Our goal is to expand ridesharing services to the disabled community by encouraging companies like Uber and Lyft to increase their amount of wheelchair accessible van fleets, and to expand that service nationwide. As of right now, these services are restricted to a very few select cities.

As an individual who uses a wheelchair as my primary motive of transportation, I have personally experienced the positive impact that access to these vehicles has on a person’s mental health, physical health, and financial burdens.

There is a substantial percentage of the disabled population that have to rely on public transportation, because their disability prevents them from driving. These services can be unreliable, and often difficult to access. As a result, many individuals with disabilities are isolated from any interaction with the community, which can have detrimental effects on that person’s mental wellness. Having access to wheelchair accessible rideshare vehicles would make it easier for these individuals to be more active in the community, which would help promote healthy public interactions for them.

These accessible rideshare options would also make it easier for disabled individuals to travel to doctors’ appointments, physical therapy appointments, or just to the local gym. Promoting this opportunity for a healthier lifestyle can help lead to a decrease in hospitalizations of a population that often suffers from a compromised immune system.

Lastly, the access to wheelchair accessible rideshare vehicles would have a substantial impact on the financial burdens that many disabled individuals suffer. There are options for disabled individuals to schedule rides with wheelchair accessible van services, but these options can be extremely costly. For example, I recently was given a quote from a van service for a trip that would cost $170, while that same trip using Uber was quoted at $35.

It is unfair, and frankly unjust, that a significant portion of our population is confined to their homes while a successfully proven rideshare feature is stalling to expand nationwide. Please help support our cause and mission to make a difference.