When Uber Throws the Ticket—A Blind Woman’s Tale from Rio
On a hot August evening in Rio de Janeiro, 26‑year‑old Nathalia Santos, who runs a YouTube channel about life as a blind woman, found herself in a real‑life nightmare. An Uber driver decided he’d had enough of a request to turn down the AC and abruptly tossed her to the curb, while shouting that “blindness was her punishment.”
The Trip That Went Wrong
- After being yanked out, Nathalia could’t spot her own street—she was effectively stranded in a maze of alleyways.
- She posted the whole ordeal on Instagram, calling out the driver’s rude tirade and the chilling accusation.
- Uber immediately banned the driver, declaring his behaviour “unacceptable.”
- Despite a phone apology, no financial compensation was offered.
What the Gig‑Economy Giant is Doing About Safety
So what’s Uber up to? They’re putting 60 million USD behind a safety centre in São Paulo, hoping to cut down on the kind of drama that turns commuters into angry victims. Brazil isn’t just a side‑kick for Uber; it’s the second‑biggest market after the U.S., thanks to its high profit margins.
The Spotlight on Disabilities in Latin America
- Some Mexican cities and Montevideo offer “driver‑training for people with disabilities,” but most places in South America don’t.
- Uber’s Brazilian site puff‑ups the “easier than ever” promise, but the rendering was more fluff than facts.
Beyond Uber: What’s Next for Nathalia?
Since the incident, Nathalia is ditching rideshare for good. “I’ve gotten so many similar stories,” she shared with Reuters, “and I don’t think this was an isolated glitch.” All she’s got left are her family’s rides and her own resilient spirit.
