A blind man was unfairly denied taxi rides because of his guide dog, leaving him feeling like a worthless person.

Stephen recently shared with a news outlet that he had experienced a very disheartening incident. As a visually impaired man who relies on private hire vehicles to get to and from work, he was refused a ride by a taxi driver due to having his guide dog, Ava, with him. Stephen, who works as a public servant, shared that this was not a one-time occurrence, but rather the 82nd time he has faced such discrimination.

This type of behavior is not only upsetting, but also illegal, as it goes against section 170 of the Equality Act which states that it is a criminal offence for private hire drivers to refuse access to a guide dog and its owner. Despite this, Stephen has faced numerous refusals and has even resorted to filming the incidents and sending them to TfL (Transport for London) for action to be taken against the drivers.

One of his recent videos, showing a driver refusing to take him and Ava, has gone viral with over 3 million views and thousands of comments. Stephen shared with a news outlet that this incident has made him feel "very sad" and has reminded him of the "negative consequences" of his disability. He also shared that he feels like a "piece of scum" when treated differently in public because of his disability.

However, Stephen is not just fighting for himself, but for all disabled individuals who may not be able to stand up for themselves. He hopes that his victory in prosecuting the taxi driver will send a clear message to both drivers and disabled individuals that the rules will be followed and supported. He also shared that his guide dog, Ava, has given him a "whole extra level" of independence and has made his daily life easier compared to when he used a cane.

While Stephen has been vocal about his experiences and encounters online, he has also expressed his concern about discouraging other disabled individuals from getting assistance dogs. He wants people to be aware of the possible challenges they may face, but also wants them to know that they have the right to access the world just like anyone else. He believes in being honest about the realities of living with a disability and hopes that by speaking out, changes can be made. As he shared, "These things are done to me. These things are done to us. And again, it's the social model of disability that says, my disability doesn't impair my ability to access the world, you do."

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