Wheelchair user refused taxi and Uber in nation's capital

It was Rosie Putland's first week in Canberra in a new job, but the week was marred by a case of what she calls discrimination.

Ms Putland says she was refused both a taxi and an Uber due to being in a wheelchair.

The accessibility advocate said she was knocking-off work when she and a colleague approached a taxi rank at Parliament House, but Ms Putland was refused entry into the taxi.

She told the ABC her wheelchair was no larger than the average suitcase fitting into an average car boot, and she could pack it down herself without extra assistance, yet the taxi driver still refused to take her.

"I explained to the driver that my wheelchair packs down and can fit into a small boot of a car," she said.

"He said he wasn't able to take me and that he simply didn't want to.

"I was with a colleague, and she was just stunned by the blatant discrimination ... particularly for wheelchair users and mobility aid users."

Later that same week, she was on her way into work at Parliament House when she ordered an Uber, telling the driver over the app's instant messaging service she had a wheelchair, but it was the same size as an average suitcase and could fit in an average boot. 

The driver asked Ms Putland to cancel the trip. 

Ms Putland said it was important that rideshare and taxi drivers remembered that people living with a disability still had agency.

"If I'm telling a taxi driver and it can easily fit in the boot and I don't need any assistance from you, then that should just be listened to and taken for what it is rather than the taxi driver or Uber driver making assumptions about my experience and also about my wheelchair," she said. 

'Disappointed but unsurprised'

According to the federal disability discrimination act, it is unlawful in Australia to refuse public transport services, including taxis and rideshares, to people living with a disability. 

Ms Putland took to social media to share her experience and received multiple comments from others sharing similar experiences.

People with Disability Australia interim president Jarrod Sandell-Hay said Ms Putland's experience was not isolated. 

Mr Sandell-Hay lives with a disability and said he had been refused transport before.

"I've been rejected multiple times; I've had to argue ... there's been lots of times where this sort of stuff happens to myself and other disabled Australians," he said. 

"I was disappointed but unsurprised [to hear Ms Putland's experience]; we see this far too often around the country.

"And it's just another example of transport in Australia not living up to the needs of wheelchair users."

Mr Sandell-Hay said a disability was no reason to deny anyone services. 

"We are taxpayers, we have money, we can afford to pay for your services, we need your services," he said. 

"You just need to abide by the law and not treat disabled people like second-class citizens."

Uber and the Australian Taxi Association have been contacted for comment.