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Global Accessibility Awareness Day: Helping close the transportation gap in healthcare

Thursday, May 21 is Global Accessibility Awareness Day, a time to recognize the importance of inclusive design and the role accessibility plays in everyday life.

It's also a moment to be honest: for too many people, the systems they depend on weren't built with them in mind.

That includes the more than 1 billion people worldwide who live with a disability. For people with accessibility needs, navigating the world often involves added complexity, uncertainty, and emotional stress that others rarely have to consider. At Uber Health, we’re committed to doing our part to help close that gap.

Nowhere is accessibility more critical than in healthcare

Access to medical care is often defined by clinical availability or insurance coverage, but that framing misses a crucial piece of the picture. Access also depends on whether patients can physically get to their appointments consistently and without undue hardship.

In fact, transportation is one of the most significant and often overlooked barriers to care. More than 1 in 5 adults have skipped healthcare due to transportation challenges alone. When patients can't get to appointments, the consequences compound: delayed diagnoses, interrupted treatment plans, gaps in preventive care, and more complex and costly health needs over time.

The reverse is equally true. When transportation is easily accessible, patients are more likely to attend appointments, arrive on time, and follow through on recommended care. One example of this is rideshare transportation, which studies show can improve patient satisfaction, increase staff efficiency, and reduce no-show rates.*

This is especially important for older adults and people with mobility or functional needs, for whom getting to a medical appointment requires additional planning, support, and accommodation. Building truly inclusive healthcare systems means addressing transportation as a core part of the care journey.

That’s the work we help health organizations do daily at Uber Health.

New and existing Uber features designed to improve accessibility

Beyond Uber Health, accessibility is a broader commitment across Uber. We've built a range of features designed to give riders more control, comfort, and confidence as they move about their day. Uber’s accessibility features include:

  • Rider Self-ID: Riders can choose to let drivers know in advance if they’re deaf or hard of hearing, blind or low vision, or are traveling with a service dog. Note: this feature is completely voluntary. Drivers may not refuse your ride based on your disability or use of a service dog, regardless of whether you self-identify.

  • Simple Mode: A streamlined app experience now provides larger text and icons.

  • Call to Ride: Users can call 1-833-USE-UBER to request a ride on demand or in advance.

  • Medicare Funding: Riders can use any eligible flex card benefits as a payment option in the app.

  • Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAV): Riders in wheelchairs can get picked up by vehicles with ramps or hydraulic lifts in select markets.

These features are designed to help reduce accessibility challenges that can stand in the way of care while helping riders feel reassured, respected, and in control throughout their journey.

Riders shouldn't have to wonder at the curb whether a ride will work for them. That confidence should be built in from the start—for everyone.

Learn more about how Uber Health supports organizations in providing accessible transportation.

*Based on a February 2026 survey commissioned by Uber, where 150 healthcare professionals were asked questions about patient transportation and access to care.