We are excited to announce that Able Australia is partnering with Uber in delivering 10,000 rides for people with disability, to travel to and from vaccination appointments for their first and second doses.
Through this pilot program, Uber will make available four rides for 2,500 people living with disability across Australia (value of $20 per trip), through Able Australia, as well as twelve other Australian Disability Service Providers.
The recent outbreak in Victoria highlights the ongoing threat COVID-19 poses for the community. For people with disability – the stakes are even higher. Many people with disability also have underlying medical conditions which make them even more vulnerable to COVID-19. Ensuring as many people as possible are vaccinated across the disability sector will save lives.
Uber General Manager Dom Taylor said not having access to transport shouldn’t be a barrier to vaccination.
“No single entity can end this pandemic. We are all in this together, government, not-for-profits, businesses and individuals and we want to play our part,” he said.
“We know that some people with disability are at a higher risk of COVID complications and at the same time, there are mobility challenges that people with a disability face when it comes to vaccine access. We want to play a role in helping more people with disabilities get access to the vaccine and believe that by leveraging our platform, which already helps millions of Australians get from A to B easily and at the push of a button, we can help make a difference.”
Able Australia CEO, Kate MacRae, responded, saying “We welcome this partnership with Uber.”
“It’s been clear that more needs to be done to help those living with a disability to access vaccines safely and reliably. We were thrilled when Uber came to the table to offer these trips and to make sure that cost wasn’t a barrier to accessing vaccines for thousands of Australians.
“This innovative program will not only directly benefit people with disability but those who provide them support and the community at large. It is a great example of what is possible when communities come together.”
Bruce Maguire, who lives with disability, added: “People with a disability often rely on point-to-point transport, like Uber. This partnership means people will be able to avoid the issue of navigating locations and transport routes they may be unfamiliar with and make getting to and from their vaccinations a less stressful experience.”
Thank you so much to Uber for trialing this with us along with…
Together, we are able.
Please speak with your Disability Support Worker or Team Leader who will provide you with more information on how to access this service.
Please contact your Disability Service Provider directly.
Please email us on comms@ableaustralia.org.au.
