[NAGDU] Guide dog school wish list

[Yiska]

Hi, I would have all schools have ownership, communicate with service dog
schools for cross training, more blind staff, positive reinforcement more
even salary between trainers and the CEO or more fair wages.

On Sun, Nov 3, 2024, 6:18 PM David Andrews via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
wrote:

> Blind people can, and do make good travel
> teachers -- but aren't automatically so just
> because they are blind. Likewise we shouldn't
> probably make generalizations based on the experiences with one person.
>
> Dave
>
> At 09:22 AM 11/3/2024, you wrote:
> >Hi, I have had a blind O&M instructor but not a
> >dog trainer. When I was between dogs I was doing
> >a bit of cane mobility refresher and we were
> >going to my bus stop. She was wondering how I
> >could easily find my stop and I explained if I
> >followed the building line until we reach the
> >driveway which is marked with tactiles. Then I
> >follow the tactiles down to the road and then I
> >am at my stop. The thing was the instructor
> >didn't know the tactiles were there and she bent
> >down to look at them to see what I was talking
> >about. Ok, I could have suggested this was the
> >first time she had come across them if they were
> >out of the way except this bus stop was down the
> >road from their office so she probably did allot
> >of walking around the area. It made me wonder
> >how good it was to have an instructor who also
> >has a vision impairment. That instructor has
> >moved on now and last time I saw her she had her
> >own seeing eye dog. I'm not sure how that goes
> >wen you are trying to teach others to find
> >places with their canes. From Shaz. Canberra,
> >Australia. I don’t suffer from insanity; I
> >enjoy every minute. -----Original Message-----
> >From: NAGDU <nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf
> >Of Buddy Brannan via NAGDU Sent: Wednesday, 30
> >October 2024 7:45 AM To: NAGDU Mailing List, the
> >National Association of Guide Dog Users
> ><nagdu at nfbnet.org> Cc: Buddy Brannan
> ><buddy at brannan.name> Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Guide
> >dog school wish list There are at least two
> >schools who have, or have had, blind CEO’s:
> >the Seeing Eye and Guiding Eyes. Many of them
> >have some blind staff members and members of
> >their boards of directors. Trainers is,
> >apparently, a bridge too far for some, because
> >no one’s had one of those yet, even though
> >many of us have successfully trained guides,
> >even for other people. I’d love to see blind
> >guide dog trainers though. -- Buddy Brannan,
> >KB5ELV, WRVB670 - Erie, PA Email:
> >buddy at brannan.name Mobile: (814) 431-0962 > On
> >Oct 29, 2024, at 2:42 PM,
> >whistlersmothersson--- via NAGDU
> ><nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote: > > I can agree with
> >this. But why should the blind people have the
> >menial jobs? Why not a blind CEO, blind Director
> >of Marketing, or even blind guide dog
> >trainers? > > Mike > > > -----Original
> >Message----- > From: NAGDU
> ><nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Tara
> >Briggs via > NAGDU > Sent: Tuesday, October 29,
> >2024 10:20 AM > To: NAGDU Mailing List, the
> >National Association of Guide Dog Users >
> ><nagdu at nfbnet.org> > Cc: Tara Briggs
> ><thflute at gmail.com> > Subject: [NAGDU] Guide dog
> >school wish list > > Hi Kary and others on this
> >list! Kary, I think you made some good points in
> >your last email. Would anyone else like to chime
> >in? If you were suddenly appointed president of
> >a dog guide school, with unlimited powers to
> >enact any changes you wish, what would they be
> >and why? I look forward to everyone’s replies.
