{"id":90839,"date":"2023-09-27T20:47:23","date_gmt":"2023-09-27T20:47:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uzurv.com\/?post_type=newsletter&p=90839"},"modified":"2025-12-09T11:58:48","modified_gmt":"2025-12-09T16:58:48","slug":"driven-09-27-23-a-conversation-with-the-seeing-eye","status":"publish","type":"newsletter","link":"https:\/\/uzurv.com\/newsletter\/driven-09-27-23-a-conversation-with-the-seeing-eye\/","title":{"rendered":"A Conversation with The Seeing Eye\u00ae"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ back_color=”color-gyho” overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ content_parallax=”0″ uncode_shortcode_id=”597722″ back_color_type=”uncode-palette”][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_custom_heading text_color=”color-prif” text_font=”font-555555″ text_size=”fontsize-892903″ text_weight=”500″ text_transform=”uppercase” uncode_shortcode_id=”723070″ text_color_type=”uncode-palette”]Best Practices[\/vc_custom_heading][\/vc_column][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ align_horizontal=”align_right” gutter_size=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ align_mobile=”align_left_mobile” mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/2″ uncode_shortcode_id=”187677″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”744054″]09.27.23[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ back_color=”color-gyho” overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ content_parallax=”0″ uncode_shortcode_id=”184010″ back_color_type=”uncode-palette”][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ gutter_size=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/1″ uncode_shortcode_id=”208156″][vc_icon icon_image=”90840″ media_size=”100″ text_font=”font-388954″ text_size=”fontsize-189434″ uncode_shortcode_id=”424112″ title=”UZURV chats with service dog training organization, The Seeing Eye\u00ae”][\/vc_icon][vc_column_text text_color=”color-jevc” uncode_shortcode_id=”727609″ text_color_type=”uncode-palette”]<\/p>\n

\u201cAs my legs stretched out, and my shoulders went back, and my head went up, and the wind blew in my face, I knew I had my independence\u2026.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u2014 Morris Frank, co-founder of The Seeing Eye, describing the first guided walk with his service dog, Buddy.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

UZURV means accessibility for thousands of people. Accessible transportation. Accessible scheduling. Accessible service.<\/p>\n

This is doubly-true for our riders who work with service animals.<\/p>\n

UZURV Drivers are\u00a0required by law<\/b>\u00a0to provide access to service animals. That means Drivers must allow a service animal in their car when a rider is accompanied by one.<\/p>\n

But beyond that, providing access to service animals is the right thing to do.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Why Service Animals?<\/h3>\n

Service animals provide an important function. They offer disabled riders greater independence and accessibility to work, play, and everyday life. The tasks that service animals perform create a vital link to mobility, safety, and community participation for millions of people.<\/p>\n

\"A
Vested Shepherd: A 6-month-old German shepherd puppy proudly displays his Seeing Eye vest. This is worn by puppies who are at least 6 months of age and have passed a basic obedience and temperament test.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

UZURV spoke with Melissa Allman, Advocacy and Government Relations Specialist for The Seeing Eye in Morristown, NJ. Established in 1929 by Dorothy Harrison Eustis and Morris Frank, who is quoted above, The Seeing Eye is the first service dog training organization in the United States and the oldest one in the world.<\/p>\n

\u201cService animals are important because they perform tasks for people with disabilities,\u201d Allman explained. \u201cSeeing, hearing, walking, thinking \u2013 these are major life activities central to what people do. If one of those areas is substantially impaired, that is a disability.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What tasks do service animals perform?<\/h3>\n

\u201cMy Seeing Eye dog, Luna, is trained to guide me safely around obstacles,\u201d Allman said, referring to her friend and partner, snoring just beneath her desk. \u201cShe guides me through environments, over different types of terrain, and she directs me to stop at certain landmarks like crosswalks and curbs.\u201d<\/p>\n

Allman added, \u201cLuna is also trained to intelligently disobey me, should I tell her to go forward and something is unsafe.<\/p>\n

\u201dA guide dog will intelligently disobey a handler when the handler commands them to perform a task, but the dog deems the task dangerous \u2013 such as entering a crosswalk when a vehicle is approaching.\u201c<\/p>\n

Luna has saved my life on a number of occasions. People have witnessed it and I\u2019ve experienced it,\u201d Allman said.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Service Animals perform vital tasks for people with other disabilities<\/h3>\n

Service animals\u2026.<\/p>\n