[NAGDU] guide dogs and cabs, an interesting chat

Fri May 12 17:45:01 UTC 2017

The cab company that is the most relible and biggest where I live in
Louisiana is pretty good for the most part.  I have had two incidents with
them in the past year though, the first one a driver would not get his hands
off my dog, which the company claims to have made all drivers and employees
aware of the laws and also made them sign that they understood the laws
pertaining to service animals.  This was a complete lie a few months later
the cab company refused to transport me with out having documentation from a
doctor that I needed the dog.  Next time that happens, they are going to
have a bigger issue on their hands since they do not even acknowledge that I
sent them the laws pertaining to service animals both state laws and the
ADA.  
Jordan

-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of S L Johnson via
NAGDU
Sent: Friday, May 12, 2017 9:32 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Cc: S L Johnson
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] guide dogs and cabs, an interesting chat

Good Morning:

One thing I have done is to contact the owner of the cab company.  I discuss
the law and send them printed copies so they can distribute them to their
drivers.  Now this is no guaranty that I will never have a driver refuse to
take me but it might help.  Also, even though I know we do not have to tell
them in advance about our dogs, I always do and have never had a driver
refuse to take me once they arrive to pick me up.  They know in advance
about my dog so do not take the call if they do not want a dog in their
cars.  I prefer to tell them in advance because I live quite a distance from
the city where the cab companies are located and it would take a very long
time for them to send out a second car.  I know many of you think this hurts
the guide dog movement but it is what has worked for me over the past 42
years.

Sandra

-----Original Message-----
From: Cindy Ray via NAGDU
Sent: Friday, May 12, 2017 8:45 AM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Cc: Cindy Ray
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] guide dogs and cabs, an interesting chat

Well, some of these cabs are just independent. I think though that the
company or whoever gives them permission to drive publicly does not let them
know that they can't refuse people with service dogs. I am pretty sure Uber
and Lyft didn't do so regularly or at least have any consequences until this
agreement came about. I wonder what we could do to make cab companies
understand that this is the law. It is sure something for us to think about.

Cindy Lou Ray
cindyray at gmail.com

-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Dan Weiner via
NAGDU
Sent: Friday, May 12, 2017 6:07 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Dan Weiner <dcwein at dcwein.cnc.net>
Subject: [NAGDU] guide dogs and cabs, an interesting chat

Hello, beautiful people.

Dan here.

now, whenever I see the subject i put, guide dogs and cabs, my hackles go up
because I know what's coming. This one was positive, but the driver and I
had an interesting conversation I wanted to relate.

I took Parker to the vet for some recurrent ear infection problems.  I
called a cab.  Though I didn't mention a dog I imagine it wouldn't have been
too much of a surprise as it's a vet's office with the name "....
animal hospital".

The cab driver came in, a pretty cheerful fellow from Morocco and since I
had taken an Arabic class way back when we started talking in Arabic,
English and French.

Nothing said about my dog.

But sometimes I like to get in to the subject of guide dogs during the ride
and asked if he understood why I had the dog and said I was glad he had no
issue.

Now a more or less verbatim transcript.

The Drivers name will be Adam my name is Dan--lol

Adam: "well when I heard it was a vet, I thought I wouldn't take it, but you
know someone needs a ride so I figure why not."

Dan: I understand that, but you know I'm blind and this is a guide dog, you
understand when it's ervice dogs you're required to take them it's the law.

."

Adam:  what do you mean, law?"

Dan:

"The law says if it's a blind person with a guide dog or a person with a
disability with a service yodog you're required to take them."

Adam: "I don't mind taking your dog but most people with dogs the dog smells
and the person smells"?

Dan: "you're talking about blind people with dogs or service animals"

Adam: "No, what do you mean I'm talking about dogs."

Adam, (continuing)  "and then I'd have to clean up and what about people
with allergies".

Adam" if all dogs were like yours then why not...but why cna't I refuse if I
don't want someone"?

Dan: "I think if it's a pet dog you have a choice (not sure of that
though) but a guide dog or service dog it's the law"

Anyway, suffice it to say after some more good-natured talk I realized this
guy didn't seem aware of laws,  so here's the question...are
companies just not explaining this   requirement in a way that is
comprehensible and letting the drivers know that this is a serious thing, or
are people, drivers, deliberately or willfully ignoring it or just don't
care...

Any thoughts, guys.  If there is anything I can do to help with the cab
situation let me know, I don't use Uber or lift as I don't have an Iphone
this was just a regular cab.

Cordially,

Dan the man and Parker the non-smelly dog

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