autonomous cars

Self-driving cars are the zenith of accessibility according to Cruise, the San Francisco-based and GM-backed autonomous car company. Fully autonomous cars are a game-changer says Michelle Lee, the company’s senior public affairs manager.

“It’s going to enable independence,“ Lee said. “It’s going to enable freedom to move about as you want and live your life. I am so excited for the day that Origin Mobility is on the streets. I dream of it honestly—I have to always rely on somebody to drive me, or a bus driver, a train conductor, Uber driver, Lyft driver, or taxi driver. [With autonomous cars], I’m not always relying on someone. I want to go places and I want to do things. I know I’m not alone in that. People with disabilities want to live life..”

Lee came to Cruise as a disability advocate and echoes the refrain “nothing about us, without us.” That belief led to the recent formation of the Accessibility Council, “a cross-disability group of leaders and advocates who will provide external, independent input on Cruise’s product, programs, and approach to accessibility.” The Accessibility Council comprises seventeen people representing various disability organizations, including the National Federation of the Blind, the United Spinal Association, and the National Association of the Deaf. Read more.

Our Takeaway: The independence afforded by the promise of fully-autonomous cars may well be a game changer for many people with disabilities. So too is Cruise’s formation of a cross-disability council, provided the group has genuine influence on the design of the vehicles.