[Nfbnet-members-list] Fwd: NPR Article Recently Released

David Andrews dandrews at visi.com
Thu Oct 27 03:12:26 UTC 2016


>
>Dave,
>
>Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  In light of our 
>ongoing issues with Uber and our Federal court 
>case, I think this is something we need to share 
>with our NFBNET subscribers. Would you please 
>forward this on to our subscribers’ list for us? Thanks a bunch!
>Fraternally yours,
>Marion
>
>What A Murfreesboro Court Case Tells Us About Uber And Service Animals
>By  TONY GONZALEZ
>Monday, September 26, 2016
>Source: 
><http://nashvillepublicradio.org/post/what-murfreesboro-court-case-tells-us-about-uber-and-service-animals#stream/0>http://nashvillepublicradio.org/post/what-murfreesboro-court-case-tells-us-about-uber-and-service-animals#stream/0
>
>Nashville-area Uber drivers are learning more 
>about their responsibilities to passengers who travel with service dogs.
>
>That’s because of a rare court case in 
>Rutherford County — and new nationwide guidance 
>from the ride-hailing service itself. Both are nearing completion
>and raising awareness.
>
>The case in Murfreesboro surfaced in April.
>
>James Boehm, a Middle Tennessee State University 
>graduate, said he had started choosing Uber for 
>some trips across town with his guide dog, Shep, a German
>shepherd.
>
>While waiting for a pickup outside the 
>veterinarian’s office one afternoon, he said 
>he sensed something was wrong. Because he is blind, Boehm uses smartphone
>technology that vocalizes what is happening on his phone screen.
>
>He knew his driver had arrived.
>
>“I hear someone yell, they said, ‘You’re 
>going to have to get another driver 
 I don’t 
>want that dog in my car,’ ” Boehm told WPLN.
>
>He began to ask why, and noted that the 
>Americans with Disabilities Act protects service animal users.
>
>“And she literally squealed her tires and took 
>off. And I’m just standing there like, ‘Wow, 
>did that just happen?’ ” he said.
>
>A First In Rutherford
>
>As a local leader closely involved with the 
>National Federation of the Blind, Boehm knows 
>the law intimately. He has taught advocacy classes for service
>animal users and  courses for business owners 
>about how to accommodate Tennesseans with disabilities.
>
>While a bystander came to Boehm’s aid on the 
>day he lost his Uber ride, he followed up with a 
>complaint against the driver — through the app and to local police.
>
>That led to a misdemeanor charge for denial of 
>service against driver Rolonda Douglas.
>
>The case is a first for the county, said District Attorney Jennings Jones.
>
>“Quite frankly, I’ve never had this type of 
>case come up before,” he said. “We had to 
>check the law to make sure we had a good understanding of what it said.”
>
>The Class C misdemeanor could lead to 30 days in 
>jail. Authorities wouldn’t comment on the 
>possible outcome of the case, but Boehm said 
>discussions in court last week point to a 
>possible $50 fine and community service.
>
>Boehm said that conclusion would show 
>accountability. As importantly, he said he wants 
>the case to raise awareness for other drivers, and for the authorities.
>
>“People in the community now know that this is 
>happening and they’re educated as to what the 
>law is,” he said. “A lot of this was new to them. They are
>now fully versed.”
>
>Boehm’s case came to light just as Uber was 
>settling a class-action lawsuit in California 
>over guide dog discrimination. The National Federation for the
>Blind (NFB) brought the case, saying that 
>ride-hailing could greatly benefit people with 
>disabilities, but only so long as they are fairly served.
>
>Uber
>has agreed to train its drivers, remove violators and collect data.
>And the NFB will periodically test Uber's 
>compliance by sending service animal users into the field.
>
>“We hear about stuff all the time, 
>unfortunately, and it’s occurring 
>everywhere,” Boehm said. “You can do a 
>Google search 
 you’ll just get tons of incidents
>and stories.”
>
>Boehm, 35, recently moved to Nashville, where 
>he’s pursuing a clinical counseling master’s 
>degree from Vanderbilt University.
>
>TAGS:
>DISABILITIES
>RIDE-HAILING
>RUTHERFORD COUNTY
>
>Related Content
>
>Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
>James Alan Boehm
>Contact Information:
>Phone: 901-483-1515
>Personal Email: <mailto:jimmydagerman80 at gmail.com>jimmydagerman80 at gmail.com
>NFB Email: <mailto:secretary at nfb-tn.org>secretary at nfb-tn.org
>Kustom Cane: <mailto:kustomcane at gmail.com>kustomcane at gmail.com
>
>Blindness never limits-low expectations do! Live the life you want!
>
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