Author: Angela Van Etten

Finding Hugo: Our Wheelchair Accessible Van

Post author By Angela Van Etten
Post date September 26, 2022
14 Comments on Finding Hugo: Our Wheelchair Accessible Van

Eighteen weeks without a vehicle parked in our garage was a constant reminder of our quest for independent transportation. Robert’s struggle to get into a sedan, SUV, and wagon made it clear that our next vehicle would be a Wheelchair Accessible Van (WAV)—one he could enter riding his scooter up a ramp.

Our seven trips to three different WAV dealers took us from 20 miles to 125 miles from home. We considered the Chevrolet Traverse, Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Grand Caravan, Honda Odyssey, and settled on a 2020 Toyota Sienna. In addition to sales spiels, we paid attention to consumer reports and conferred with little people in the “LP Adaptations” Facebook group. And we prayed for God’s direction.

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Given the technology needed to customize a WAV to our driver and passenger needs, one dealer would only sell to us if a Certified Driving Rehabilitation Specialist (CDRS) gave a thumbs up on the primary safety questions:

Pedal extensions or hand controls?
Seat cushions, power adjustable height driver seat, or both?
Remove and replace the existing steering wheel or add an extension?

But after waiting three weeks for this driver evaluation, the CDRS erected a major road block.

Although I had driven with pedal extensions for 50 years and most little people I consulted use extensions on their WAV, the CDRS recommended hand controls. She rejected a seat back cushion and proposed modifying the driver’s seat depth. Her idea of replacing the steering wheel with a smaller wheel meant relocating the controls on the original wheel. She gave no cost estimate for any of these “safety” changes. But clearly such customizations would add insane expense to an already costly purchase. And when we rejected the CDRS evaluation, the dealer discontinued any effort to sell us a WAV.

As with any road block, God showed us the detour that got us back on the road to WAV ownership. My online query to a dealer in Fort Myers, Florida was answered the same day and was quickly followed with an offer to send a driver to transport us free of charge from Stuart to their location. And in a surprising twist, the dealer representative wore two hats: sales and DRS credentials. Her knowledge of mobility technology squelched any safety concerns about driving with pedal extensions or a back rest seat cushion strapped in place. She retained the existing steering wheel and attached an extension in the front. Thus no modifications to the seat depth or steering wheel controls were needed. Both CDRSs recommended an adjustable height transfer seat, but only one found a vehicle that fit two scooters.

In a perfect world Hugo would not have cost more than the starter home we bought 35 years ago! Plus we would never have bought a vehicle with a fuel cap above my head. But God gave us a miracle when He steered us to Auto Express South in Fort Myers, https://www.autoexpresssouth.com. Thanks to team Yasmin, Tom, Cris and Eddie. You all are the best!

My Path to Citizenship

At 4:00 PM on September 17, 1987, the 200th anniversary of the United States Constitution, I joined the Bells Across America tribute. I was the only one at my workplace to ring a bell in remembrance of church bells ringing in Philadelphia calling people to hear the first public reading of the newly signed Constitution. This was ironic given that as a legal permanent resident alien from New Zealand I was celebrating more than my American-born citizen colleagues.

Even though I was eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship, I wasn’t ready. Ringing a bell was one thing, but taking the Naturalization Oath of Allegiance to the U.S. required me to “absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity” to New Zealand. But by 1998 my perspective had changed.

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After 17 years as a legal permanent resident alien, I was tired of sitting on election sidelines. I wanted to vote. And on January 17th when news broke of President Clinton’s alleged White House sex scandal with a White House intern, I knew I needed to vote. So on June 26th, I applied for citizenship. And my decision was confirmed in December when President Clinton was impeached for perjury and obstruction of justice.

Approval of my naturalization application involved more than living lawfully in the country as the spouse of an American citizen. An immigration officer would interview me and ask questions about my application and background. In addition, I had to show the officer my ability to read, write, and speak basic English and have a knowledge and understanding of U.S. history and government. Thankfully my dwarfism was not an issue.

For the English test, I had to correctly read out loud and write one out of three sentences. No problem. The civics test was more challenging. I studied a list of 100 questions, but at the immigration interview the officer randomly picked ten questions from the list. A passing score was six out of ten. I questioned the officer when he stopped after six questions and wrote 60% on the test paper. But he saw no reason to continue and left me feeling like I fell short of the 100% mark.