> >Personally, I would start by hiring a lot more
> >blind employees. For example, I don’t see why
> >the staff in the dorms couldn’t be blind
> >people with experience using a dog. > — > Tara
> >Briggs > Check out my podcast, Crip PParenting
> >on your podcast platform of choice. > >> On Oct
> >29, 2024, at 7:59 AM, Kerry Macdonald via
> >NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote: >> >> Hi
> >Mike, I like how you tell it like it is lol. >>
> >I’m sorry you had that experience and can’t
> >agree with you more. I think unfortunately a lot
> >more of this is going on today. Personally, I do
> >not like the direction that many of the schools
> >are going. I am glad to say that we still have
> >some schools like Freedom, the Seeing Eye and a
> >couple of others, who treat us with dignity and
> >respect. However, I don’t know if others will
> >agree with me or not, but I feel like it is
> >trending the other way in some cases. I wonder
> >if there is a way for us as consumers to make
> >our voices heard with the schools and let them
> >know what we want from them, as well as them
> >telling us  What they would like from us. It is
> >a relationship and works both ways. >>
> >Personally, I do not like how so many of the
> >schools that we have in this country have
> >switched to food reward anas their main method
> >of training and do not offer  unconditional
> >ownership. >> I understand that not everyone
> >wants this, but I believe if schools thoroughly
> >vet their clients during the application process
> >that it should be offered as an option for those
> >who do want it. >> Also, I know financially, the
> >schools have to consider the breeds that makes
> >sense, but I would like to see them begin to
> >offer more of a variety of breeds. Again, I do
> >not want to offend anyone, however, personally,
> >I do not want to work with a lab, and as someone
> >who doesn’t, my choices are becoming more and
> >more limited. >> For me, basically, all I am
> >saying is, I would like to advocate for more
> >choice, and more of a partnership between us and
> >our schools. After all, without us, the schools
> >would not have programs at all. >> >> I do not
> >want to start a bunch of controversy on here,
> >this is just my opinion based on recent
> >observations as I research some schools to help
> >a couple of my friends out. I feel like,
> >although there are many schools in this country,
> >most of them, with a couple of exceptions are
> >basically cookie-cutter copies of one another to
> >a large degree. >> Anyway, just my opinion I do
> >not want to offend anyone. Take care. >> >>
> >Kerry >> Sent from my iPhone >> >>> On Oct 28,
> >2024, at 2:21 PM, Cindy Ray via NAGDU
> ><nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote: >>> >>> Maybe we
> >ought to change the subject line on this thread.
> >I’m not >>> moderator anymore, but I thought
> >about it as I finished making the >>> same
> >error.Patronism by guide dog schools was Cindy
> >Lou Ray Sent >>> from my iPhone >>> >>>>> On Oct
> >28, 2024, at 12:30 PM, Jody ianuzzi via NAGDU
> ><nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote: >>>> >>>> Hello
> >Mike, >>>> >>>> I'm sorry that you had that
> >experience getting your guide dog. I had just
> >the opposite experience at the Seeing Eye. Their
> >motto is independence with dignity. I felt very
> >respected as well as respecting everyone there.
> >Maybe you should consider Seeing Eye for your
> >next dog. >>>> JODY >>>> >>>> To Boldly
> >Go  🭭🠻 >>>> >>>> >>>>
> >thunderwalker321 at gmail.com >>>> >>>> "What's
> >within you is stronger than what's in your
> >way."  NO >>>> BARRIERS  Erik
> >Weihenmayer >>>> >>>>>> On Oct 28, 2024, at
> >11:38 AM, whistlersmothersson--- via NAGDU
> ><nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote: >>>>> >>>>>     In
> >my opinion, the value of a guide dog is all a
> >marketing tool for programs to justify grant
> >requests and solicit donations. It seems to be
> >based upon the annual budget of the program and
> >how many dogs they place. I also think that some
> >CEOs are very overpaid for running a nonprofit
> >organization. For instance, titus Herman who
> >runs Southeastern Guide Dogs is paid nearly
> >$500,000. And his former job as a Goodwill
> >executive should tell us everything about his
> >perspective on the capacity of disabled people.
> >Finally, one only needs to look at the direction
> >of Southeastern Guide Dogs and their recent name
> >change to Dogs Inc. to know their commitment to
> >training guide dogs. I do believe people with
> >talent should be well compensated for their
> >talent but this sort of salary for the leader of
> >a nonprofit is obscene! >>>>> >>>>> This being
> >said, I earn much more than Mr. Herman, yet
> >while at Southeastern, I was treated like a
> >child and talked down to. Titus would walk
> >around the building like he was some sort of
> >overseer checking out his
> >sharecroppers. >>>>> >>>>>
> >Mike >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -----Original
> >Message----- >>>>> From: NAGDU
> ><nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Margo
> >Downey >>>>> via NAGDU >>>>> Sent: Monday,
> >October 28, 2024 11:09 AM >>>>> To: 'NAGDU
> >Mailing List, the National Association of Guide
> >Dog >>>>> Users' <nagdu at nfbnet.org> >>>>> Cc:
> >Margo Downey <margo.downey at roadrunner.com> >>>>>
> >Subject: Re: [NAGDU] FW: Uber Almost Got Me
> >Killed!    >>>>> >>>>> Actually, last I heard,
> >our dogs are woth $70,000. >>>>> >>>>> Margo and
> >Tami >>>>> >>>>> -----Original
> >Message----- >>>>> From: NAGDU
> >[mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
> >Jody >>>>> ianuzzi via NAGDU >>>>> Sent: Monday,
> >October 28, 2024 9:58 AM >>>>> To: NAGDU Mailing
> >List, the National Association of Guide
> >Dog >>>>> Users >>>>> Cc: Jody ianuzzi >>>>>
> >Subject: Re: [NAGDU] FW: Uber Almost Got Me
> >Killed! >>>>> >>>>> A friend and I were
> >discussing this situation. The driver of the
> >Mercedes kept talking about how his car was
> >worth $60,000 and didn't want it ruined by the
> >dog. Hey! Our dogs are worth $60,000 and we
> >don't want them ruined by Uber
> >drivers! >>>>> >>>>> I am horrified that a
> >department of justice and the local Judge did
> >not take the assault and battery charges
> >seriously! We already know Uber is not on our
> >side but the law should be on our side!
