters seriously, that the driver would be re-notified of his
>> obligations and that the driver would have to re-affirm his understanding
>> of
>> the law and Uber's policy, and that he must allow service dogs to ride.
>> The
>> support rep advised that the driver may face permanent termination from the
>> Uber program if he committed another violation.
>>
>>
>>
>> In my view, Uber's response and policy amounts to an
>> 'at-least-one-free-pass' anti discrimination policy with no consequences to
>> the driver and no compensation for the aggrieved guide dog user.  Uber's
>> software does not even allow me an opportunity to rate this driver as I was
>> not charged.  The driver will undoubtedly never pick up a ride request from
>> me or from my home address again.  He simply gets away with this and the
>> Uber pool of drivers available to me is down by 1.
>>
>>
>>
>> My question to the group members is.. To the extent you've experienced
>> similar discrimination, have you had any more of a positive outcome?
>>
>>
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Ed
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Edward Rizzuto
>>
>> (530) 570-7000
>>
>> edrizzutolaw at gmail.com
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> NAGDU mailing list
>> NAGDU at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> NAGDU:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/cindyray%40gmail.com
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> NAGDU mailing list
>> NAGDU at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> NAGDU:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/jsoro620%40gmail.com
>>
>
> _______________________________________________
> NAGDU mailing list
> NAGDU at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for NAGDU:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/raul%40raulgallegos.com
>