September 25, 1999, the day of my naturalization ceremony in Miami, Florida, was emotional and stressful. There were no tears of joy, but rather sobbing in the car when six lanes of traffic came to a standstill for so long that we arrived late to the venue. Robert dropped me near the entrance, but was denied entry after he parked the car. I made it in by the skin of my teeth, but had to sit in a back row unable to see anything. When it was time to take the citizenship oath, applicants stood when their country’s name was called. I waited expectantly, but New Zealand was never mentioned. Instead, I stood on the last call for anyone whose country had not been named! I took the oath of allegiance, but was in no mood to ring any bells.

For a free subscription to my weekly blog on dwarfism and disability issues, go to https://angelamuirvanetten.com/blog/.

Transportation

Acts of Encouragement

I was sitting in the garage waiting room when the manager asked me to step into another room. Bad news was not what I expected to hear. But she hit me with an accident report. A worker had crashed my car when moving it into a service bay. The rear end was smashed in. The car was not drivable, not now, not ever! Written off. Junkyard inventory.

My mind started spinning as I contemplated the ramifications. Repairs on the 18-year old Mazda wagon would cost more than it’s worth. We had sold Robert’s van a few months earlier so now we were without wheels. Modifying a rental vehicle was difficult. Locating and modifying a replacement vehicle was time consuming and costly.

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These thoughts spun in my head as I observed the distress of the worker who had slammed his foot on my left foot accelerator instead of the brake. He was mortified. The manager was effusive with apologies and assurances that the garage would fully compensate me for the loss. And the garage faithfully followed through with funds for both the car’s value and cost of rides in the interim. But how could they compensate for the loss of time, independence, spontaneity, and plans that had to be cancelled?

I clung to the knowledge that God is in control and allowed this to happen. And it occurred to me that this was God’s way of expediting our long term plan of replacing my car with a wheelchair accessible van (WAV)! We had known for some time that Robert’s difficulty getting in and out of my car meant a WAV was in our near future. The accident made it clear the future had arrived.

Even so, I was disheartened and discouraged. Our plans for driving to the Little People of America Florida weekend meeting in Sarasota were scrubbed. The opportunity for making in person book sales was lost. COVID had made in person marketing inadvisable and now this!

The words of the psalmist struck a chord with me.

“Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Savior and my God!” Psalm 43:5, New Living Translation (NLT)

And God reminded me that He is a worthy source for my hope and praise! He activated our church and biological families to encourage us by meeting our transportation needs. They acted in accordance with New Testament instructions:

“And we urge you, brothers and sisters, . . . encourage the disheartened, . . .” 1 Thessalonians 5:14, New International Version (NIV)

“But God, who encourages those who are discouraged, encouraged us by the arrival of Titus.” 2 Corinthians 7:6 (NLT)

This #NationalDayofEncouragement, I reflect on our 18 weeks without wheels. Our 21 member driver team transported us to 58 destinations primarily for church activities, medical, and vehicle shopping. We also had personal couriers pick up prescriptions and mailed packages.

We are encouraged beyond what words can express! We salute you all.

For a subscription to my weekly blog on dwarfism and disability issues, go to https://angelamuirvanetten.com/blog/.

Awareness

Read and Change Your Life for the Better

Post author By Angela Van Etten
Post date September 5, 2022
1 Comment on Read and Change Your Life for the Better

Reading is good for your health. According to the promoter of National Read A Book Day on September 6, reading renews energy, elevates mood, promotes more restful sleep, and slows the progression of dementia. Another study shows that adults who read at least 30 minutes a week are 20% more satisfied with life than those who spend less time reading.

Add to that the wisdom of others who promote the value of reading:

“Reading is an exercise in empathy; an exercise in walking in someone else’s shoes for a while.” ~ Malorie Blackman
“The more that you read, the more things you’ll know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” ~ Dr. Seuss, I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!
“Read to make yourself smarter! Less judgmental. More apt to understand your friends’ insane behavior, or better yet, your own.” ~ John Waters, Role Models
“We read to know we’re not alone.” ~ William Nicholson

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Even though most of us know what’s good for us, we often don’t do it. Reading is one of those activities. Reportedly, 81% of people don’t spend as much time reading as they’d like. I’m one of those people. As a result, my “want to read” list has 235 books!

So how do we decide what to read? Actress Emma Thompson gives us a hint. “Books are like people, in the sense that they’ll turn up in your life when you most need them.”

