Navigating the world has its set of challenges, especially when people have certain conditions.

Many Aussies, especially seniors, understand the importance of reliable transportation, especially when driving is no longer an option.

However, when supposedly accessible services become a barrier themselves, it presents an opportunity for action.

This is the story of Paula Hobley, a Victorian woman who strived for independence and normalcy despite the hurdles of blindness.

Ms Hobley has relied on taxis and rideshare services like Uber to attend medical appointments, meet friends, and complete her shopping.

Ms Hobley signed up for Uber's Service Assistance Programme, which should notify drivers that the traveller has a guide dog during the trip.

Ms Paula Hobley is blind and heavily relies on her guide dog for navigation. Image Credit: Pexels/Gustavo Fring

However, her pursuit of a simple, stress-free travel experience has been repeatedly thwarted by an unexpected adversary.

Her journey has been marred by a series of refusals from Uber drivers that violated both her rights and Australian law.

'As a person with a disability, I'm not a second-class citizen,' Ms Hobley stated in an interview.

'I have the right to access services in the same way as everyone else.'

Drivers would often tell Ms Hobley to book another service called Uber Pet.

'Uber Pet is for pets. A guide dog is not a pet,' she clarified.

According to the Disability Discrimination Act (1992), it is illegal to refuse service to a person with an assistance animal.

Yet, Ms Hobley faced this discrimination on dozens of occasions, which led her to take a stand by suing Uber in the Federal Court.

Her case highlighted a broader issue that has become endemic, as current policies failed to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities.

Ms Hobley's experiences were not isolated incidents.

According to a survey run by Guide Dogs Australia, nearly half of guide dog handlers had been denied a ride in the past two years.

This widespread problem has been an inconvenience among individuals who require assistance dogs.

In response to Ms Hobley's move, Uber immediately emphasised their commitment to working with stakeholders to prevent such refusals.

The ride-hailing app also reiterated the training and education they continue to provide to their drivers.

Uber explained that they have policies in place that require drivers to comply with laws regarding riders with disabilities, including those with assistance animals.

However, the continued occurrence of these refusals suggested that these measures are not enough.

Ms Hobley's legal battle was beyond her grievances; it's about holding companies accountable and ensuring that the rights of people with disabilities are upheld.

For our readers who may face similar challenges, Ms Hobley's story should be a reminder that you have rights that deserve to be respected.

It's also a call to action for all of us to support efforts to make our society more inclusive and accessible.

Key Takeaways

• A Victorian woman sued the ride-hailing app Uber after allegedly discrimination against her and her guide dog.
• Despite efforts to educate drivers and work with stakeholders, Uber has been unable to prevent service refusals for those with guide dogs.
• A survey from Guide Dogs Australia indicated that nearly 50 per cent of passengers with guide dogs have been denied services in the past two years.
• The case aimed to address the broader issue of disability discrimination in ride-sharing services.

What are your thoughts on this issue? Have you or someone you know faced similar challenges with transportation services like Uber? Let's discuss in the comments below and work together to raise awareness and drive change.

 

[Still Ebby]

A possible explanation to the "fear" of domestic pets, such as cats and dogs in Australia, is that these imports eat them. I wonder what some of the strange carcasses are that are hanging in the windows of some foreign owned food retailers.

Further to that, when I was living in Sydney, I would take my pet dingo for a walk at about 8 am most days. The schoolchildren, mostly Asian, would bolt across the road to get away from my dog!

When my hubby and son were in China they went the market places and they saw dogs and other animals crammed in cages waiting to be eaten.l would never sell a dog to an Asian l would imagine a sausage dog or corgi would be their favourite

 

[Veggiepatch]

When my hubby and son were in China they went the market places and they saw dogs and other animals crammed in cages waiting to be eaten.l would never sell a dog to an Asian l would imagine a sausage dog or corgi would be their favourite

Reminds me of my time in Bali with an ex girlfriend in 1981. We went to the Piccadilly Steakhouse where I had a wonderful t-bone steak while Jeni had chicken maryland.

The chicken maryland looked WAAAY too big and my first thoughts were "What part of the dog did you get?"

 

[havingadoggyday]

When the Uber is booked they need to be aware it includes transport of an assistance animal. They can reject the job & someone else can pick it up.

When the Uber is booked they need to be aware it includes transport of an assistance animal. They can reject the job & someone else can pick it up.

