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Uber agrees to $225,000 settlement in lawsuit alleging discrimination against the blind

Uber agrees to $225,000 settlement in lawsuit alleging discrimination against the blind

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Uber has agreed to pay the National Federation of the Blind $225,000 over three years to settle a lawsuit alleging discrimination against blind riders, the company announced yesterday.

Uber will notify drivers that they must provide service to customers with service animals

The settlement, which is still pending approval from a judge, also requires Uber to notify drivers that they must provide transport to customers with service animals. Should a driver break that policy, Uber says it will deactivate their account. To ensure the settlement is being followed, the National Federation of the Blind will have blind customers take test rides.

The agreement will likely put an end to the suit, which has been unfolding since 2014, when the National Federation of the Blind first argued that some Uber drivers' refusal to accept riders with guide dogs was discriminatory.

"Our goal at Uber is to make transportation options more accessible to all individuals, including those who are blind, low-vision or have other disabilities," the company said in its statement. "We are committed to continuing to build technological solutions that support everyone's ability to easily move around their communities."