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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'>Uber put on blast for slighting blind riders?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>By AJ Willingham HLNtv<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Fri February 20, 2015<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>A Twitter user accused Uber of denying his blind friend a ride, and now the company is having to answer for their drivers' alleged questionable practices. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Colin Lawrence claimed Thursday that his friend Justin Chan couldn't catch a break with Uber drivers because he has a guide dog.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>An Uber rep responded swiftly, but not swift enough to avoid an uncomfortable comparison. Apparently, this is far from the first time Uber drivers have been accused of discriminating against blind riders with guide dogs. In 2014, the National Federation of the Blind of California filed a complaint against Uber, saying the company's drivers had refused service to blind riders, or otherwise compromised their experience, at least 30 times. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>One person involved in the complaint said he was denied service multiple times because of his guide dog, and another said a driver locked her guide dog in a trunk.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>At the time of the suit, Uber released a statement saying they do not tolerate discrimination based on disability and would deactivate any driver who was found to be exhibiting such behavior. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>"The Uber app is built to expand access to transportation options for all, including users with visual impairments and other disabilities," Uber said in a statement to USA Today. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>HLN reached out to Uber for comment, but has not heard back as of the writing.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Source: http://www.hlntv.com/article/2015/02/19/uber-blind-rider-problems-twitter<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>