If this is correct,then as you said accept or not,their choice.Or maybe bloody stop using UBER

 

[mylittletibbies]

But 'Parrot' has a good point and you could get a carer for your daughter too then if you were ill you wouldn't have to worry would you? Also you would have someone to clean the house etc

Believe you me it isn't quite that simple.
My daughter has a carer provided for "x"amount of hours through NDIS but this doesn’t include running her around to medical appointments and it certainly
doesn't include cleaning etc.
Applying for age care packages when you live in the country is a joke. Even if you can get one there's nobody to do the work.

 

[Isis]

They can and do.

T

They do. The government already pays the other half.
If you have these taxi vouchers yourself then you should be aware of this.

Thankyou been googling to find out but cat get a straight answer. My dog has been accepted but not pleased. Told to put her on the floor, that wouldn’t work she has to be able to touch me so I bring a towel now.

 

[Ellev]

Believe you me it isn't quite that simple.
My daughter has a carer provided for "x"amount of hours through NDIS but this doesn’t include running her around to medical appointments and it certainly
doesn't include cleaning etc.
Applying for age care packages when you live in the country is a joke. Even if you can get one there's nobody to do the work.

Exactly. The NDIS is a hard road to navigate. Nothing is easy. How many people have lost funding this week due to changes. Why does Jan get this and Jill doesn't under the same circumstances. Working in the industry is frustrating enough hope l never need to use it.

 

[havingadoggyday]

Reminds me of my time in Bali with an ex girlfriend in 1981. We went to the Piccadilly Steakhouse where I had a wonderful t-bone steak while Jeni had chicken maryland.

The chicken maryland looked WAAAY too big and my first thoughts were "What part of the dog did you get?"

Look.I totally get everything said here,having been also to Jong Kong Singapore and China in 1981.
The famous Junk Restaurant in the middle of Hong Kong harbour had dog on the menu and was EXPENSIVE.As I was sickened and only ate at the Hilton in Singapore and the Sheraton in Hong Kong as that's were we were staying on our honeymoon and ordered food that we are more used to eating,I do have to make a comment and that is that as awefull as all this is to us,we eat, cows,little lambs taken from their mothers just after birth and fattened and fed so that we can have tender lamb,veal,we kill and eat pigs large and small,we eat and kill birds,chickens,fry their eggs,eat the inside of animals be it as sausages,liver,kidney pies,blood sausage made from just that,soup made with carcases of animals for broth,so let us not forget that this is not that great either,yet we guck into our juicy steaks etc......so let's be real please SDC what revolts us is a delicacy to other cultures
.Thanks for reading

 

[havingadoggyday]

Reminds me of my time in Bali with an ex girlfriend in 1981. We went to the Piccadilly Steakhouse where I had a wonderful t-bone steak while Jeni had chicken maryland.

The chicken maryland looked WAAAY too big and my first thoughts were "What part of the dog did you get?"

 

[havingadoggyday]

Reminds me of my time in Bali with an ex girlfriend in 1981. We went to the Piccadilly Steakhouse where I had a wonderful t-bone steak while Jeni had chicken maryland.

The chicken maryland looked WAAAY too big and my first thoughts were "What part of the dog did you get?"

Same could be said for the giant pieces of chicken at our local KFC in the 1976.The shop was lovingly called
KENTUCKY FRIED SEAGULL.They were everywhere

 

[havingadoggyday]

Exactly. The NDIS is a hard road to navigate. Nothing is easy. How many people have lost funding this week due to changes. Why does Jan get this and Jill doesn't under the same circumstances. Working in the industry is frustrating enough hope l never need to use it.

Yes I am confused too.Children with autism and still in nappies at 8 are restricted as to what can and can't be ndis claimed,but people can go on holidays on ndis,taken to movies etc etc,I know this to be absolutely true as I personally know someone that works for them.Even they think it'd a joke(the carer,not the client.On holiday as we speak.....Again lucky country

 

[Macarj]

It's a little known fact that adherents of the world's fastest growing religion hate dogs. They regard them as unclean and would not want them in their vehicles.

My husband was a crossing guard at our local primary school and it greatly amused him to watch the steps - no pun intended - taken by parents of this religion to avoid walking themselves or their children anywhere near the parents who'd come to drop off or collect their kids and brought the dog along for a walk.

The refusal to adhere to the laws of this state like the rest of us have to, is just another example of multiculturalism gone wrong.

If living in Australia they should know to live by our laws and not what they like or dislike

 

[Macarj]

I understand the woman's gripe and concern, but fear of animals, etc, is also a disability, so should it bar them from providing rides, the same problem exists with many delivery drivers, should it bar them from the job? Regardless of what the Law says, those with disabilities are not treated the same as able bodied.