After writing part one in my memoir trilogy—Dwarfs Don’t Live in Doll Houses— https://angelamuirvanetten.com/dwarfs-dont-live-in-doll-houses/, I was surprised how many parents of young children were hungry for the information I shared about my growing up years in New Zealand. One mother told me, I keep your book by my bedside and refer to it frequently. Elizabeth, a parent of a short-statured adult, revealed:

“I thought I knew a great deal about what it was like to be a short-statured person but like so many others, I was not realistically seeing life as a Little Person experiences it.”

And Rosemary wrote:

“In this book is pure wisdom and great help! As I am petite and short in height, I had experience with stares and oglers in life. . . Bravo and cheers for a wonderful, in-depth analysis!”

Susan, the grandparent of a teenager with Down Syndrome said:

“Your book has answered my questions. With this new understanding, I now see ‘little people’ in no need of pity, but as my equal and capable of achieving all God has planned for them.”

Two colleagues of average height appreciated having misconceptions dispelled and being informed of everyday obstacles a little person overcomes.

So this year, how about enjoying National Read A Book Day by reading a Kindle e-book or used paperback of Dwarfs Don’t Live in Doll Houses available on Amazon.com? Or, due to my sister’s discovery of a box of print books in her basement, order a new print and autographed copy for $4.99, plus $4.00 postage, from angela@angelamuirvanetten.com. Need more information? Go to https://angelamuirvanetten.com, read about my memoir trilogy, and subscribe to my weekly blog.

Disability Rights International

Welcome Service Dogs; It’s the Law

Post author By Angela Van Etten
Post date August 29, 2022
No Comments on Welcome Service Dogs; It’s the Law

Exclusion
Your dog can’t come in here.
You and your dog must leave immediately.

These are the words service dog owners frequently hear when seeking to enter hotels, restaurants, stores, and the like. And some dogs are excluded without words. This happens when drivers of buses and taxis refuse to stop after seeing a service dog with a passenger waiting for a ride.

So how frequently are service dogs excluded? The numbers are extraordinary. Access has been refused to three-quarters of American and British guide dog owners and half of Australian handlers and their dogs in the past two years.

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Exasperating civil rights violation

How can this be when the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 33 State laws, and civil rights laws in other countries make it unlawful to withhold the welcome mat? Service dogs must be allowed to accompany their handlers into any facility, or portion thereof, open to the public. It’s the law!

Exception

Removal of a service dog is permitted if the dog is out of the handler’s control, behaving badly, poses a public health and safety risk, or is not housebroken.

Excuses don’t hold water

Businesses are either ignoring the law or ignorant of what the law requires. But neither excuse condones comments like the following:

I’m allergic to dogs.
I don’t want my car to get dirty.
I thought the dog was a pet since he wasn’t wearing a vest.
You don’t look disabled.

Besides, ignorance of the law is no excuse. For an employee to say, “I didn’t know,” at best, shows poor training or, at worst, a reckless disregard for the well-being of those whose safety and security is dependent on their service dog.

Examine

Staff challenging the legitimacy of a service dog can legally only ask the handler two questions: (1) is the dog a service animal required because of a disability? and (2) what task has the dog been trained to perform? Staff cannot demand that the dog be registered, certified, or identified with a harness, ID card, or vest. Training documentation and a demonstration of tasks the dog performs cannot be required. Questions about the handler’s disability are off limits.

Exercise your right to enter

When service dogs are denied entry, handlers can take one or more of the following steps:

1. Explain how the dog’s entry is legally mandated. Consider sharing a one page summary of the ADA, State, or other pertinent law.

2. Ask to speak to a manager or owner if lower tier staff still refuse entry.

3. Consider calling the police if the law provides for criminal penalties and ask for a police report.

4. If feasible, use your cell phone to record the refusal.

5. Document the refusal by making contemporaneous notes of the words spoken and actions taken against you and your dog.

6. File a complaint with the appropriate State or federal enforcement agency, see https://beta.ada.gov/file-a-complaint/

7. Get a lawyer to bring a private civil action against the offending business or entity.

Respect Service Dogs

Are you among the 79 million American pet dog owners with reason to celebrate National Dog Day on August 26^th? If not, you can celebrate service dogs by showing them respect. They are trained to perform individualized tasks for people with disabilities.

Most of us are familiar with a guide dogs role of helping people with visual impairments independently and safely navigate everyday obstacles. But there are four other categories. A medical response dog assists individuals with a medical disability. For example, a diabetic alert dog detects high or low levels of blood sugar in people with diabetes and alerts their owners to dangerous changes in blood glucose levels. A seizure response dog helps during or after a seizure.