> >Hopefully the lawyers  that witnessed the
> >situation will pursue this situation with the
> >state attorney general office. >>>>>
> >JODY >>>>> >>>>> To Boldly
> >Go  🭭🠻 >>>>> >>>>> >>>>>
> >thunderwalker321 at gmail.com >>>>> >>>>> "What's
> >within you is stronger than what's in your
> >way."  NO >>>>> BARRIERS  Erik
> >Weihenmayer >>>>> >>>>>>> On Oct 26, 2024, at
> >4:11 AM, whistlersmothersson--- via NAGDU
> ><nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>> I
> >looked at old messages from this group and see a
> >lot about Uber. I got this from another group
> >and thought you would like to read
> >it. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> A True Story of
> >Discrimination >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>>
> >  >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>>
> >  >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>
> > >>> Advocates for >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Service
> >Animal Partners
> >Inc >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>>
> >ServiceAnimals.info >>>>>> >>>>>>
> >Advocacy411 at gmail.com
> ><mailto:Advocacy411 at gmail.com> >>>>>> >>>>>>
> >Office: 386-ASAP411 >>>>>> >>>>>> Hotline:
> >855-ASAP211 >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>>
> ><https://mpm5jphbb.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001EwA3wHfZ5QnDL9JT_aC0Mf8
> > >>>>>> 0 >>>>>>
> >3-saTFkMjDdqoPJOQnPE7uVpgzsomXZxSKbcMTbOM5TvuymLx44KdBBHxd1QJxpe4
> > >>>>>> 9 >>>>>>
> >EJ9JT4gHFNxMPIXsDFAzK20lY-XC_Qb9Z9D8DdG3pRWeJH2EIk215fQZQ0GCZDZs3
> > >>>>>> g >>>>>>
> >Y0xD&c=0fEbX--K6jxKcm12gS8gQjsfejSAVXU1_SQnoDAKh2C_67OhW9XIDw==&c
> > >>>>>> h
> >=CCMAxqwVqgGz-gFFX5L2yMFD9qsRHGN6cohq6WR4PGSLgJLuHUwsqA==>
> >ASAP >>>>>>
> >Website >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>>
> >  >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Uber Almost Got Me
> >Killed! >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>>
> >  Please circulate the following message as
> >widely as appropriate. If you received this
> >message as a forward and would like to receive
> >information directly from Advocates for Service
> >Animal Partners, please become a
> >partner. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> The
> >following article is reprinted with permission
> >of the National Federation of the Blind. Sharing
> >this information is
> >encouraged. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Braille
> >Monitor; Vol. 67, No. 9; October
> >2024. >>>>>> >>>>>> Gary Wunder,
> >sEditor >>>>>> >>>>>> Chris Danielsen, Associate
> >Editor >>>>>> >>>>>> Distributed by email,
> >ink-print, in Braille, and on USB flash >>>>>>
> >drive, by the National Federation of the
> >Blind >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Mark
> >Riccobono, President >>>>>> >>>>>> telephone:
> >410-659-9314 >>>>>> >>>>>> email address:
> >President at NFB.org
> ><mailto:President at NFB.org> >>>>>> >>>>>> website
> >address:  >>>>>>
> ><https://mpm5jphbb.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001EwA3wHfZ5QnDL9JT_aC0Mf8
> > >>>>>> 0 >>>>>>
> >3-saTFkMjDdqoPJOQnPE7uVpgzsomfFYWst7x2M5El6CxwcEwzQCQZ_QctAQKtqBg
> > >>>>>> 5 >>>>>>
> >HiVK4hY_v9SSB-FIygpG9IA3ksiGrmTpzYvZ7Juareo27OrFdrk9usJaZ9hQ==&c=
> > >>>>>> 0 >>>>>>
> >fEbX--K6jxKcm12gS8gQjsfejSAVXU1_SQnoDAKh2C_67OhW9XIDw==&ch=CCMAxq
> > >>>>>> w
> >VqgGz-gFFX5L2yMFD9qsRHGN6cohq6WR4PGSLgJLuHUwsqA==>
> > >>>>>>
> >http://www.nfb.org >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>>
> > From the Associate Editor: This article
> >originally appeared in the Summer 2024 issue of
> >the Braille Spectator , the publication of the
> >National Federation of the Blind of Maryland. We
> >are reprinting it with light edits. Ronza Othman
> >serves as president of that affiliate. She is
> >also president of the National Association of
> >Blind Government Employees and of the National
> >Association of Blind Lawyers, chairperson of our
> >Code of Conduct Feedback Committee, an active
> >member of the Blind Muslims Group, and more, all
> >on top of her high-pressure day job with the
> >federal government. Despite already having all
> >of these roles, she jokes she is eager to assume
> >yet another as the next Disney princess. In a
> >much less lighthearted vein, we note that the
> >details in this article may profoundly disturb
> >some readers, but we feel it is an important
> >story to tell. It highlights not only the
> >continued discrimination experienced by blind
