Uber rolls out Uber Assist on World Disability Day

The service is being rolled out in India for the first time with Delhi being the first city.

Uber, the online taxi hailing application, has announced the launch of its specialised service Uber Assist. The service will be launched on December 3, which is commemorated as World Disability Day.

The service is aimed at providing additional assistance to the differently-abled and the elderly for commuting from point A to point B, in a safe, reliable and affordable way. The service, which is already present in other markets worldwide, is being launched in India for the first time. It will be first launched in Delhi, and will be later followed by other cities.

For this venture, Uber has partnered with iCare Life, which will provide special training to Uber's top driver-partners to help roll out this service. The drivers have been trained to assist riders with different accessibility needs while boarding or de-boarding a car apart from folding and storing their wheelchairs, walkers, and scooters for transport.

The Uber Assist training module for driver-partners includes specific training on the necessary knowledge and safety requirements of people with different accessibility needs. This will involve visible and invisible disability awareness and communication tips to provide an excellent experience for passengers. The training equips driver-partners with the right questions to ask and the right things to do in order to effectively interact with the passengers.

To make use of the Uber Assist feature, one needs to open the Uber app installed on their phone, enter the code 'ASSISTDEL' in the promotions tab to unlock Uber Assist service, select Uber Assist option above the slider, and set one's location and enjoy the ride.

Gagan Bhatia, general manager, Uber, North India, says, "At Uber, we constantly strive to provide more convenient and reliable transportation options for everyone everywhere. With Uber Assist, our driver-partners are extending that convenience to all riders with different accessibility needs to help them get around their city safely and conveniently."

Rajesh Ghatge, CEO and managing director, iCare Life, adds, "We are proud to partner with Uber and use its expertise to train their driver-partners who will provide special assistance to passengers with disabilities, as well as with the elderly. This will go a long way in making travel convenient for everyone in the city. We would urge other companies to follow the lead as well."

"Being a wheelchair user, I have first-hand experience of the challenges that people with disabilities face in intra-city travel. Cars aren't accessible and drivers aren't sensitive to my needs. I congratulate Uber on the launch of Uber Assist, India's first radio para transit service," says Nipun Malhotra, CEO, Nipman Foundation.