<html>
<body>
<br>
<b>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br><br>
CONTACT:<br><br>
</b>Chris Danielsen<br><br>
Director of Public Relations<br><br>
National Federation of the Blind<br><br>
(410) 659-9314, extension 2330<br><br>
(410) 262-1281 (Cell)<br><br>
<a href="mailto:cdanielsen@nfb.org">cdanielsen@nfb.org</a><br><br>
<div align="center"><h1><b>National Federation of the Blind Launches
Ridesharing Testing Program</b></h1>Organization to Monitor Uber, Lyft
Efforts to Accommodate Service Animals<br><br>
</div>
<b>Baltimore, Maryland (May 8, 2017):</b> The National Federation of the
Blind today announced the launch of a program to test the effectiveness
of ridesharing companies Uber and Lyft's efforts to accommodate
passengers with guide dogs and other service animals. The NFB seeks the
participation of blind people and other service animal users, or those
who travel with them, across the United States and in Puerto Rico.
Volunteers will be asked to fill out an online questionnaire to indicate
whether or not they were denied service because of their service animals
or if they were treated in a discriminatory or disrespectful manner. Both
positive and negative experiences should be reported. Pursuant to
agreements with the National Federation of the Blind, both Uber and Lyft
are taking steps to prevent discrimination against, and improve service
to, riders with service animals. The agreements require the National
Federation of the Blind to provide feedback to the companies over a
three-to-five-year period. The program is open to both members and
non-members of the National Federation of the Blind. The online
questionnaire is available in both English and Spanish.<br><br>
Mark A. Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind,
said: "Companies like Uber and Lyft are empowering blind people to
live the lives we want by providing fast, convenient and affordable
transportation. This empowerment can only be real and complete, however,
if all blind people, including those who use guide dogs, are able to
access these transportation options when and where they need them,
without fear that they will be refused service. My wife Melissa uses a
guide dog, and consequently our family has occasionally experienced the
refusal of transportation services, which violates the legal and civil
rights of the blind and other people with disabilities. The National
Federation of the Blind applauds the commitment by Uber and Lyft to
improve their service to service animal users, and we look forward to
working with these companies to ensure that their efforts to do so are
meaningful and effective. I urge all service animal users to use our new
online questionnaire often so that we can provide comprehensive feedback
throughout the terms of our agreements with Uber and Lyft."<br><br>
For more information about the program and to access the online
questionnaire, please visit
<a href="http://www.nfb.org/rideshare" eudora="autourl">
www.nfb.org/rideshare</a>.<br><br>
<div align="center"><b>###<br><br>
</b></div>
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.<br><br>
For more information about the National Federation of the Blind, please
visit:
<a href="https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=8368&qid=1788362">
www.nfb.org</a><br><br>
<table border=0>
<tr><td width=510> </td></tr>
<tr><td width=510> </td></tr>
<tr><td width=510><br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<a href="https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=8369&qid=1788362">
<img src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/iof-facebook-ms.png" width=50 height=35 alt="Facebook Logo">
</a> <br>
<br>
<a href="https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=8370&qid=1788362">
<img src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/iof-twitter-ms.png" alt="Twitter Logo">
</a> <br>
<br>
<a href="https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=8371&qid=1788362">
<img src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/iof-instagram-ms.png" alt="Instagram Logo">
</a> <br>
<br>
<a href="https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=8372&qid=1788362">
<img src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/iof-youtube-ms.png" alt="YouTube Logo">
</a> <br>
<br>
<a href="mailto:nfb@nfb.org">
<img src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/iof-email-ms.png" alt="Email Icon Image">
</a> <br>
<br>
<a href="https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=8373&qid=1788362">
<img src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/iof-donte-ms.png" alt="Donate to the NFB Icon.">
</a> <br>
<br>
<b>National Federation of the Blind | 200 E Wells Street | Baltimore, MD
21230 | (410) 659-9314</b><br>
<a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/unsubscribe?reset=1&jid=6767&qid=1788362&h=2c927273e4b25dc5">
Unsubscribe</a> |
<a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/optout?reset=1&jid=6767&qid=1788362&h=2c927273e4b25dc5">
Opt Out </a>|
<a href="https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=8374&qid=1788362">
Sign up for email newsletter </a></td></tr>
<tr><td width=510><font color="#FFFFFF"><br>
200 East Wells Street<br>
Baltimore, MD 21230<br>
United States</font></td></tr>
</table>
<div align="center"><br>
</div>
</body>
</html>