A blind Madison, Wisconsin, man said he was denied a ride by an Uber driver because of his service dog. Dave Tolmie said it was his first time ordering Uber and that he checked beforehand to make sure the company follows Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) policies.
"It clearly states that they've educated all of their drivers that service dogs are allowed in all vehicles," Tolmie told NBC affiliate WMTV.
Tolmie said the driver told him Thursday he had a problem with him entering the car with his service dog due to the car's leather seats. Tolmie said even after informing the driver of the law, the driver refused and took off, but not before canceling Tolmie's ride and charging him a cancellation fee.
In a statement to WMTV, a spokesperson for Uber said, "All drivers with Uber are expected to comply fully with ADA requirements, and we provide our driver community with information on best practices for accommodating riders with disabilities. Our Code of Conduct specifically prohibits any type of discrimination in serving riders with disabilities. Uber also requires driver partners to accommodate service animals in compliance with accessibility laws."
Uber has been sued in several states over their treatment of people with disabilities. A California lawsuit cited cases where blind Uber customers were allegedly refused rides once the driver saw them with a service animal.
Uber has said it provides a technology service, and is not a transportation company that would be legally obligated to provide service to riders with disabilities under the ADA. The company has responded to criticism by adding features like speech-to-text support on their smartphone app, and contracting with wheelchair-accessible vans in several cities.
This week marks the 25th anniversary of ADA, a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on disability.
