4 ms·

Presumably not. Even if they did, what should they do with that information? Service dogs have special status.

by VBprogrammer 5y ago

MattGaiser 5y ago
How does this work for workers with dog allergies?
- Analemma_ 5y ago
  Service dogs are bred to be hypoallergenic.
  - lotsofpulp 5y ago
    I don’t think service animals have to be hypoallergenic. https://www.ada.gov/regs2010/service_animal_qa.html https://www.ada.gov/regs2010/service_animal_qa.html > Q26. When might a service dog's presence fundamentally alter the nature of a service or program provided to the public? A. In most settings, the presence of a service animal will not result in a fundamental alteration. However, there are some exceptions. For example, at a boarding school, service animals could be restricted from a specific area of a dormitory reserved specifically for students with allergies to dog dander. At a zoo, service animals can be restricted from areas where the animals on display are the natural prey or natural predators of dogs, where the presence of a dog would be disruptive, causing the displayed animals to behave aggressively or become agitated. They cannot be restricted from other areas of the zoo. Edit: also, https://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm https://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm > Allergies and fear of dogs are not valid reasons for denying access or refusing service to people using service animals. When a person who is allergic to dog dander and a person who uses a service animal must spend time in the same room or facility, for example, in a school classroom or at a homeless shelter, they both should be accommodated by assigning them, if possible, to different locations within the room or different rooms in the facility.
  - shagie 5y ago
    Not necessarily. https://www.ada.gov/regs2010/service_animal_qa.html https://www.ada.gov/regs2010/service_animal_qa.html Q22. Can service animals be any breed of dog? A. Yes. The ADA does not restrict the type of dog breeds that can be service animals.
- snypher 5y ago
  How does it work for a bus or taxi driver with dog allergies? They have vehicles designed for separation of driver and 'self loading freight', not just some personal cozy ride.
- NullPrefix 5y ago
  What if animal shelter worker develops an allergy? Should the shelter get rid of dogs? Public service workers interact with the public, that's part of the job.
- cperciva 5y ago
  I don't know about the USA but there was a recent case in Canada where it was affirmed that drivers with severe allergies can decline a ride as long as they arrange for another vehicle. Basically it was a "disability vs. disability" thing; the customer's disability doesn't take priority over the driver's disability. Note however that this dealt with severe allergies -- the sort which would need to be accommodated by any other employer.
- Miner49er 5y ago
  That is not a valid reason to deny service according to this: https://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm https://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm
tzs 5y ago
While under the law a transportation company must accommodate people with disabilities, I don't believe that they are required to have accommodation for every disability available on every vehicle. They can have a fleet of vehicles with a mix of accommodations ranging from none to fully equipped for everything, as long as when a disabled person calls for a ride the company can send a vehicle, about as promptly as they can send a vehicle to a non-disabled person, that can handle that person's needs. So if we were talking about a normal taxi company, that is one that acknowledges that they are a taxi company, then it would make sense for the company to ask when someone calls for a pickup if they have any particular requirements for the vehicle sent or will need any assistance from the driver. Then they could dispatch an appropriate vehicle. It would also make sense to tell the driver, since sometimes there is extra work or preparation the driver has to do or special handling of the pickup or drop off. With a taxi company like Uber that is pretending it is not a taxi company, it is a more difficult situation. If they just keep on as is, they will have more and more cases like the present case. I only see a couple of approaches Uber can take if they don't want this to keep happening and they want to continue pretending they aren't a taxi company. 1. Only allow drivers to use Uber if they and their cars are able to handle all disabilities at all times they they are in service. 2. Allow a mix of drivers/cars like the normal taxi companies have. Users can specify what they need and Uber only shows the ride request to drivers that can handle it. Should they tell drivers that a ride involves a disabled person? That would aid the driver who goes to handle the ride for the same reasons given earlier for normal taxis. On the other hand, it might lead to drivers giving preference to non-disabled requests, and so still land Uber in hot water. Maybe not tell the driver until after a driver has accepted the ride, with heavy penalties for cancelling after they find out? They could also just continue as is, except offering early settlements with any disabled person who can't get service rather than trying to fight it and running the cost way up when they lose. That might be financially sensible in the short run, but it bolsters the argument that they undercut normal taxis by skimping on compliance with the law, which strengthens the case for cities to regulate them as heavily as taxis are regulated.
- URSpider94 5y ago
  Transit companies are barred by law from asking in advance if a passenger has a service animal. Drivers are just expected to handle it. There is no special facility needed in a car to hold a service animal - they are trained to sit on the floor.