> >people at the hands of rideshare drivers but
> >also how Ronza's intersecting characteristics
> >and ignorance of disability rights on the part
> >of a member of law enforcement escalated an
> >already tense situation to a traumatic, but
> >thankfully not tragic, sevent. It is clear from
> >Ronza's experience that Uber has not done enough
> >to educate its drivers, or even its customer
> >service personnel and supervisors on its policy
> >forbidding discrimination against blind
> >passengers with guide dogs. That is why, as this
> >issue of the Braille Monitor goes to press,
> >Federationists from across the nation are
> >preparing to conduct a rally before the
> >headquarters of both Uber and Lyft, the
> >country's two leading rideshare
> >providers. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Here is
> >Ronza's
> >story: >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>>
> > >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Photo
> >of Ronza Othman standing and wearing a black
> >hijab, pullover sweater, and holding her white
> >cane. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>>
> >Uber Almost Got Me Killed! >>>>>> >>>>>> by
> >Ronza
> >Othman >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>>
> >Discrimination against the blind is an
> >all-too-frequent occurrence, but sometimes how
> >companies and law enforcement respond could
> >literally get us killed. Uber discriminated
> >against me and a fellow passenger who uses a
> >guide dog in July of 2023, and instead of
> >protecting me as the law requires, local law
> >enforcement instead held me at gunpoint and
> >treated me like I was the criminal. Then, after
> >I didn’t die at the hands of the police
> >(probably because my friends were filming the
> >encounter on their phones) and filed a report
> >with Uber, Uber summarily kicked me off their
> >platform in retaliation for my
> >complaint. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> On the
> >first night of the 2023 NFB National Convention
> >in Houston, the National Association of Blind
> >Lawyers got together for dinner at the home of
> >one of our division board members. We brought
> >along some other lawyers, because we tend to
> >travel in packs, including Eve Hill, the
> >lawyers’ lawyer and NFB General Counsel. I
> >also brought along three NFB National
> >Scholarship finalists, two of whom were going
> >into law. One of the students had a guide dog.
> >We had a wonderful dinner, and everyone left in
> >a jubilant mood. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> I
> >called an Uber to take my group of four bipeds
> >and a quadruped back to the hotel around 10:15
> >p.m.; the driver, Troy, was driving a black
> >Mercedes—I’ll never forget that detail. I got
> >into the vehhicle first, sitting in the middle
> >of the back seat. One of the students and her
> >guide dog got in behind the driver. One of the
> >other students got in the passenger-side back
> >seat on my other side, and the third sat in the
> >front seat. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> The
> >driver looked back as we were getting settled
> >and asked, “Is that a dog?† I remember
> >thinking something snarky, like “No, it’s a
> >whale.† But I didn’t answer, because it
> >wasn’t my service
> >animal. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> The student
> >who was the handler said it was a guide dog. The
> >driver, Troy, immediately started fussing at us,
> >stating at least twenty times that this was a
> >“sixty-thousand-dollar Mercedes.† The
> >student calmly responded that her dog was a
> >service animal that was protected under the
> >ADA. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Troy began
> >shouting at us to get out of his car. He said
> >that he had the right to refuse to take whoever
> >he wanted, and that we had to call Uber Pet. We
> >responded that service animals are not pets, and
> >thus we did not have to call Uber
> >Pet. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> The student
> >with the guide dog and I decided we were not
> >going to exit the vehicle because the driver had
> >an obligation to take us under the ADA. The
> >driver got out of the vehicle and began shouting
> >in the street. This was a quiet neighborhood,
> >fairly upscale, and fairly quickly we attracted
> >notice. >>>>>> >>>>>> Meanwhile, the rest of our
> >friends came out of the house, and there was
> >once again a gaggle of lawyers, this time
> >standing on a Houston sidewalk nearing midnight.
