Victorian woman Kathryn Beaton says repeated, illegal denials of service from drivers refusing to allow her guide dog into their vehicles have left her effectively housebound.

  • curls@kbin.social
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    1 year ago

    In the USA this would be illegal. You can’t deny a person with a disability that is accommodated by a service dog unless the dog is not obeying the handler or pees/poops inside. Doesn’t matter if someone has allergies, a phobia, or is religious. There are fines but it takes a very long time to get anywhere.

    • AnonTwo@kbin.social
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      1 year ago

      It probably shouldn’t include allergies…depending on how bad those are sneezing while at the wheel would be very dangerous…

      Obviously it should be confirmed by a doctor…but still that sounds dangerous.

        • fiat_lux@kbin.socialOP
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          1 year ago

          It certainly would be if it prevents people from breathing or driving or other parts of their job. Disability is a very inclusive concept, even if many people understandably don’t enjoy being counted as being included.

    • sensibilidades@kbin.social
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      1 year ago

      Doesn’t matter if someone has allergies

      That sounds like bullshit, how can that not be a factor? How would, for example, a fear of dogs not be a factor?

      • kmkz_ninja@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        I can absolutely understand having medically recognized allergies be an acceptable reason to refuse the service.

        A fear of dogs doesn’t cut it for me. A fear of black people doesn’t mean you get to refuse service to them. A person has a right to have their service dog with them.

    • fiat_lux@kbin.socialOP
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      1 year ago

      Illegal here too. Law is an empty threat when it’s not enforced and the right people/companies aren’t sufficiently penalised.

      Just like Steve Bannon was sentenced to 4 months jail in Novermber, but has served 0 days in custody.

    • too_high_for_this@sh.itjust.works
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      1 year ago

      Not true. Service animals can be denied if they pose an immediate threat to human health or safety. An allergy could certainly be a threat to health, and a driver having an allergic reaction is definitely a threat to safety.

      Also, the federal law only applies to public accommodations, I don’t think “ride-shares” would count as that. An Uber driver doesn’t stop and pick up the first person they see, they have a private agreement with a specific person.