[Nfbnet-members-list] National Federation of the Blind Launches Ridesharing Testing Program

Tue May 9 01:31:22 UTC 2017

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:

Chris Danielsen

Director of Public Relations

National Federation of the Blind

(410) 659-9314, extension 2330

(410) 262-1281 (Cell)

<mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org>cdanielsen at nfb.org

National Federation of the Blind Launches Ridesharing Testing Program

Organization to Monitor Uber, Lyft Efforts to Accommodate Service Animals

Baltimore, Maryland (May 8, 2017): The National Federation of the 
Blind today announced the launch of a program to test the 
effectiveness of ridesharing companies Uber and Lyft's efforts to 
accommodate passengers with guide dogs and other service animals. The 
NFB seeks the participation of blind people and other service animal 
users, or those who travel with them, across the United States and in 
Puerto Rico. Volunteers will be asked to fill out an online 
questionnaire to indicate whether or not they were denied service 
because of their service animals or if they were treated in a 
discriminatory or disrespectful manner. Both positive and negative 
experiences should be reported. Pursuant to agreements with the 
National Federation of the Blind, both Uber and Lyft are taking steps 
to prevent discrimination against, and improve service to, riders 
with service animals. The agreements require the National Federation 
of the Blind to provide feedback to the companies over a 
three-to-five-year period. The program is open to both members and 
non-members of the National Federation of the Blind. The online 
questionnaire is available in both English and Spanish.

Mark A. Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind, 
said: "Companies like Uber and Lyft are empowering blind people to 
live the lives we want by providing fast, convenient and affordable 
transportation. This empowerment can only be real and complete, 
however, if all blind people, including those who use guide dogs, are 
able to access these transportation options when and where they need 
them, without fear that they will be refused service. My wife Melissa 
uses a guide dog, and consequently our family has occasionally 
experienced the refusal of transportation services, which violates 
the legal and civil rights of the blind and other people with 
disabilities. The National Federation of the Blind applauds the 
commitment by Uber and Lyft to improve their service to service 
animal users, and we look forward to working with these companies to 
ensure that their efforts to do so are meaningful and effective. I 
urge all service animal users to use our new online questionnaire 
often so that we can provide comprehensive feedback throughout the 
terms of our agreements with Uber and Lyft."

For more information about the program and to access the online 
questionnaire, please visit www.nfb.org/rideshare.

###

The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the 
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise 
the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create 
obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life 
you want; blindness is not what holds you back.

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