> >What happened next seems
> >surreal. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> As the
> >driver continued to shout about his
> >sixty-thousand-dollar Mercedes, both of the
> >students on the passenger side of the vehicle
> >decided to leave the car. The student with the
> >guide dog and I decided to
> >stay. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Troy then
> >opened the driver’s side back door, reached
> >into the car, and tried to physically yank the
> >guide dog out of the car. The student was
> >holding onto the dog’s harness, but when Troy
> >started using his might to try to force the dog
> >out of the vehicle, she wrapped her arms around
> >the dog to keep her from being pulled away from
> >her. She began to shout at the driver to stop
> >pulling on her dog, that he was hurting the dog,
> >and that she was a service animal. Troy did not
> >stop for several minutes. The student began to
> >slide out of the car herself because Troy was
> >pulling on the dog so hard. I wrapped my arms
> >around the student to keep her from being pulled
> >out of the car. I believed if Troy was
> >successful at forcing the guide dog or the
> >student from the car, they’d both fall on the
> >ground and be hurt. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>>
> >As I held onto the student, Troy started pulling
> >on me too. He used so much force that all three
> >of us—the sttudent, the guide dog, and I—were
> >all sliding slowly outt of the
> >car. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> I also started
> >shouting at Troy to stop pulling on us.
> >Eventually, he took a break and walked away from
> >the car. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> I called
> >911 to report a physical assault. They took my
> >report and told me someone from the Houston
> >Police Department would come soon. They did not
> >stay on the phone with me like they show in the
> >movies. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> After I hung
> >up with Emergency Services, I called Uber to
> >file a complaint. While I was on the phone with
> >Uber Support, Troy came back and did it again.
> >He pulled, using all of his might, on the guide
> >dog and the student to force them out of the
> >car. I had my arm around the student’s
> >shoulder to comfort her, so he pulled on me too.
> >The Uber customer support person on the phone
> >did nothing except take the
> >report. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> After this
> >second assault and battery, the guide dog was
> >very agitated, and the student was extremely
> >upset. We didn’t know if the dog had been
> >hurt, and if so, how badly. The student decided
> >to get out of the car so she could have enough
> >room to check out the dog and catch her breath.
> >I stayed in the vehicle, because I knew that if
> >I also got out, the driver would just get in the
> >car and leave, resulting in no accountability
> >for his actions. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> I
> >have to pause and give you a quick lesson in the
> >law that you might or might not already know.
> >Assault is a crime—it is when ssomeone takes an
> >action that places another in imminent fear of a
> >battery. Battery means unwanted physical
> >touching. So, Troy both assaulted and battered
> >the student and me. To compound the issue, a
> >guide dog, like a cane or wheelchair, is, under
> >the law, an extension of the person with a
> >disability. That means that if someone
> >intentionally batters a guide dog while it is
> >working, then they’ve battered the human
> >handler. When Troy grabbed the guide dog and
> >tried to forcibly remove her by pulling her from
> >the car, and since the student was holding the
> >harness and then the dog, Troy battered and
> >assaulted the dog and the student. Then, when I
> >tried to help her by anchoring her and he
> >grabbed and yanked on me, he battered and
> >assaulted me too. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>>
> >They teach you about assault and battery
> >literally on the first day of law school, but as
> >you’ll come to see, somehow two police
> >departments and a multi-national company don’t
> >know what it is. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>>
> >Apparently, in response to the commotion, one of
> >the neighbors called their local police
> >department, which resulted in a faster response
> >from Harris County law enforcement compared with
> >Houston PD. Two police officers from Harris
> >County arrived within twenty minutes of the
> >incident. However, they were not there to help!
