Bangkok, 4 December 2018 – In partnership with the Department for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPD) of the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (MSDHS) and Transportation for All (T4A), Grab has launched a new service dedicated to supporting the mobility needs of people with disabilities. Called ‘GrabAssist’, this new service aims to serve the special needs of people who are wheelchair-bound, hearing-impaired or sight-impaired, enabling them to get from A to B more comfortably, and empowering them to be able to live independently.

Tarin Thaniyavarn, Country Head of Grab Thailand said: “Grab’s mission to improve lives and serve everyday needs is an inclusive one. We believe that everyone deserves the ability to move around comfortably, safely and conveniently. And I’m very glad that Grab is taking this step forward to serve the needs of those who live with disabilities. I’m also very proud of our driver-partners from the taxi community who have stepped up to support this cause. This is the beauty of the Grab community, that we come together to improve society together.”

GrabAssist was launched as part of The International Disabilities Day 2018 Opening, organized by the Department for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPD) and the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (MSDHS) to commemorate the United Nations’ (UN) International Day of Persons with Disabilities on the 3^rd of December. The event was held to raise awareness on various topics related to people with disabilities and the policies to support them to live independently, which includes using public transportation with ease.

Grab has been supporting the government’s policy in increasing access to social services for people with disabilities by sending almost 60 GrabTaxi driver-partners to participate in a training that covered:

• The needs of disabled people when it comes to public transportation
• Practical skills to assist people who are either wheelchair-bound, blind or deaf. These skills include the handling of folding wheelchairs, walkers, collapsible scooters, and other mobility devices and helping with transfer between the wheelchair and the vehicle.
• Basic Sign Language to communicate with deaf passenger on pricing, street name and destinations.
• Proper conversation – What are sensitive topics, what to say and what not to say

GrabTaxi drivers attend a training on how to support passengers with disabilities

Mrs. Thanabhorn Phromsuwan, Director of Department for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPD) said: “It is important that people with disabilities get the same access to public transportation and are provided with sufficient support to be able to go about their daily lives independently and safely. We are glad to have all the support from ride-hailing companies who understand their struggle and are ready to address the needs. With Grab’s launch of a new service dedicated to the cause, we are even more confident that the public transportation experience can be better for all.”        

Details on GrabAssist

Available in Bangkok from today, GrabAssist vehicles can accommodate foldable wheelchairs, walkers and collapsible scooters. GrabAssist drivers will have undergone required training to provide assistance to passengers with mobility challenges. GrabAssist pricing is fixed, which is displayed up front and calculated based on distance. GrabTaxi drivers are charged a lower commission rate for GrabAssist rides than usual, to reimburse them for their time spent on attending training and supporting passengers.

The GrabAssist launch is part of Grab’s ongoing commitment be inclusive and accessible for all Thais. Earlier this year, Grab signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Association of the Deaf in Thailand under the ‘Break the Silence’ project to help the hearing impaired earn a better living and take better care of their families by joining Grab. By signing up, the hearing impaired receive training, benefits and other driver-partner privileges from Grab. Since then, Grab has organized regular onboarding and trainings for the hearing-impaired and also developed a Sign Language protocol for Grab driver-partners.

Additional photos

Grab with representatives from the Department for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPD) and Transportation for All (T4A)

A Grab driver-partner assisting a passenger with disability

A Grab driver-partner assisting a passenger with disability at The International Disabilities Day 2018 at the Government Complex