The thought of self-driving cars and autonomous vehicles (AVs) can be daunting for many. AVs bring concern over loss of jobs or danger to the public when things go wrong. There is a lot of coverage about efficiency and economic benefits, but very little discussion on the impact of AVs for disabled people.
For anyone who learnt to drive, you may remember the freedom that came along with being able to go where you want, when you wanted. For many disabled people, they don't have this freedom, everything is planned in advance and sometimes it just isn't possible.
AVs bring opportunities for millions of disabled people to have the same level of freedom, however this freedom will only be realised if AVs are designed for inclusion from the beginning. Volkwagon have established a team dedicated to ensuring their AVs will be inclusive and many other manufacturers are following their example.
Designing for inclusion from the beginning doesn't increase costs, it reduces the cost of trying to add inclusion later, It makes the experience better for all users and provides opportunities to millions.
Over 25 million Americans have disabilities that make traveling outside the home difficult. Historically, car companies have provided little relief, producing vehicles that are either inaccessible or cost thousands of dollars to retrofit for a driver with disabilities. Autonomous vehicles (AVs) present a tantalizing solution to millions of frustrated people. But the industry’s well-publicized struggles, as well as the broken promises of tech companies in the past, are forcing many in the disabled community to wonder whether AVs are the salvation they’ve been waiting for.
https://www.theverge.com/22832657/autonomous-vehicles-disabled-accessible-challenges-design
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