> >In fact, instead of helping the student and me,
> >the clear victims here, they nearly shot me—an
> >unarmed brown woman. >>>>>> >>>>>> After hanging
> >up with Uber, I called Cayte Mendez, who serves
> >as the chair of the Scholarship Committee, to
> >let her know that three scholarship finalists
> >and I were in the midst of an Uber denial that
> >turned into an assault, for which we were
> >waiting for law enforcement intervention. I also
> >asked my lawyer friends standing on the sidewalk
> >to call Eve Hill, NFB General Counsel, who by
> >that time had made it back to the hotel. Both
> >Cayte and Eve were on the phone with us when the
> >next horrible thing
> >happened. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Troy
> >managed to get to the Harris County police
> >officers before anyone else, and as best as I
> >can tell, he told them that he was afraid of me,
> >that I refused to leave his vehicle after he
> >decided he didn’t feel “safe† driving me,
> >and that he believed I may have a weapon. He
> >used incorrect and negative stereotypes about
> >brown and Muslim people, and they believed
> >him. >>>>>> >>>>>> Throughout this ordeal, my
> >lawyer friends, including the homeowner, were
> >standing on the sidewalk, less than ten feet
> >away from the car. When Harris County police
> >pulled up, the homeowner shared with us that
> >Harris County provides neighborhood support but
> >that Houston police is the entity that handles
> >real crime. He shared that the Harris police
> >provide a sort of neighborhood watch function,
> >similar to mall
> >police. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> As I sat in
> >the back seat of the vehicle, with the windows
> >open, talking to Cayte on the phone, a female
> >police officer slowly walked up to the car on
> >the right side. I learned later there was
> >another police officer nearby covering her. She
> >shouted at me to put my hands where she could
> >see them. She did not identify herself, and I
> >had no idea who she was or that she was a cop. I
> >was holding my phone in one hand and the other
> >was empty. My cane was telescoped on the floor
> >at my feet. I was the only person left in the
> >vehicle. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> For a bit
> >of context: I’m brown, Muslim, a woman, and
> >blind. I wear a religious head covering called a
> >hijab, which makes me very obviously Muslim to
> >the sighted. My family are refugees, and I’m a
> >United States citizen. Houston is much more open
> >to immigrants and people of color than other
> >places in the southern United States, but I
> >still harbor the same anxiety as many immigrants
> >and people of color do when visiting some of the
> >southern states. In fact, I carry my US passport
> >in my bra at all times for my safety so I can
> >quickly prove I am a
> >citizen. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> I dropped
> >the phone—I don’t know if I eeven said goodbye
> >to Cayte or not—and raised my hands. TThe
> >officer then directed a very strong flashlight
> >into my face, which was incredibly startling.
> >Once she saw me sitting there, she began to
> >speak very loudly and slowly, as though I
> >didn’t comprehend the English
> >language. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> As she
> >continued to flash the light into my face, I
> >told her that I was blind and needed her to
> >identify herself. She initially did not and
> >continued to speak to me in a loud,
> >condescending voice. Eventually, she moved the
> >flashlight away from my face, and as I
> >readjusted to the lighting, I realized that she
> >was gripping her weapon in her other hand. I was
> >being held at gunpoint by Harris County police
> >simply for being blind, brown, and
> >Muslim. >>>>>> >>>>>> She eventually told me she
> >was Harris County police; I don’t know if she
> >ever told me her name or not. She asked me if I
> >had a weapon. I told her I did not. She asked me
> >if anything was on the floor of the car. I told
> >her, once again, while she held me at gunpoint,
> >that I was blind and that my cane was on the
> >floor at my feet. She asked me what else was on
> >the floor, and I told her that I did not know
> >because I did not own the
> >vehicle. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> She did not
> >ask me any questions or take my statement before
> >deciding I was the threat. I had called 911, but
> >I was now the person with a gun on
> >me. >>>>>> >>>>>> She told me that since it
> >wasn’t my vehicle, I was trespassing, and that
> >the “nice gentleman† had a right to kick
> >anyone he wanted out of his car. I told her that
> >my friends and I were Uber passengers, that we
> >had disabilities, and that he had a legal
> >obligation to transport us under the Americans
> >with Disabilities Act. Meanwhile, I was trying
