Mr Anderson uses taxis and private hire vehicles to get to work every day and says he feels “ashamed and distressed” that some drivers have often refused to take him and his guide dog.

The 32-year-old said that he and his dog Barney have been refused transportation more than 30 times.

Due to the distress, he has been filming the incidents and sending them to Transport For London.

The action he has taken so far has seen a dozen successful prosecutions.

In one clip, recorded by Mr Anderson, the 32-year-old can be heard saying, “So he is a guide dog, you do have to take him”.

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

The driver can be heard questioning Mr Anderson by saying, “You have to, yes, you have to?”, adding, “you can’t say I have to”.

Speaking to BBC, Mr Anderson said: “I’m not too sure whether I can take on another guide dog in the future.

“Simply because I cannot deal with the distress and the sense of shame that comes from people treating me so appallingly.”

Speaking to BBC, Mr Anderson said: “When I tell them, they will say it’s not a criminal offence because ‘It’s my car”.

He added: “When they refuse access to someone because of their disability, which in my case is true. 

“That they not only face prosecution, but they face revocation of their licence.

Stephen expresses his hope that taxi companies take action to stop such discrimination against blind and partially-sighted people.

DON’T MISS

Transport For London has said that it acts “against mini cab drivers who refuse to carry passengers and their guide dogs”.

Under section 170 of the Equality Act, it is deemed a criminal offence for private hire drivers to refuse access to a guide dog and its owner.

Source: Read Full Article