[NAGDU] Rideshare Issues

[Jenine Stanley]

Thanks for the actual facts pertaining to the ADA and transporting service animals. Do you have a citation for these, i.e., a web site where you got them? Not at all doubting your facts here, just wanting to cite them to others outside this list. 😄

I also want to thank others here for noting that people may have differing reasons for notifying entities about their service animals prior to arrival. When I worked at America’s Vetdogs, many of our graduates had PTSD and it was often easier for them to notify first rather than have a denial at the location or with the service on the day of travel. These same people also found it easier to show their ID cards. I know that’s a topic that will get some people up in arms, and honestly, prior to working with people with PTSD and other conditions than blindness, I’d have been someone who forcefully spoke against showing ID. Doing so though with the phrase, “… it’s not required by law but …” was something we regularly advised and that did work for people. 

I can’t imagine the Halting anxiety that conflicts over your service animal can bring. I’ve had my share over the years and there’s no doubt that traveling with my dog does add stress when it comes to certain entities like ride share. So just offering support out there to anyone for whom identifying prior to travel helps with that anxiety. 

I’m also supporting those who are honestly afraid to say they do so on lists like this for fear of having to justify themselves. Yes, it can make access difficult for the rest of us at times when someone calls ahead or chooses to show ID. My guess though is that if it’s not over these issues, the denial will be about something else. People doing the denying often hide behind the showing of ID or calling ahead. Let’s unmask that and get to the real issues. What are those real issues? 

Maybe someone had a bad experience with a service animal team. Maybe they’ve just imagined they’d have a bad experience based on urban legend. Maybe they are just very uncomfortable around dogs and people with disabilities. Whatever these factors are, they are not my problems when it comes to accessing any entity and I’m not here to make that person comfortable. I’m lucky that from where I am in my own disability experience, I can stand with the laws and not feel as if I have to appease people. That’s not where everyone is though and I do need to accept that. 

OK, confusing ramble over. Thanks for the interesting topic. 

Jenine 

> On Jul 24, 2023, at 9:14 AM, Al Elia via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hello all. I wanted to clear up a few misconceptions about the law.
> 
> 1. Paratransit, taxis, and rideshares must transport you with your service animal;
> 2. Paratransit companies, taxi companies, rideshare companies, and drivers may ask you if your dog is a service animal, if you require it because of a disability, and what task it is trained to perform;
> 3. They cannot refuse to transport you because you have a service animal;
> 4. They may ask you beforehand if you have a service animal, though you are not required to answer;
> 5. At the point of transport, it is unclear whether a driver or company would face liability for failing to transport you if you do not answer the inquiries described in point 2 above at least once to either the driver or the company;
> 6. A company may not provide you worse service (e.g., delaying pickup) because you told them you have a service animal during the booking process;
> 7. Companies may, if they want to, provide you a better service (e.g., larger vehicle) at the same time and at  no extra charge because you told them you have a service animal during the booking process;
> 8. If you know that the company provides a better service if you inform them about your service animal  during the booking process, and you do not so inform them, you cannot demand the better service at the point of pickup, though the regular service is required to transport you.
> 
> 
> I hope these points have been helpful in clearing up any confusion.
> 
> Yours,
> 
> /Æ
> 
> Al Elia
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