Ruben Brunt, a 28-year-old blind man from Solano County, regularly travels to San Francisco specifically to ride in Waymo's driverless Jaguars. Born with a rare eye disorder that prevents him from driving, Brunt describes the experience as bringing 'that feeling of independence' he never thought possible. The self-driving cars allow him to control music and climate settings while traveling alone.

For visually impaired users like Sarah Funes and Claire Stanley, Waymo eliminates common discrimination issues with human drivers who refuse service animals. Funes, partially blind and paralyzed, appreciates not having to interact with strangers, while Stanley notes 'When you don't have a driver, there's no driver to say no.' These benefits contrast sharply with Waymo's public image problems.

Despite safety concerns including vehicles driving through police standoffs and blocking ambulances, many disabled riders consider autonomous cars safer than traditional ride-shares, especially given Uber's history of sexual violence complaints. Waymo operates roughly 1,000 cars across the Bay Area, costing about 30 percent more than Uber or Lyft rides. The company partners with disability organizations and contributes financially to improve accessibility.

Funes acknowledges cost barriers prevent exclusive use, but Brunt dreams of owning his own driverless car someday. For now, these journeys represent something profound—a glimpse of autonomous freedom that many take for granted.