'No I won't take you': Visually impaired woman refused Uber trip
A visually impaired Adelaide woman has told 9News of her outrage at an Uber driver refusing to transport her and her guide dog.
Ellen Fraser-Barbour relies on three-and-a-half year-old Inka to help her get around.
She booked an Uber from her Clarence Park home into Adelaide's CBD to attend university yesterday morning, but when the driver arrived she says he refused to take her.
Ellen and her guide dog Inka. 9News
She says she is the victim of discrimination on a regular basis. 9News
"The Uber driver pulled up and saw my guide dog and then said no I won't take you," said Ms Fraser-Barbour.
Ellen says she explained to the driver that by law, and Uber's policy, he couldn't deny her the trip because of her seeing eye dog.
She said, "He still refused and eventually drove off and cancelled the trip. It's frustrating because it happens often and it's not just Uber, it's also taxis, cafes, restaurants."
Ellen says it's happened to her more than 20 times in the past year, and she's even been left alone on the side of the road at night.
"That's really stressful for me having to argue against a male driver at night time in a car park on my own, and often being left stranded."
Ellen says she's been discriminated against more than 20 times in the past year. 9News
The Royal Society for the Blind's Darrin Johnson says the issue is widespread.
"There still seems to be a lack of understanding in the... both the taxi and the uber environments that when someone does have an accredited guide dog they must be allowed access to these types of transport," said Mr Johnson.
Uber says it welcomes assistance animals and no one should have to go through an experience like Ellen did.
The company confirmed the driver involved is being investigated.
And went on to say, if it's a first offence a driver must undergo re-education, and if it happens again they may be banned from the Uber Driver App permanently.
Ellen says she just wants it to not get to that step in the first place.
"It might happen once to them, but it happens all the time to people who are vision impaired, and they already have the training, they already have the policy from the very beginning so there's no reason for them to refuse us in the first place."
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