“Going Above and Beyond” – Veteran Who is Blind Says Waymo Brings Sense of Dependability and Trust
Before Army Specialist Rob Sanchas lost his vision, he never imagined running a marathon. Now blind, he's set to complete his 21st marathon in seven years.
“When I started losing my sight, I did not leave my room for six months,” Rob said. ”I was like, ‘This is not the way I want to live; I can't go on like this.’”
Then, Rob made a decision.
“I finally did what I thought was going to be the hardest thing in my life: I reached out and I asked for help.”
Eventually, Rob began trying new activities too, from rowing, to yoga, to surfing.
“I started doing more athletic stuff, like stuff I loved and thought I could never do again,” Rob recalled. “I started to learn how to do it as a person that's blind and that's how I met the Blinded Veterans Association (BVA).”
Rob and his Yellow Labrador guide dog, Kent, running on a trail through Papago Park in Phoenix
Rob credits BVA with not only helping him get active, but also teaching how to navigate the world as someone who is blind. One of the biggest changes Rob had to adapt to was no longer being able to drive.
“I was like, ‘Oh, maybe there'll be an operation, maybe something will happen and I can see again,’” Rob shared. “And I always kept that, the hopeless hope, there.”
With support from BVA and others, Rob learned about new ways to get around, such as paratransit services and autonomous driving technology.
Now, BVA is partnering with Waymo to expand mobility options and independence for people like Rob and give them the opportunity to experience Waymo’s ride-hailing service, Waymo One. Waymo’s app and in-car experience are designed with input from people with disabilities and their advocates to be accessible.
“I can't see the Waymo car, but on the app I can hit a button and it'll play a musical tone so I can figure out where it is or I can beep the horn and I can find it,” Rob shared after riding with Waymo in Phoenix. “These are all adaptations that equalize the playing field for us.”
Rob holds up a smartphone with a screen that reads “find my car” over a green checkmark that says “nearby.” His thumb hovers over a button that reads “play” next to a music symbol.
Passengers with service animals can sometimes arbitrarily be denied rides or have their rides canceled at the last minute by ride-hailing drivers.
“It can be very painful,” Rob said.
In contrast, Rob said Waymo gives him the feeling of having a dependable driver that won’t discriminate.
“Waymo is going above and beyond, to not just create an autonomous vehicle, but to create one that respects you and is there to help you and talk to you, tell you what you want to know and keep you informed,” Rob said, describing Waymo’s in-car audio messages that keeps riders informed about their ride. “It's a relief. It's like a blessing.”
Waymo is going above and beyond, to not just create an autonomous vehicle, but to create one that respects you and is there to help you and talk to you, tell you what you want to know and keep you informed.Rob Sanchas, BVA member
For Rob, riding with Waymo fits with his approach to navigating life by trying different ways of doing things.
“I’m not broken, and there's nothing wrong with losing your vision,” Rob emphasized. “I mean, I just have to adjust things. I have to do things differently. Now, I know that but then I was just afraid.”
Together with the BVA and Waymo, Rob said he feels a shared mission in helping veterans who are blind experience new things and reimagine what’s possible when it comes to mobility.
“In the military, you adapt and overcome,” Rob said. “You do what you have to do to get it done. That’s what we have to do now.”
