NAGDU Advocacy

NAGDU Advocacy

The National Association of Guide Dog Users is offering advocacy resources as they relate to guide dog users.

Rideshare

NAGDU acknowledges that guide dog users continue facing discrimination by Rideshare drivers when traveling with their guide dogs. When you or someone you are traveling with experience a denial by a Rideshare driver, there are three things that should be done.

  1. File a complaint with the Rideshare company, giving them as many details as possible about the ride in question and the denial.
  2. Visit the Rideshare Discrimination Survey that the National Federation of the Blind developed.
  3. File a complaint with the Department of Justice, giving them as many details as possible about the Rideshare denial.

Uber App Accessibility

The NFB continues working with Uber regarding the accessibility challenges faced by blind users who use VoiceOver on iPhones and TalkBack on Android devices. Uber is committed to addressing these issues and has created a feedback page. If you experience any accessibility challenges from either iPhone or Android devices, please fill out the Uber app feedback form on Uber’s help site. Please note, you will need to sign into your Uber account before the feedback page is shown. This means that after signing in, you will have to reload the feedback page a second time.

Flying

According to the Air Carrier Access Act, (ACAA), you may or may not be required to fill out an attestation form from the Department of Transportation when flying with your guide dog. While the official form can be downloaded directly from the DOT, airlines will often offer their own versions of this form using their own letterhead. Because some airlines require you to email them the form, others require you to upload it to their website, and others still ask you to bring the printed form with you, there are too many variables. On January 29, 2024, the NFB filed a petition with the FAA to exempt blind passengers from any requirements to complete attestation forms to travel by air with their guide dogs. Shortly thereafter, the Office of the Secretary of Transportation asserted authority over that petition, and its docket was moved from the FAA to Docket DOT-OST-2024-0014 in that office. We urge all guide dog users, organizations, and training programs to file comments in support as soon as possible. While there is currently no deadline for comments, we are not aware of any rule preventing the Office of the Secretary from cutting off the comment period at any time. Also, the more comments there are, the more likely the Secretary is to grant the petition. You can download the petition and supporting appendices from regulations.gov. You can submit a comment supporting the petition here.