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Then there are psychiatric assistance dogs serving people with mental disabilities like anxiety, autism, depression, and schizophrenia or disorders like bipolar, obsessive-compulsive, and post-traumatic stress. With training customized to their owner’s need, the dogs can help by waking them up from a night terror, guiding them to a safe space during an anxiety episode, giving medication reminders, standing between their owner and other people in claustrophobic situations, or fetching help for an owner immobilized by fear.

A hearing dog assists people who are deaf or hard of hearing by alerting their owner to sounds like doorbells, smoke alarms, telephone rings, alarm clocks, or someone calling the owner’s name. A mobility service dog helps wheelchair users and those with poor balance with tasks like retrieving dropped items, opening and closing doors, turning lights on and off, or pulling a wheelchair up a slope.

In order for service dog assistance to be effective, the public needs to respect their work. The dogs should not be fed, touched, talked to, or approached without the owner’s consent. As one guide dog owner said, “Distracting the dog is a safety risk, not just an inconvenience.” For example, one owner fell and injured herself when a woman made a grab for her dog’s lead just as she was stepping off a train.

Sadly 71% of guide dog owners in the United Kingdom reported such distractions occurring on a daily basis and 24% said this happens weekly. On the flip side, 30% of the public admitted to distracting a guide dog while it was working. This disrespect needs to stop.

Even though emotional support dogs and therapy dogs do not require training customized to their owner’s disability and do not qualify as service dogs, they are also worthy of respect. Emotional support dogs provide comfort and companionship to individuals living with emotional and other mental health disabilities. Therapy dogs are commonly found in hospitals and nursing homes and their task is simple: to comfort people other than their owners. For example, veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder are often comforted when visited by a therapy dog. And unlike service animals, the work of a therapy dog often involves touching, petting, and playing.

For discussion of the rights of service dog owners to take their dog into public places, see next week’s post “Welcome Service Dogs.”

Sparkle with Laughter and Jokes

Post author By Angela Van Etten
Post date August 15, 2022
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“Laughter is magic that dispenses clouds and creates sunshine in the soul.” ― Richelle E. Goodrich

“A day without laughter is like living in darkness; you try to find your way around, but you can’t see clearly.” ― Emily Mitchell

“Always laugh when you can, it is cheap medicine.” ― Lord Byron

Just as well there’s a day dedicated to helping us laugh. National Tell A Joke Day on August 16 encourages us to celebrate by telling a joke, keeping the mood light, and enjoying a good laugh. After all, people have been telling jokes for thousands of years.

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But as Erma Bombeck said, “There is a thin line that separates laughter and pain, comedy and tragedy, humor and hurt.” As a result, when choosing what jokes to tell we should follow the golden rule and not be offensive or insensitive. So how do we avoid jokes that are crass, racist, religionist, sexist, homophobic, or ableist?

A safe place to start could be a corny joke kids often tell:

Why shouldn’t you write with a broken pencil?

Because it’s pointless.

Why can’t your nose be 12 inches long?

Because then it would be a foot

What did the ocean say to the shore?

Nothing… it just waved.

But if we start with kids play, the joke will more likely elicit a groan than laughter dispensing medicine.

So what about a malapropism, the unintentional humorous misuse or distortion of a word? Church bulletins are a great place to find such bloopers:

Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00 PM – prayer and medication to follow.
Carol is asking prayer for a good autopsy result.
Hear an excellent speaker and heave a healthy lunch.

And then there’s the humor in choosing correct words that are strung together poorly:

The cost for attending the Fasting and Prayer Conference includes meals.
Ladies, don’t forget the rummage sale. It’s a good chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands.
Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several new members and deterioration of several others.

So what about all those disability jokes? Do they distinguish between humor that denigrates and humor that enlightens?

I’m not saying short people are inferior, but I do look down on them.
I dated a girl with a lazy eye once, but she was seeing someone else on the side.
How do you end two deaf people arguing?

Switch off the light.

What test does a person with Down syndrome do well on?

A DNA test, they get a 47 out of 46.

Is disability humor off limits? Do people with disabilities need to get a thicker skin when cruel or tasteless jokes are made at our expense? Do we agree with Nicolas Steenhout that disability humor is part of disability culture? Perhaps the answer lies in understanding that jokes about people with disabilities are not funny, but jokes by people with disabilities can be.

