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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Greetings friends, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>It’s so hard to believe that Thanksgiving is upon us next week! Personally, I have so much to be thankful for and I am sure many of you do too! <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I am reaching out to all of you in search for guide dog users who use Uber or Lift for travel.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I am the ride sharing coordinator for North Dakota and have traveled many many times with my guide dog-Millie by Uber and Lift. I would like to share with all of you that here in the Fargo/Moorhead area, for me, drivers are much more welcoming and more educated on the laws than they were 2 years ago when I first started this project. Many drivers have told me that they are required to sign that they will transport service animals before they can become a driver. Many drivers have also told me that they periodically receive messages from the companies about the laws pertaining to service dogs. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The National Federation of the Blind have structured negotiations with Uber and Lift, therefore the policies are strict and refusal of transporting a person with a guide dog or service animal is not tolerated, resulting in revoking the driver’s contract and no longer allowed to drive for the company. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I would like to share with you that two years ago when I first started using Uber and Lift, it felt a little uncomfortable. I have learned that the service is much better and less expensive. I have also learned that it is safe, clean and the driver and you the passenger are tracked by the app on your phone. For me, I have become a regular user and only call taxi if absolutely necessary – at times Uber or Lift are not available. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>So, that is my good news for the day! I am not receiving anything for coordinating this project for ND, nor do I get free rides. I complete the surveys because I choose to participate. As a guide dog user for over 25 years, the refusal of a ride from taxi drivers over the years has been a difficult challenge. It feels so great to have the National Federation of the Blind ensuring that our civil rights are not violated when it comes to using Uber and Lift. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you or someone you know is a guide dog or service dog user, it would be most helpful if you would share the information below and take our brief survey. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Happy Thanksgiving to all! <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>All the best, Sherry Shirek <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Do you and your service animal have a Lyft or Uber trip you are #Thankful for? Take our survey <span style='color:#1F497D'><a href="https://nfb.org/rideshare-test">https://nfb.org/rideshare-test</a> </span><o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Are you and your service animal using Lyft or Uber for Thanksgiving travel? Don't forget to fill out our rideshare survey <span style='color:#1F497D'><a href="https://nfb.org/rideshare-test">https://nfb.org/rideshare-test</a> </span><o:p></o:p></li></ul><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thank you again for your help with this important project. If you haven’t yet, please take time to review the related webpages: <a href="https://nfb.org/rideshare">https://nfb.org/rideshare</a> and <a href="https://nfb.org/rideshare-faq">https://nfb.org/rideshare-faq</a>. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'>Sherry E. Shirek<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'>Secretary & Legislative Director <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'>National Federation of the Blind of North Dakota<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'>Voice/text 701-781-3055<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'>Email <a href="mailto:sherrybeth7@gmail.com"><span style='color:#0563C1'>sherrybeth7@gmail.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'>www.nfbnd.org<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><img border=0 width=304 height=378 style='width:3.1666in;height:3.9375in' id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D47BFE.EC6C30D0" alt="NFBND Logo RGB Square.jpg"><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>With love, hope & determination, we change dreams into reality <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back<span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://m.facebook.com/NationalFederationoftheBlindofNorthDakota/?ref=bookmarks"><span style='color:#0563C1'>Like us on Facebook</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>