Partnering with the Deaf Community

On 26 August, Uber partnered with the WA Deaf Society and Deaf advocate, Drisana Levitzke-Gray (Young Australian of the Year 2015), to demonstrate the Uber app to both riders and potential driver-partners within the Deaf community.

According to Drisana, “Deaf people have always been able to do anything and everything, and innovative businesses like Uber ensure that Deaf people have equal opportunity. Uber has taken that one step further by working with the Deaf community and its members to ensure they are a part of the dynamic changes that are happening nowadays.”

Since launching our Uber app features for Deaf and hard-of-hearing driver-partners, dozens of drivers within the Deaf community have embraced ridesharing on the Uber platform. Driving with Uber enables drivers to be their own boss and access flexible work while driving their own vehicle.

Attendees braved the rain to attend the information session at the Deaf Community Centre in East Perth, keen to discover more about how the app features could work for them. At Uber, we know that drivers within the Deaf community boast higher than average driver ratings and fantastic rider feedback. We are proud to continue our engagement with the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community across Australia to encourage more people to sign up to drive with Uber.

By partnering with groups like the WA Deaf Society, we are able to further our collective efforts to promote social inclusion and to extend economic opportunities for drivers who are Deaf or hard-of-hearing.

Uber was recently recognised by Connect Hearing for its commitment to Creating Connection for Those with Hearing Loss. The recently published article explores the way businesses are now confronting hearing loss in the workplace, using Uber as a pioneering example.

In October 2016, Uber will sponsor the Melbourne Deaf Expo and Deaf Festival in Parramatta. Additional info sessions will be available at both events for those interested in driving on the Uber platform.