To dig deeper, I highly recommend reading “Disability Humor, Insults, and Inclusive Practice” by Robin M. Smith and Mara Sapon-Shevin, December 12, 2012. State University of New York, Cortland. http://sites.cortland.edu/sasc/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2012/12/Disability-Humor-Final.pdf And to automatically receive weekly posts in your email inbox subscribe to my blog at https://angelamuirvanetten.com.

Vacations

Water Adventures

I’ll never forget the day mum helped me catch a wave as a teenager. As we stood in the ocean waiting for my ride on a handheld surf board, three waves piled on top of each other and the shallow water receded into the approaching triple-decker. There was no turning back. Three waves crashed me onto the sand, my board went flying, my bathing cap swished off, and I surfed underwater. My feet were the only evidence of my feat—they rode into shore facing their soles to the sun.

Although we laughed at the absurdity of the situation, I resolved to stay above water in the future. This decision has stuck with me

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throughout married life with Robert, a man who loves the water—swimming, snorkeling, diving, sailing, fishing, and boating. I only participated when I was on the water and not in it. Even so, Robert had his own share of excitement.

In the 1980s we crewed on the sailboat of my co-worker, David. Robert steered the rudder, I worked the ropes, and David unfurled the sails. But Robert couldn’t see what lay ahead, I couldn’t tie the ropes, and Robert abandoned the rudder to help me. As we headed dead center for a moored boat, David jumped in to avert a collision! And he never invited us to crew for him again.

In the 1990s, Robert courted three different water disasters.

His joyride on a Jet Ski turned into terror when he got lost on his way back to our lakeside camping ground. He tried a shortcut across the lake, but it was so cold and choppy that he went numb and his joints hurt from cutting through the waves. When he went back to the shoreline, the weeds clogged up the Jet Ski, twice. It took him three hours to find his way to our campsite.

When snorkeling on the Coral Coast of Viti Levu, Fiji, an electric eel engraved its teeth marks across Robert’s second and third fingers. Medical attention was needed. The good news was that the doctor on call was at the hotel; the bad news was that the doctor was in the bar having a few drinks. We reluctantly went with the doctor to his off-site clinic, but only because another staff member was the designated driver. Given the doctor’s inebriated state, Robert accepted a tetanus shot, but declined sutures.

Robert’s way of preparing himself for hip replacement surgery was to snorkel at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo, Florida. But in addition to swimming among fish common to the reef, a school of barracudas surrounded him. Happily, he did not look like a menu item.

On Robert’s bucket-list trip to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, his dwarf body shape prevented him from managing a scuba-diving oxygen tank. Unwilling to give up, he safely descended about 12 feet donned in a glass diver helmet attached to an oxygen hose. I was content to view the fish and coral from a glass-bottom submarine.

This post includes scenes from the second book in my dwarfism memoir trilogy, “Pass Me Your Shoes: A Couple with Dwarfism Navigates Life’s Detours with Love and Faith.” Read more at https://angelamuirvanetten.com/pass-me-your-shoes/.

Disability Rights

Ask the Author

What books are in your dwarfism memoir trilogy?

Dwarfs Don’t Live in Doll Houses

Discover how my first 25 years paved the way to independence and determination.

PASS ME YOUR SHOES: A Couple with Dwarfism Navigates Life’s Detours with Love and Faith

Find hope and humor in this complicated international marriage story.

ALWAYS AN ADVOCATE: Champions of Change for People with Dwarfism and Disabilities

See how advocacy impacts volunteerism, entertainment, and equal access.

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Why did you write this series?

My frustration with media that misses the mark in describing our dwarfism experience often leading to inspiration porn. I write to stir understanding not pity, advocacy not apathy, and hope not despair.

Who will appreciate this trilogy?

Nobody skates through life without some kind of hardship—abuse, divorce, financial, grief, health—so whether the hardships are the same or different, everyone can relate to positive messages that emerge from painful experiences.

Where can I get more information?

Visit my website at https://angelamuirvanetten.com/books to see the description, editorial reviews, product details, and author biography.

How can I get a copy of your books?

Buy links to Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, and Books a Million are on my website at https://angelamuirvanetten.com/books/.

Where do I find media interviews about your books?

Go to the media page on my website, https://angelamuirvanetten.com/media/, for links to several podcasts and one written interview.

When do you do book signings and presentations?

Just email me at angela@angelamuirvanetten.com with a proposed time and place so we can schedule a virtual or in-person engagement.

