[Nfbnet-members-list] Fwd: NPR Article Recently Released
David Andrews
dandrews at visi.com
Thu Oct 27 03:12:26 UTC 2016
>
>Dave,
>
>Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â In light of our
>ongoing issues with Uber and our Federal court
>case, I think this is something we need to share
>with our NFBNET subscribers. Would you please
>forward this on to our subscribersâ list for us? Thanks a bunch!
>Fraternally yours,
>Marion
>
>What A Murfreesboro Court Case Tells Us About Uber And Service Animals
>By TONY GONZALEZ
>Monday, September 26, 2016
>Source:
><http://nashvillepublicradio.org/post/what-murfreesboro-court-case-tells-us-about-uber-and-service-animals#stream/0>http://nashvillepublicradio.org/post/what-murfreesboro-court-case-tells-us-about-uber-and-service-animals#stream/0
>
>Nashville-area Uber drivers are learning more
>about their responsibilities to passengers who travel with service dogs.
>
>Thatâs because of a rare court case in
>Rutherford County and new nationwide guidance
>from the ride-hailing service itself. Both are nearing completion
>and raising awareness.
>
>The case in Murfreesboro surfaced in April.
>
>James Boehm, a Middle Tennessee State University
>graduate, said he had started choosing Uber for
>some trips across town with his guide dog, Shep, a German
>shepherd.
>
>While waiting for a pickup outside the
>veterinarianâs office one afternoon, he said
>he sensed something was wrong. Because he is blind, Boehm uses smartphone
>technology that vocalizes what is happening on his phone screen.
>
>He knew his driver had arrived.
>
>âI hear someone yell, they said, âYouâre
>going to have to get another driver
I donât
>want that dog in my car,â â Boehm told WPLN.
>
>He began to ask why, and noted that the
>Americans with Disabilities Act protects service animal users.
>
>âAnd she literally squealed her tires and took
>off. And Iâm just standing there like, âWow,
>did that just happen?â â he said.
>
>A First In Rutherford
>
>As a local leader closely involved with the
>National Federation of the Blind, Boehm knows
>the law intimately. He has taught advocacy classes for service
>animal users and courses for business owners
>about how to accommodate Tennesseans with disabilities.
>
>While a bystander came to Boehmâs aid on the
>day he lost his Uber ride, he followed up with a
>complaint against the driver through the app and to local police.
>
>That led to a misdemeanor charge for denial of
>service against driver Rolonda Douglas.
>
>The case is a first for the county, said District Attorney Jennings Jones.
>
>âQuite frankly, Iâve never had this type of
>case come up before,â he said. âWe had to
>check the law to make sure we had a good understanding of what it said.â
>
>The Class C misdemeanor could lead to 30 days in
>jail. Authorities wouldnât comment on the
>possible outcome of the case, but Boehm said
>discussions in court last week point to a
>possible $50 fine and community service.
>
>Boehm said that conclusion would show
>accountability. As importantly, he said he wants
>the case to raise awareness for other drivers, and for the authorities.
>
>âPeople in the community now know that this is
>happening and theyâre educated as to what the
>law is,â he said. âA lot of this was new to them. They are
>now fully versed.â
>
>Boehmâs case came to light just as Uber was
>settling a class-action lawsuit in California
>over guide dog discrimination. The National Federation for the
>Blind (NFB) brought the case, saying that
>ride-hailing could greatly benefit people with
>disabilities, but only so long as they are fairly served.
>
>Uber
>has agreed to train its drivers, remove violators and collect data.
>And the NFB will periodically test Uber's
>compliance by sending service animal users into the field.
>
>âWe hear about stuff all the time,
>unfortunately, and itâs occurring
>everywhere,â Boehm said. âYou can do a
>Google search
youâll just get tons of incidents
>and stories.â
>
>Boehm, 35, recently moved to Nashville, where
>heâs pursuing a clinical counseling masterâs
>degree from Vanderbilt University.
>
>TAGS:
>DISABILITIES
>RIDE-HAILING
>RUTHERFORD COUNTY
>
>Related Content
>
>Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
>James Alan Boehm
>Contact Information:
>Phone: 901-483-1515
>Personal Email: <mailto:jimmydagerman80 at gmail.com>jimmydagerman80 at gmail.com
>NFB Email: <mailto:secretary at nfb-tn.org>secretary at nfb-tn.org
>Kustom Cane: <mailto:kustomcane at gmail.com>kustomcane at gmail.com
>
>Blindness never limits-low expectations do! Live the life you want!
>
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