Uber launches Assist program for senior citizens and disabled riders in L.A.

Uber is launching a new program for senior citizens and disabled riders in Los Angeles called uberAssist.

The program is designed to help riders who need additional support during their travel and enough room in the car for strollers, walkers, and wheelchairs. Uber says drivers who respond to Assist requests have been trained by the Open Doors Organization, a group devoted to helping businesses accommodate employees with special needs.

Here’s how to call uberAssist in L.A.:

• Tap on the Promotions section of your app
• Enter the code ASSIST
• uberASSIST will appear on your slider
• Set your location and request your ride!

This is not the first update for riders with disabilities. In March, Uber started testing a service for riders with poor hearing in Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.

Earlier this year, Uber faced lawsuits for not complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act. While the ride-sharing platform had previously maintained that it was not subject to these laws as a technology company, today’s launch suggests otherwise.

For now, uberAssist seems to just be a test. We’ve reached out to Uber for more details and will update as the information rolls in.