> >not to panic as she still held her weapon on
> >me. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> She ordered me
> >out of the vehicle and told me to keep my hands
> >up at all times. I told her once again that I
> >was blind, that I needed my cane to safely exit
> >the vehicle, and that I’d like to retrieve it
> >first. Initially, she was not going to let me
> >retrieve my cane, but at that point her fellow
> >officer walked up and told her that she should
> >let me use it. He whispered that everyone around
> >the car had a cane, so I likely wasn’t making
> >up my blindness. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> She
> >shone the light on the floor of the vehicle to
> >see that the cane was the only item there, and
> >she ordered me to pick it up with one hand while
> >the other was still raised. I did
> >so. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> She opened the
> >door, and I slowly exited the vehicle, still
> >holding my hands up. I asked if I could retrieve
> >my phone from the car, which was on the seat,
> >and the other officer got it and handed it to
> >one of my friends. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>>
> >The female Harris County police officer asked
> >for my name—still in that loud, slow tone—and I
> >told it it to her. She asked me for my
> >driver’s license, and I told her I didn’t
> >drive. She responded, “Undocumented, I thought
> >so.† I replied that I had a valid ID, that I
> >was a US citizen, and that I didn’t have a
> >driver’s license because I am blind. She
> >ordered me to show her my ID. >>>>>> >>>>>> I
> >began to move my hand toward my passport but
> >quickly realized that given how ignorant and
> >suspicious this officer had been thus far,
> >moving my hand toward my chest rather than my
> >purse would escalate the situation. I verbally
> >talked her through what I was doing. I was
> >wearing a very small cross-body purse, small
> >enough to hold only my phone, a thin wallet, and
> >my AirPods. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> I
> >narrated everything I did before I physically
> >did it. I told her I was going to open the flap
> >of my purse using just the thumb and forefinger
> >on my right hand. I told her I was going to
> >reach in with those same fingers to remove a
> >pink wallet. I told her I was using those same
> >two fingers to open the wallet to show her my
> >state ID. I handed over the wallet, and she
> >looked at it, then ordered me to remove the ID
> >from the wallet and give it to her. At this
> >point, she appeared to me to holster her gun,
> >and I gave her my ID. I told her my passport was
> >in my bra and asked if she wanted to see it. She
> >responded, “Not
> >yet.† >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> As she took
> >my ID from me, one of my friends told her that
> >she should Google me while she had my name and
> >information. She ordered me to stay put and went
> >off to her vehicle, I assumed to run me through
> >law enforcement databases. I collapsed onto the
> >ground, right there, at the side of the road. My
> >legs could not hold me up
> >anymore. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> At some
> >point, my friends had begun recording the
> >encounter, but I’m not sure exactly when they
> >began recording—I haven’t had the mentaal
> >energy to watch the video. Eve Hill was also on
> >the phone for all or most of it. But that
> >wasn’t the end, not by a long
> >shot. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> While I waited
> >to be run through all the law enforcement
> >databases, my friends filled me in on what I’d
> >missed, including what they heard Troy tell the
> >Harris County officers. They also shared that
> >several of them had showed Harris County PD the
> >Uber website that specifically states Uber’s
> >nondiscrimination policy and that denying
> >service to service animal users violates the law
> >and Uber’s policies. Apparently, that wasn’t
> >good enough either. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>>
> >We also realized that our host had a video
> >surveillance system on his home that likely
> >captured the incident and its aftermath. In
> >fact, the camera footage shows the driver
> >yanking on the dog, the student, and me both
> >times and much of the Harris County police
> >department’s actions. The cell phone
> >recordings my friends took show much of the same
> >with sound. >>>>>> >>>>>> Eventually, the lady
> >officer from Harris County returned, giving me
> >back my ID. She told me again that Troy was just
> >a “nice man† who wanted to keep his
> >expensive vehicle clean. I responded that people
> >with disabilities are not dirty, and neither are
> >our dogs. I also reiterated that the ADA
> >prohibits Uber drivers from refusing service to
> >guide dog handlers and others with disabilities.
