FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Corbb O’Connor

President, National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota

703-309-4884 | president@nfbmn.org

Blind Advocates Urge Minneapolis to Reject Human-Monitor Requirement for Autonomous Vehicles

 MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — September 27, 2026 — The National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota strongly urges the Minneapolis City Council to reject a proposed requirement that a human monitor occupy the driver's seat of vehicles designed to operate autonomously.

“This proposed city ordinance is hasty and unnecessarily restrictive, and it would deny blind people an important opportunity for greater transportation independence,” said Corbb O’Connor, president of the National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota. “Minneapolis should instead join us in the active, state-level work on how autonomous vehicles should be regulated.”

For Minnesotans who are blind, the stakes are particularly high. Autonomous vehicles could expand transportation options for people who cannot drive—and could help address the persistent problem of rideshare drivers illegally refusing or canceling trips because a passenger has a guide dog.

“Guide dog users have spent years dealing with refusals despite court settlements, complaint systems, company policy changes, and driver training,” said O’Connor. “We should not create another barrier to a transportation technology that could help eliminate this problem.”

The organization recognizes the legitimate concerns surrounding employment, but banning or unnecessarily restricting emerging technology is not a sustainable response to technological change. Particularly a change that holds the potential to dramatically improve employment opportunities for blind Minnesotans—a population that faced an unemployment rate more than four times the state average in 2024.

“Minneapolis can do better,” said Jennifer Dunnam, President of NFB of MN’s Metro chapter. “Let’s have some collaboration to create a solution that actually makes sense."

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About the National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota

The National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota advances the lives of its members and all blind people. Founded in 1920, we are the transformative membership and advocacy organization of blind Minnesotans, with chapters and divisions across the state. We believe in the hopes and dreams of blind people and work together to transform them into reality.