You can help riders with assistance animals by welcoming their animal into your car and by not interrupting their work by patting or distracting them. Assistance animals help a wide range of people with disabilities.
The basics: What is an assistance animal?
Identifying assistance animals
Assistance animals help people with a variety of disabilities, both visible and invisible. They can be any breed of dog, depending on the disability of their handler.
Most assistance dogs will be wearing an identifiable piece of clothing to distinguish them as a working dog. Usually, assistance animals and their handlers are provided with photo ID.
If you are unsure whether a rider’s animal is an assistance animal, simply ask them politely. If they answer yes, you must accept the animal.
Always allow assistance animals into your car
The law requires transport service providers to accept assistance animals into their vehicles. Assistance animals are trained to enter the car before their owner and sit on the floor.
To avoid interrupting their work, you should never touch or interact with the animal. If you are concerned with keeping your vehicle clean, it’s a good idea to provide a towel or blanket for the animal to sit on.
Assistance dogs are experienced professionals and should be well-trained and focused on their handler at all times. Assistance dogs are trained to not be a distraction to the driver.
Driving with assistance animals
- Assistance animals help a wide range of people with disabilities
- If you are unsure whether a rider’s animal is an assistance animal, simply ask them politely
- Open the door for the animal to enter your car first, as they’re trained
- Consider carrying a towel for the assistance animals to lie on
- Avoid interacting with assistance animals, so they can do their job
A helpful tip: Break down the WALL
When picking up a rider with disability, think about watching, asking, listening, and learning (WALL)
- Ask how you can help
- Listen to their requests and preferences carefully
- Learn from every person you assist
Get more information
Helping people who use wheelchairs or scooters
Knowing how to store wheelchairs and scooters helps people with limited mobility to feel welcome and independent in your car.
Assisting people with disability
Learn what else you can do to make transportation more accessible to everyone.
Helping people who use wheelchairs or scooters
Knowing how to store wheelchairs and scooters helps people with limited mobility to feel welcome and independent in your car.
Assisting people with disability
Learn what else you can do to make transportation more accessible to everyone.
All tips provided by Open Doors Organisation. Uber is working to make transportation more accessible to everyone. See how at accessibility.uber.com.
Posted by the Uber team
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