Self-Driving Cars: The Impact on People with Disabilities

Recorded On: 06/06/2017

Abstract:

This 1 credit/1 hour webinar will provide an overview of the transportation obstacles the disability community faces, while also examining the potential benefits of a better, more accessible transportation system. As new transportation technologies such as on-demand mobility solutions and, in the near future, autonomous vehicles (AVs) enter the mainstream, they offer increased potential for reducing transportation barriers for those with disabilities. In their most recent report, Securing America’s Future Energy (SAFE) revealed that two million employment opportunities could be opened up, and $19 billion in annual healthcare expenditures could be saved, if people with disabilities had access to the basic transportation needs that could be provided by autonomous vehicles.

  Learning objectives:

At the end of this presentation, attendees will:

•   Identify current transportation obstacles for people with disabilities and the benefits of an accessible and reliable transportation system

•   Possess a greater understanding of autonomous vehicles and the role they may play in the future of transportation

•   Be able to discuss potential steps that government, industry, and the disability community can take to ensure autonomous vehicles are accessible when deployed

Eligible for one contact hour

Amitai Bin-Nun, Ph.D

Director of the Autonomous Vehicle Initiative at Securing America’s Future Energy (SAFE)

Amitai Bin-Nun, Ph.D., is the Director of the Autonomous Vehicle Initiative at Securing America’s Future Energy (SAFE). Amitai is a former Associate at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Science, Technology, and Public Policy Program, and worked in the private sector on KPMG Strategy’s innovation team. Amitai also served as an energy and technology policy fellow in the office of Senator Chris Coons and as a AAAS Fellow at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Amitai earned a doctorate in theoretical astrophysics at the University of Pennsylvania, where his thesis explored using black holes as a window into extra dimensions.

Jeffrey Gerlach

Senior Policy Analyst at Securing America’s Future Energy (SAFE)

Jeffrey Gerlach is a Senior Policy Analyst at Securing America’s Future Energy (SAFE), where he conducts research, writing, and content development for SAFE’s policy team. He previously worked at a management consulting firm, where he supported the Department of Energy. Additionally, he worked on multiple political campaigns in Minnesota. Mr. Gerlach received his B.A. in Political Science from the University of St. Thomas and his Master of Public Policy from the University of Chicago.

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