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

Thu Jan 15 05:07:57 UTC 2015

Hi,
I think they have shots now for dog or cat allergies.
Thanks
Lauren

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-----Original Message-----
From: nfbwatlk [mailto:nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Mary ellen
via nfbwatlk
Sent: Wednesday, January 14, 2015 7:14 PM
To: 'Arielle Silverman'; 'NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [nfbwatlk] [nagdu] Concerns arise over Uber's accessibility for
persons with disabilities

If someone has an allergy to dog dander that is so severe as to be life
threatening, it could be triggered by coming close to someone with dog hair
on their clothes.

Most dog allergies result in sniffles and runny eyes -- unpleasant but not
dangerous to a person's life.

The Kelowna Cab company has taken the position that anyone who is so
allergic that transporting a person with a service dog would cause them
serious harm should not be driving a taxi.  They regard transporting people
with guide dogs as an essential requirement of the job.

The cab companies in Victoria have gone to the other extreme.  They allow
any driver with a doctor's note attesting to the presence of a dog allergy
to declare their car a dog free vehicle.  One company has fifteen per cent
of their work force who have made allergy claims.  Ridiculous!  The result
for guide dog users is that they have a diminished number of taxis available
to them, and therefore much poorer service.  Furthermore, whether the blind
person wants it to happen or not, the phone numbers of guide dog users are
flagged in the company computer.  Big Brother drives a Big Yellow Taxi!

I'm sorry to say that the BC Human Rights Tribunal decided a discrimination
case in favor of the taxi company with the fifteen per cent allergy rate.
Their decision was based, at least in part, on the fact that CNIB had given
the company an award for hiring a blind person or donating money or
something.  We now have a case pending before the Human Rights Commission in
an attempt to overturn the previous decision.

Allergies are a far too convenient excuse for drivers who don't want dog
hair in their cabs.  I'm sure there are some bona fide allergy sufferers who
really cannot be around dogs, but the burden of proof should be on them.  A
doctor's note just doesn't cut it!

Also, in most circumstances where work place accommodations are needed, it
is the employer's responsibility to provide them. Members of the public
aren't asked to do the accommodating. There are taxis with completely
separate compartments for drivers and passengers.  Let the taxi company
provide cars with separate ventilation systems for their allergic drivers.
If that were to become a requirement, I'd bet the number of allergies would
drop substantially.

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbwatlk [mailto:nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Arielle
Silverman via nfbwatlk
Sent: Wednesday, January 14, 2015 4:50 PM
To: Debby Phillips; NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [nfbwatlk] [nagdu] Concerns arise over Uber's accessibility for
persons withdisabilities

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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