No Dogs Allowed Policy Is Unlawful Discrimination

A No Dogs Allowed Sign, or Policy, is unlawful discrimination. One may adopt a No Pets Allowed policy, but must then modify that policy to accomodate people With Disabilities who are accompianied by Trained Service Animals. Trained Service Animals are not pets. Video Text: The Equal Rights Center (ERC) The Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs (WLC) Hogan and Lovells US LLP More than 25 million individuals in the United States report having vision loss; approximately 2.5 million of those are legally blind. Federal law requires taxicab drivers to allow service dogs in their vehicles, and prohibits them from charging a surcharge, higher fare, or extra fee for transporting a service dog. Despite these protections, people encounter discrimination on a daily basis. (Video of blind woman with a service dog attempting to hail a cab. Two cabs pass her and pick up another woman 100 feet away) The ERC conducted tests in the District; each included two individuals, one with a service dog and one without, who stood on the same side of the block. (Video of blind woman with a service dog attempting to hail a cab. A cab approaches her, slows down to a near stop, and then drives on to pick up another women 100 feet away) In 60% of these tests, the tester with a service dog was subjected to at least one form of discriminatory treatment. (Video of a woman with a service dog attempting to hail a cab. A cab passes her and picks up another women 100 feet away) "These instances are both hurtful and an insult to those of us who must rely upon the loving assistance of our dogs to travel independently." -ERC member, Charles Crawford Video of a man with a service dog attempting to hail a cab. A cab passes him and picks up another man 100 feet away) "Cabbie's go whizzing by and I can't see to know if they have somebody in their cab or if they don't." -ERC member, Stan Berman (Video of a woman with a service dog attempting to hail a cab. A cab passes her and picks up another women 100 feet away) Help advance civil rights and learn more about what can be done to end discrimination against individuals who use service dogs. Learn more and download the report at www.equalrightscenter.org