Global mobility and urban services platform inDrive recently partnered with the Department for the Development of Persons with Disabilities (JPOKU) to conduct a specialised accessibility training programme for its driver-partners.
The initiative equips drivers with the knowledge and practical skills to better understand, communicate with and support passengers with disabilities, while preparing the platform for future accessibility enhancements in Malaysia.
The collaboration, the first by an e-hailing platform in Malaysia, reflects inDrive’s belief that creating an inclusive transportation ecosystem requires more than technological innovation. It also depends on fostering empathy, awareness and mutual respect among those who provide mobility services.
By working closely with JPOKU, inDrive is helping build a ride-hailing environment where persons with disabilities can travel with greater confidence, safety and dignity.
The training introduced drivers to the dRST framework — Describe, Respond, Support and Transfer — a practical approach developed to help drivers better communicate with and assist passengers with disabilities.
The framework encourages drivers to understand individual needs, provide appropriate assistance when requested, and ensure passengers can travel safely and independently throughout their journey.
“As Malaysia continues to strengthen efforts towards a more inclusive society, accessibility must be embedded into everyday services that people rely on, including transportation. Collaboration between the public and private sectors plays an important role in advancing this agenda. We welcome initiatives that not only improve accessibility through technology but also invest in awareness and capacity-building among service providers,” said Puan Rosni binti Saini, Penolong Pengarah Kanan, Jabatan Pembangunan Orang Kurang Upaya (JPOKU).
Preparing for More Accessible In-App Experiences
The driver training comes as inDrive prepares to roll out accessibility enhancements within its app in Malaysia, designed to improve usability for drivers and passengers with disabilities. The enhancements are guided by internationally recognised accessibility principles and aim to support users with visual, hearing, motor and cognitive disabilities through a more accessible and intuitive user experience.
Among the planned enhancements is improved compatibility with accessibility features available on smartphones, including screen readers such as TalkBack for Android and VoiceOver for iOS, enabling users with visual impairments to navigate the app through voice-guided assistance.
The app is also being reviewed to support clearer visuals, scalable text, improved icon visibility and more intuitive navigation, helping users with low vision, colour blindness, motor disabilities or cognitive accessibility needs use the platform with greater ease and confidence.
For users with motor disabilities, the platform aims to work more effectively with assistive technologies and simplified navigation tools. Meanwhile, clearer language, intuitive layouts and localised formats are expected to improve accessibility for users with cognitive disabilities and those who prefer using their native language.
Azlan Anwar, Driver Operations Manager, inDrive Malaysia, said “Mobility is a fundamental right and plays a crucial role in enabling people to participate fully in society. We believe accessibility requires both inclusive technology and informed human interactions. By enhancing our platform’s accessibility features and partnering with JPOKU to strengthen driver awareness, we aim to help create a transportation experience that is safer, more accessible and more dignified for persons with disabilities.”
As Malaysia continues to advance its accessibility agenda, collaboration between industry players, government agencies and disability advocates will be essential in ensuring that transportation services remain accessible to all members of society.
Do stay tuned to Hype Malaysia for more updates.