Then they should get a different job

 

[mylittletibbies]

Yes I am confused too.Children with autism and still in nappies at 8 are restricted as to what can and can't be ndis claimed,but people can go on holidays on ndis,taken to movies etc etc,I know this to be absolutely true as I personally know someone that

works for them.Even they think it'd a joke(the carer,not the client.On holiday as we speak.....Again lucky country

So you think that the carer, who more often than not is the parent, should care 24x7, without ever getting a break. Day in. day out, year after year.
Obviously you have no idea what you are talking about.
NDIS does not pay for the carer's holiday they pay for somebody to care for the NDIS client while the full time carer has a break.
My Dr often comments how ill informed people are and have no consideration of what carer's actually do. Who's taking care of the carer???

My daughter is 47 and I have been caring for her all these years
I'm 78 now. In your opinion, how dare I have a holiday
Have you not had a holiday in that time?
Your friend is an idiot she doesn't have a clue what she's talking about.
Yes people on NDIS do get taken to movies, and other outings. It's called recreation for them. In a lot of cases their parents are too old, or too worn out to do these things. Do you think they are not entitled to some small pleasures in life. do you think they should be locked away and kept out of sight.
Your friend, who you say works for them, also agrees. I would say your friend should look for a new line of work as she's certainly not suited for what she's doing. Gossiping about clients would get her sacked. She has no idea where the clients money goes, what it actually pays for or any other such information. This information is private and none of her business.

 

[SGH]

Down right disgraceful. The company & said drivers should cop a hefty fine. I did not know about the half fare with the subsidy card.

Yep depending on your circumstances, most veteran get free taxi to medical appointments if they are covered by DVA, and they take the dog with them no problem.

 

[Kman]

Maybe it’s because people should not approach an assistance dog to pat them as it could distract them from their job. My son has ID & ASD & loves dogs, so I always ask first whether it is ok.

Isis, I am truly saddened to hear this. I have a friend (like me ex-military) who has an assistance dog. People are just unaware.

 

[Kman]

When my hubby and son were in China they went the market places and they saw dogs and other animals crammed in cages waiting to be eaten.l would never sell a dog to an Asian l would imagine a sausage dog or corgi would be their favourite

Veggiepatch, not quite. In India, thousands of dogs just roam the city streets, no owners, unloved and uncared for. They want to live, to be loved, but locals are scared of them because they are hungry and want food. Talk to someone who is from India, and have them explain it to you.
I had an Indian postie come to my door to deliver a parcel, he fell off his bike in terror when my my Jinx cam outside,until I explained to him that most Aussies care for their pets. I invited him to pat my fur kid, he reluctantly did, but was rewarded with licks and happiness. They too need to be educated. Pic of Jinx attached.

 

[deni67]

Fear is fear and it's THEIR car.They love and respect elephants...would you like it if there was one in the back seat when you call them as it's their companion and they love it to bits.I am guessing no!!!
Yes this is all unfair but we are allowed to be scared of animals too,why do they need therapy for that?

If they're scared of animals then get another job where you have no chance of coming across them!

 

[Veggiepatch]

A possible explanation to the "fear" of domestic pets, such as cats and dogs in Australia, is that these imports eat them. I wonder what some of the strange carcasses are that are hanging in the windows of some foreign owned food retailers.

Further to that, when I was living in Sydney, I would take my pet dingo for a walk at about 8 am most days. The schoolchildren, mostly Asian, would bolt across the road to get away from my dog!

This post has undertones of Dictator Trump! **shudders**

 

[Miss Chris]

So you think that the carer, who more often than not is the parent, should care 24x7, without ever getting a break. Day in. day out, year after year.
Obviously you have no idea what you are talking about.
NDIS does not pay for the carer's holiday they pay for somebody to care for the NDIS client while the full time carer has a break.
My Dr often comments how ill informed people are and have no consideration of what carer's actually do. Who's taking care of the carer???

My daughter is 47 and I have been caring for her all these years
I'm 78 now. In your opinion, how dare I have a holiday
Have you not had a holiday in that time?
Your friend is an idiot she doesn't have a clue what she's talking about.
Yes people on NDIS do get taken to movies, and other outings. It's called recreation for them. In a lot of cases their parents are too old, or too worn out to do these things. Do you think they are not entitled to some small pleasures in life. do you think they should be locked away and kept out of sight.
Your friend, who you say works for them, also agrees. I would say your friend should look for a new line of work as she's certainly not suited for what she's doing. Gossiping about clients would get her sacked. She has no idea where the clients money goes, what it actually pays for or any other such information. This information is private and none of her business.

Very Well Said

 

[Veggiepatch]

Then they should get a different job

And a different country to live in.