How do I get the book(s) I already bought autographed?

Email me your name and mailing address and I’ll send you a signed sticker to paste in your book.

What are you writing these days?

I’m no longer working on a book manuscript, but I do write a weekly blog post and the occasional article. See https://angelamuirvanetten.com/blog

Where can I follow you on social media?

Amazon Author Central, https://www.amazon.com/Angela-Muir-Van-Etten/e/B001KCIN1K/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
Facebook Author page, https://www.facebook.com/MuirVanEttenTrilogy/?ref=page_internal
Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/angela.vanetten7/
Twitter, https://twitter.com/muirvanetten
Pinterest, https://www.pinterest.com/AngelaMuirVanEtten/_created/
Goodreads, https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1705018.Angela_Muir_Van_Etten

What advice do you have for people who want to write a book?

Everyone has a story to tell, the question is whether you need 40 to 60 thousand words to tell it. Before launching into a book project, I recommend refining your writing with smaller pieces like articles and newsletters. Read other books similar to the one you want to write. Open yourself to reader feedback and professional editing. Once your book is written and edited, you’re only half way there. You still need a publisher. Decide whether to pursue traditional or independent publishing. Develop and implement a marketing plan. These steps can be even harder than writing because they are out of your control.

What questions do you have?

Write your question as a comment and I’ll answer in the reply.

For answers to more questions, read Ask the Author About ‘Always an Advocate.’ August 2, 2021. Angela Muir Van Etten blog post.https://angelamuirvanetten.com/ask-the-author-about-always-an-advocate/

Disability Rights Transportation

ADA and Taxi/Rideshare Services

Post author By Angela Van Etten
Post date July 25, 2022
No Comments on ADA and Taxi/Rideshare Services

People with disabilities should not be made to feel like second-class citizens or punished because of their disability. These are welcome words from Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke in a United States Department of Justice (DOJ) press release on July 18, 2022.

As we commemorate passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on National Disability Independence Day (July 26, 1990), it’s heartening that the DOJ—tasked with enforcing this disability civil rights law—remains committed to this directive. DOJ’s July 18th action holding Uber accountable for discriminating against people with disabilities makes their commitment clear.

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In November 2021, the DOJ filed an ADA lawsuit against Uber for charging passengers wait time fees. The fees, dating back to 2016, started two minutes after the Uber car arrived at the pickup location and were charged until the car began its trip. The DOJ complaint alleged that Uber violated the ADA by failing to reasonably modify its wait time fee policy for passengers who, because of disability, needed more than two minutes to get in an Uber car. For example, passengers who use a wheelchair or walker may need more time to fold or stow it in the vehicle.

The DOJ settled the case on July 18th when Uber agreed to pay several million dollars in compensation to more than 65,000 Uber riders who were charged discriminatory fees due to disability. Going forward, Uber will no longer charge wait time fees for all Uber riders who certify that their disability causes them to take longer to get in an Uber car. Uber will advertise the wait time fee waiver program and train its customer service representatives on the waiver program and refund process to ensure that people with disabilities are not charged illegal fees.

This is great news for riders with disabilities who are able to board an Uber vehicle. But what about riders who need a wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) to use a ridesharing or taxi service? Their issue is not with wait time fees, but with waiting for Uber, Lyft, and taxis to provide a WAV service. These riders are denied the opportunity to book a trip.

After flying 2,500 miles from West Palm Beach, Florida to Spokane, Washington two weeks ago, the toughest leg of my trip was getting a ride eight miles from the airport to my hotel. Uber and Lyft had no WAVs and Orange taxi only had two. Despite being grateful that Orange cab honored my reservation when my flight was delayed, I cringed at the $100 surcharge. Since I had no other way to get to the hotel, I had to pay the equivalent of a triple fare for the “privilege” of riding in a WAV. Surely this is a violation of the surcharge prohibition found in the ADA Title III regulation at 28 CFR § 36.301(c).

As much as the ADA has accomplished, there is so much more to be done. So what is the next step for achieving accessible rideshare and taxi services?

For discussion of other advocacy issues, go to “ALWAYS AN ADVOCATE: Champions of Change for People with Dwarfism and Disabilities” available on Amazon in print, e-book, and audio formats. Read more at https://angelamuirvanetten.com/always-an-advocate/. To subscribe to my weekly blog on dwarfism and disability issues, go to https://angelamuirvanetten.com/blog/.