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

[Arielle Silverman]

So I'm confused, How do taxi companies handle a situation where the
cab driver has a severe dog allergy? Would this driver have to pick up
a dog team and put himself at risk for having an allergic reaction? Or
is dog allergy a disqualifier for becoming a cab driver?
I agree somebody shouldn't be able to claim a dog allergy and get away
with denying a dog, but it seems like if there is clear medical
evidence of a life-threatening allergic reaction to dogs, that should
be an exception to the rule?
Please enlighten me.
Arielle

On 1/14/15, Debby Phillips via nfbwatlk <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 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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