Legally blind Adelaide singer Rachael Leahcar lobbies for national scheme after taxi subsidy voucher refused
Legally blind Adelaide singer Rachael Leahcar has lobbied for a national scheme after an interstate taxi driver refused her subsidy voucher and she was forced to pay full price.
SA News
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Adelaide visually impaired singer Rachael Leahcar is lobbying for a national disability taxi scheme after she was forced to pay full price for a ride, despite having a subsidy voucher.
The Voice Australia finalist who shot to fame as a teenager on Nine’s reality TV show in 2012 has called out the “disgraceful discrimination” she suffered during an interstate trip.
Ms Leahcar posted on her Facebook page that a taxi driver in Brisbane refused her subsidy voucher after a trip, telling her “they don’t use them anymore”.
She said that as a blind person she is eligible for the South Australian Taxi Subsidy Scheme (SATSS) – which entitles her to 50 per cent off taxi rides up to the value of $20 – and orders specific paper vouchers when she travels interstate.
However, Ms Leahcar – who refuses to use Ubers or rideshare due to arguments about travelling with her guide dog – said taxi drivers interstate don’t want to accept them as they aren’t familiar with them.
“Can anyone tell me how I can get a refund for this disgraceful discrimination against a person with disability?” she said.
“No doubt it will happen again the next time I ride.
“Time to lobby for a NATIONAL SCHEME!”
Ms Leahcar added that despite calling SATSS last week to confirm the vouchers can be used, she was still told no, even after this particular driver called his boss.
As a result, she said her seven minute taxi ride ended up costing $40.
Ms Leahcar was diagnosed at six months with the degenerative eye condition retinitis pigmentosa (RP).
Commenters took to the post to agree with Ms Leahcar’s frustrations, with one person saying they think the same card should be used everywhere.
“I have the same card and always get scammed by drivers! They always refuse them and it’s unacceptable and it is discrimination,” another commenter said.
“They either pretend they don’t know what it is or say they don’t accept it, it is wrong on so many levels.”
“I have lobbied for this but nothing has changed yet. A fight I will continue,” another person added.
However, another commenter said they doubted the taxi drivers were discriminating against Ms Leahcar, but rather they just didn’t know the rules.
“There are a lot of scammers around today so probably just looking after his fare,” they said.
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