Presumably not. Even if they did, what should they do with that information? Service dogs have special status.

MattGaiser 5y ago

How does this work for workers with dog allergies?

Analemma_ 5y ago
Service dogs are bred to be hypoallergenic.
- lotsofpulp 5y ago
  I don’t think service animals have to be hypoallergenic. https://www.ada.gov/regs2010/service_animal_qa.html https://www.ada.gov/regs2010/service_animal_qa.html > Q26. When might a service dog's presence fundamentally alter the nature of a service or program provided to the public? A. In most settings, the presence of a service animal will not result in a fundamental alteration. However, there are some exceptions. For example, at a boarding school, service animals could be restricted from a specific area of a dormitory reserved specifically for students with allergies to dog dander. At a zoo, service animals can be restricted from areas where the animals on display are the natural prey or natural predators of dogs, where the presence of a dog would be disruptive, causing the displayed animals to behave aggressively or become agitated. They cannot be restricted from other areas of the zoo. Edit: also, https://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm https://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm > Allergies and fear of dogs are not valid reasons for denying access or refusing service to people using service animals. When a person who is allergic to dog dander and a person who uses a service animal must spend time in the same room or facility, for example, in a school classroom or at a homeless shelter, they both should be accommodated by assigning them, if possible, to different locations within the room or different rooms in the facility.
- shagie 5y ago
  Not necessarily. https://www.ada.gov/regs2010/service_animal_qa.html https://www.ada.gov/regs2010/service_animal_qa.html Q22. Can service animals be any breed of dog? A. Yes. The ADA does not restrict the type of dog breeds that can be service animals.
snypher 5y ago
How does it work for a bus or taxi driver with dog allergies? They have vehicles designed for separation of driver and 'self loading freight', not just some personal cozy ride.
NullPrefix 5y ago
What if animal shelter worker develops an allergy? Should the shelter get rid of dogs? Public service workers interact with the public, that's part of the job.
cperciva 5y ago
I don't know about the USA but there was a recent case in Canada where it was affirmed that drivers with severe allergies can decline a ride as long as they arrange for another vehicle. Basically it was a "disability vs. disability" thing; the customer's disability doesn't take priority over the driver's disability. Note however that this dealt with severe allergies -- the sort which would need to be accommodated by any other employer.
Miner49er 5y ago
That is not a valid reason to deny service according to this: https://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm https://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm

tzs 5y ago

While under the law a transportation company must accommodate people with disabilities, I don't believe that they are required to have accommodation for every disability available on every vehicle. They can have a fleet of vehicles with a mix of accommodations ranging from none to fully equipped for everything, as long as when a disabled person calls for a ride the company can send a vehicle, about as promptly as they can send a vehicle to a non-disabled person, that can handle that person's needs. So if we were talking about a normal taxi company, that is one that acknowledges that they are a taxi company, then it would make sense for the company to ask when someone calls for a pickup if they have any particular requirements for the vehicle sent or will need any assistance from the driver. Then they could dispatch an appropriate vehicle. It would also make sense to tell the driver, since sometimes there is extra work or preparation the driver has to do or special handling of the pickup or drop off. With a taxi company like Uber that is pretending it is not a taxi company, it is a more difficult situation. If they just keep on as is, they will have more and more cases like the present case. I only see a couple of approaches Uber can take if they don't want this to keep happening and they want to continue pretending they aren't a taxi company. 1. Only allow drivers to use Uber if they and their cars are able to handle all disabilities at all times they they are in service. 2. Allow a mix of drivers/cars like the normal taxi companies have. Users can specify what they need and Uber only shows the ride request to drivers that can handle it. Should they tell drivers that a ride involves a disabled person? That would aid the driver who goes to handle the ride for the same reasons given earlier for normal taxis. On the other hand, it might lead to drivers giving preference to non-disabled requests, and so still land Uber in hot water. Maybe not tell the driver until after a driver has accepted the ride, with heavy penalties for cancelling after they find out? They could also just continue as is, except offering early settlements with any disabled person who can't get service rather than trying to fight it and running the cost way up when they lose. That might be financially sensible in the short run, but it bolsters the argument that they undercut normal taxis by skimping on compliance with the law, which strengthens the case for cities to regulate them as heavily as taxis are regulated.

URSpider94 5y ago
Transit companies are barred by law from asking in advance if a passenger has a service animal. Drivers are just expected to handle it. There is no special facility needed in a car to hold a service animal - they are trained to sit on the floor.