Waymo, the company specializing in autonomous driving technology renowned for its driverless ride-hailing services across major U.S. cities, is celebrating Autism Acceptance Month through a touching partnership. The firm has collaborated with Netflix’s cherished docuseries Love On The Spectrum to showcase the transformative potential of autonomous vehicles for individuals on the autism spectrum.
In the newest episode of Driven — Waymo’s celebrity video series presented by entertainment journalist Andrew Freund — Connor Tomlinson, a fan-favorite from the latest season of Love On The Spectrum, takes center stage. During this episode, Tomlinson enjoys a ride in a fully autonomous Waymo vehicle for the first time. “It’s incredible to be in a car that’s entirely autonomous,” he expresses to Freund. “This reminds me of that moment in Jurassic Park.”
For this second episode of Driven’s second season, Waymo collaborated with the Autism Society, a nationwide nonprofit committed to enhancing the lives of those with autism. The organization highlights that autonomous vehicles can provide a “consistent, safe, and predictable” transportation solution — a vital advantage in an environment where conventional transit options can be daunting or inaccessible for numerous autistic individuals.
Recent studies indicate that only about a third of eligible adolescents with autism secure a driver’s license, revealing a major obstacle to autonomy. “Transportation poses a significant barrier to independence and well-being for many in the Autism community, hindering access to employment, healthcare, support services, and social interactions,” stated Kristyn Roth, Chief Marketing Officer at the Autism Society of America. “Many autistic individuals depend on caregivers or public transit — systems that can be overwhelming, intricate, or unreliable. These hurdles can greatly limit a person’s autonomy and self-determination.”
Waymo’s initiative seeks to demonstrate how self-driving technology could help dismantle those barriers, unlocking new avenues for freedom and mobility for members of the autism community.