Indian founder books cab in US, gets sign language guide for specially-abled driver

A Lyft booking in the US alerted an Indian founder that his driver was deaf or hard of hearing and offered communication guidance. The encounter sparked a wider discussion on disability access, equal opportunity and existing inclusion efforts in India.

In Short

• Gaurav Kheterpal noticed an in-app note before his hotel cab arrived
• The platform shared communication tips and basic sign language phrases
• The driver confirmed he was deaf and welcomed Kheterpal with a card

An Indian founder travelling to the US was pleasantly surprised when a simple cab booking introduced him to an accessibility feature he said he wished India could offer at the same scale.

Gaurav Kheterpal, founder of Vanshiv Tech, shared his experience on X after booking a Lyft cab to his hotel and noticing a note informing him that his driver was deaf or hard of hearing.

In his post, Gaurav said the app also guided him on how to communicate with the driver and taught him basic American Sign Language phrases such as “hello” and “thank you."

When the cab arrived, he found that the driver was indeed deaf and handed him a card confirming it while welcoming him. Gaurav then thanked him using sign language.

Sharing screenshots of the booking and Lyft’s guide titled “Helpful American Sign Language (ASL) phrases”, Kheterpal said the experience made him think about opportunities available to specially-abled people in India.

He questioned whether India could provide people with disabilities greater opportunities and respect beyond reservations in government jobs. While acknowledging that the US had its own problems, Gaurav Kheterpal said he felt the country provided equal opportunities regardless of disability and urged India to do more.

Take a look at the post here:

His post, however, also prompted people to point out examples of accessibility and employment opportunities already available in India.

One person cited Zomato deliveries handled by executives with physical disabilities, saying customers receive an in-app notification and a call to confirm whether they can collect their order at the curb if the delivery executive cannot climb stairs.

Others pointed out the broader accessibility infrastructure in the US, with some saying many public places were designed to make it easier for people with disabilities to move around independently.

Several viewers agreed that accessibility was an area where more awareness and inclusive practices could benefit everyone.

- Ends