> >She said that Uber had to handle this. I told
> >her I had filed a complaint with Uber, but that
> >since the driver assaulted and battered the
> >student and me, this was now a criminal issue as
> >well, and that law enforcement was required to
> >enforce the anti-discrimination laws. The
> >student and I told her we wanted to press
> >charges against the driver. She ordered me to
> >get the person from Uber with whom I filed the
> >report on the phone. I told her I’d try, but
> >Uber has a lot of customer service people. I
> >called Uber, waited on hold, and eventually got
> >connected to a different agent than
> >previously. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> I told
> >Uber I was calling because I was with law
> >enforcement who wanted to verify I’d called
> >previously to file a report and to ask them
> >questions. Initially, the Uber representative
> >informed me that they would not talk to law
> >enforcement. The female Harris County officer
> >insisted, so I asked for a supervisor. I
> >eventually was transferred to a supervisor, I
> >explained the situation, and the supervisor
> >agreed to talk to the police officer. This all
> >was on speaker phone, and what happened next was
> >also on speaker phone. >>>>>> >>>>>> The police
> >officer asked if a driver has the right to
> >refuse to drive someone if they have a guide
> >dog, and the Uber representative said, “Yes,
> >the driver can refuse to drive anyone they
> >wish.† If I hadn’t already been sitting on
> >the ground, I’d have fallen over. This is a
> >supposed supervisor in the escalation department
> >at Uber, and they don’t even know the law or
> >their own policies? We all, including Eve Hill
> >on the phone, started shouting that this was not
> >true. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> The police
> >officer asked the phone representative from Uber
> >to share the policy that gives drivers the right
> >to refuse anyone, which frankly stunned me
> >because I didn’t think that Harris County
> >officer was capable of getting to actual true
> >facts. The Uber representative put us on hold,
> >and after about ten minutes, returned and read
> >from the website that my friends had previously
> >shown the officer, which said the exact opposite
> >of what the representative had originally
> >said. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> At no time did
> >Harris County take my statement or anyone
> >else’s. At no time did they gather evidence or
> >try to figure out what happened. They took a
> >cursory look at the dog and said, “She looks
> >fine to me.† They told us this was a civil
> >matter and to work through Uber. We reiterated
> >we were assaulted and battered and wanted to
> >press charges, and they reiterated that we and
> >the dog weren’t physically hurt from their
> >perspective, thus this was a civil
> >matter. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> At that
> >point, about two and a half hours after the
> >incident began, Houston PD finally showed up.
> >This was a vastly different experience from
> >Harris County. The responding Houston PD
> >officers took our individual statements,
> >understood that the driver could not refuse
> >services to passengers with guide dogs, and
> >treated us with dignity and respect. They also
> >told Harris County PD they had it from there and
> >sent the Harris County officers
> >away. >>>>>> >>>>>> We told them we had
> >recordings and showed them to Houston
> >PD. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Nonetheless,
> >they, too, did not immediately press charges or
> >allow us to do so. They informed us that their
> >local prosecutor would review the reports and
> >videos and make a determination within a few
> >days. They obtained Troy’s contact information
> >and released him. Roughly three and a half hours
> >after the ordeal began, we returned to the
> >hotel. A few days later, Houston PD informed us
> >that the local prosecutor had declined to bring
> >criminal charges against
> >Troy. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Meanwhile, I
> >supplemented my report to Uber to add additional
> >details. Three days after Uber nearly got me
> >killed by Harris County PD, they kicked me off
> >the Uber platform. Apparently, in an effort to
> >try to save his job with Uber, Troy filed a
> >complaint against me, stating I threatened him
> >and had a weapon in his vehicle. This was in
> >direct retaliation for my complaint against him.
> >Though my supplemental report to Uber explained
> >how Troy lied to law enforcement and the effect,
> >Uber still, without ever talking to me or doing
> >any sort of investigation, suspended my account.
> >This is a gross injustice, because if anyone who
> >complains is subject to retaliatory suspension,
> >then every person with a disability who tries to
> >protect their rights, as described by the law
> >and Uber’s own policy, will be removed from
> >the platform simply for exercising their
> >rights. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> I shared
> >what had happened with President Riccobono, and
> >he contacted Uber himself. Uber executives were
> >at the convention, and President Riccobono
> >arranged a meeting for those executives, John
> >Paré, the scholarship finalists and me. Uber
> >made a lot of promises and commitments, but more
> >than a year later, I’ve not seen any of them
> >come to fruition. >>>>>> >>>>>> I filed two
> >complaints with the [United States] Department
> >of Justice (DOJ) about this experience—one
> >against Harris County  Police, and the other
> >against Uber. DOJ closed the complaint against
> >Harris County Police with no action. I have not
> >yet heard any information about the Uber
> >complaint. >>>>>> >>>>>> What happened to my
> >companions and me isn’t rare. There isn’t a
> >week that goes by that I don’t hear from
> >someone about a rideshare denial because of
> >their guide dog or long white cane. These
> >denials mean that blind people are late for
> >work, medical appointments, worship services,
> >and so on. The fact that Uber personnel didn’t
> >know the law, or their own policies is
> >unforgivable. The fact that law enforcement
> >doesn’t know the law is disgusting and
> >terrifying. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>
> > >>>> >>>>>> Join Our Mailing
> >List >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>>
> >  >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>
> > >>> Advocates for Service Animal Partners |
> >1003 Papaya Drive | >>>>>> Tampa, FL 33619
> >US >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>>
>
>
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