Uber has partnered with the National Council For The Blind, Malaysia (NCBM) to help empower blind riders with the choice to travel independently, at the touch of a button.
Uber will work closely with NCBM to provide free rides to their members and organise training sessions for driver-partners on how better to serve blind riders. Uber will also work with the NCBM to educate blind riders on using the Uber app.
The company notes that the Uber app was built to expand access to safe, affordable and reliable transportation options for all, including riders with visual impairments and other disabilities. Leon Foong, GM for Uber Malaysia said, “At Uber, we believe everyone should have the choice of travelling independently; especially people with disabilities, who often face more challenges in a world designed for the able-bodied. We are proud to partner with the National Council for the Blind, Malaysia to demonstrate how technology can solve real-world problems with real people in mind; by offering safe and reliable transportation for blind people in Malaysia at just the push of a button!”
Moses Choo, Executive Director, National Council for the Blind, Malaysia agreed and explained, “Blind Malaysians have typically needed to rely on others for their transportation needs. Now, with ride sharing options like Uber, we can more independently get to work, visit friends, or enjoy an evening out. We are glad that Uber has chosen to work with the NCBM to engage the blind with the kind of innovation that opens up opportunities for more Malaysians and create a more accessible Malaysia for the disabled.”
Uber’s app works to increase the mobility, efficiency, and independence of transportation for riders who are blind or have low vision with features and capabilities like:
+Integration with smartphone accessibility options for the blind, such as VoiceOver iOS and TalkBack on Android, as well as wireless braille display compatibility
+Cashless payments which reduce the need for riders who are blind or who have low vision to worry about counting out cash payments or exchanging bills with a driver
+On-demand transportation. With the Uber app, riders who are blind or have vision impairments no longer have to prearrange rides through a dispatcher or resort to other, less convenient, means of hailing a ride.
+Real-time GPS. Uber uses GPS to map and follow every trip in real time. This gives riders peace-of-mind knowing that efficient routes are being utilised, and helps eliminate the risk of fraud.
+Equal access. Every trip request is automatically matched to a nearby driver by the Uber app, reducing opportunities for discrimination.
+Share the route, estimated time of arrival (ETA) and location with friends or family for extra peace of mind. Third parties can receive a link where they can find out in real time the name and photo of the driver, the vehicle, and track where riders are on the map until they arrive at their destination, even if they do not have the Uber app.
Interested?
Watch the video showing how the vision-impaired can use Uber
Uber will work closely with NCBM to provide free rides to their members and organise training sessions for driver-partners on how better to serve blind riders. Uber will also work with the NCBM to educate blind riders on using the Uber app.
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| Source: Uber. Man looking at the Uber app. |
The company notes that the Uber app was built to expand access to safe, affordable and reliable transportation options for all, including riders with visual impairments and other disabilities. Leon Foong, GM for Uber Malaysia said, “At Uber, we believe everyone should have the choice of travelling independently; especially people with disabilities, who often face more challenges in a world designed for the able-bodied. We are proud to partner with the National Council for the Blind, Malaysia to demonstrate how technology can solve real-world problems with real people in mind; by offering safe and reliable transportation for blind people in Malaysia at just the push of a button!”
Moses Choo, Executive Director, National Council for the Blind, Malaysia agreed and explained, “Blind Malaysians have typically needed to rely on others for their transportation needs. Now, with ride sharing options like Uber, we can more independently get to work, visit friends, or enjoy an evening out. We are glad that Uber has chosen to work with the NCBM to engage the blind with the kind of innovation that opens up opportunities for more Malaysians and create a more accessible Malaysia for the disabled.”
Uber’s app works to increase the mobility, efficiency, and independence of transportation for riders who are blind or have low vision with features and capabilities like:
+Integration with smartphone accessibility options for the blind, such as VoiceOver iOS and TalkBack on Android, as well as wireless braille display compatibility
+Cashless payments which reduce the need for riders who are blind or who have low vision to worry about counting out cash payments or exchanging bills with a driver
+On-demand transportation. With the Uber app, riders who are blind or have vision impairments no longer have to prearrange rides through a dispatcher or resort to other, less convenient, means of hailing a ride.
+Real-time GPS. Uber uses GPS to map and follow every trip in real time. This gives riders peace-of-mind knowing that efficient routes are being utilised, and helps eliminate the risk of fraud.
+Equal access. Every trip request is automatically matched to a nearby driver by the Uber app, reducing opportunities for discrimination.
+Share the route, estimated time of arrival (ETA) and location with friends or family for extra peace of mind. Third parties can receive a link where they can find out in real time the name and photo of the driver, the vehicle, and track where riders are on the map until they arrive at their destination, even if they do not have the Uber app.
Interested?
Watch the video showing how the vision-impaired can use Uber
