Blind community from around the country protests over rideshare discrimination

On Oct. 15, White Cane Awareness Day, a day meant to celebrate the independence of blind individuals, over 150 protesters gathered outside the headquarters of Uber and Lyft in San Francisco to bring awareness to a persistent issue: discrimination against blind passengers, especially those with guide dogs.

The rally, organized by the National Federation of the Blind (NFB), a nationwide advocacy organization for the blind, highlighted the alleged failure of these rideshare companies to enforce their own policies prohibiting such discrimination.

“Uber and Lyft provide a service that is of tremendous benefit to blind people but these companies are failing to address discrimination against us that often leaves us stranded,” said Mark Riccobono, president of the NFB, in a press release issued prior to the rally. “This is no mere inconvenience; it violates the law, strips us of our dignity, and often endangers our health and safety.”