[nfbwatlk] [nagdu] Concerns arise over Uber's accessibility for persons withdisabilities

[Debby Phillips]

Interesting article.  I know that we had some issues with Lyft 
over here, a blind person at Lighthouse in Spokane with his dog 
were refused a ride.  Not sure what the outcome was.    Peace,    
Debby and Neena who would rather walk

 ---- Original Message ------
From: Ginger Kutsch via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org
Subject: [nagdu] Concerns arise over Uber's accessibility for 
persons withdisabilities
Date sent: Wed, 14 Jan 2015 08:22:44 -0500

Concerns arise over Uber's accessibility for persons with 
disabilities

By Caitlin Johnston

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Source URL:
http://www.tampabay.com/news/transportation/concerns-arise-over-u
bers-access
ibility-for-persons-with-disabilities/2213526



TAMPA - Ride-share company Uber has operated around Tampa Bay 
since April,
but advocates are concerned that the company has no 
wheelchair-accessible
vehicles here and that its representatives seem misinformed on 
federal
regulations.



A representative from Uber discussed concerns with advocates and 
community
members during a forum Tuesday organized by the Hillsborough 
County and
Tampa Mayor's alliances for people with disabilities.



Ana Mahony, Uber's general manager for Tampa, said the ride-share 
company is
piloting programs in several cities in hopes of finding the best 
method of
providing services for people with disabilities.



Tampa, however, is not one of those cities.  Currently, there is 
no way for
riders in Tampa to request a wheelchair-accessible vehicle, 
Mahony said.



"I would love to be able to do something like that here,'' she 
said.  "Those
kinds of situations require partnerships. .  Right now we don't 
have the
luxury of being able to test something like that."



Uber, which connects passengers with nearby drivers via a 
smartphone app,
has several variations on its typical rideshare model that could 
improve
service here for people with disabilities, Mahony said.



UberWAV, which is only available in New York City's outer 
boroughs, allows
users to request a wheelchair-accessible vehicle.  UberASSIST 
aims to assist
seniors, but does not have wheelchair-accessible ramps.  
UberACCESS,
according to its website, does include vehicles with a ramp.



But wheelchairs are only a part of the ongoing discussion about
accessibility.  Marion Gwizdala, president of the National 
Association of
Guide Dog Users, said he was worried when Mahony said that 
drivers are not
required to provide rides for service dogs if the drivers have 
allergies.



A second Uber representative, spokeswoman Kaitlin Durkosh, 
confirmed
Mahony's statements to a reporter later in an email.



"Driver partners are instructed in (Americans with Disabilities 
Act)
regulations and while they are permitted under the law not to 
take a service
animal for issues like allergies, safety or religious beliefs, 
drivers with
those concerns are directed to wait with the rider until another 
Uber
arrives," Durkosh wrote.



According to ADA regulations, allergies and fear of dogs are not 
valid
reasons for denying access or refusing service to people using 
service
animals.



"I'm concerned that they don't want to be regulated, and they're 
not fully
aware of what their responsibilities are under ADA," Gwizdala 
said.



Ben Ritter, co-chair of the Tampa Mayor's Alliance for Persons 
with
Disabilities, said he was glad there was such a strong turnout 
and thought
the conversation was productive.  However, he doubts whether Uber 
or other
ride-share companies will enact any changes.



"They're not going to do anything until they're forced to," 
Ritter said.
"They're not going to make these changes because they don't have 
the
incentive."





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