EEOC Sues Alto Experience, Inc. for Disability Discrimination

WASHINGTON – Alto Experience, Inc., a ride hailing company that currently operates in Texas, Florida, and California, and previously operated in the District of Columbia and Virginia, violated federal law when it denied reasonable accommodations and employment to deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who applied to work as personal drivers, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) alleged in a lawsuit filed today.

According to the lawsuit, Alto refused to hire qualified deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals for its personal driver position, despite the ready availability of technological accommodations, and, in some instances, despite previous experience as drivers for other ride-hailing companies. The EEOC also alleged that some qualified deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who were denied accommodations or employment as personal drivers were steered into in less-desirable car washing positions. During the hiring process, Alto also failed to provide communications accommodations, such as American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters, the EEOC said.

Such alleged conduct violates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibits discrimination in hiring against qualified individuals with disabilities and requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified employees and applicants with disabilities if doing so would not pose an undue hardship. The EEOC filed suit (EEOC v. Alto Experience, Inc., Case No.1:24-cv-2208), in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia after first attempting to reach a voluntary, pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process. In the lawsuit, the EEOC seeks back pay, compensatory and punitive damages for the aggrieved individuals, and equitable relief to prevent future discrimination.

“This lawsuit demonstrates the need for employers to implement available technology when qualified individuals with disabilities need reasonable accommodations,” said EEOC Philadelphia Regional Attorney Debra M. Lawrence.

Mindy E. Weinstein, director of the EEOC’s Washington Field Office, said, “The EEOC is committed to protecting the rights of deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. Too often, employers make incorrect assumptions about their capabilities and do not understand how to provide effective communication accommodations.”

For more information on disability discrimination, please visit https://www.eeoc.gov/disability-discrimination.

The EEOC’s Washington Field Office has jurisdiction over Washington, D.C., and parts of Virginia. Attorneys in the Philadelphia District Office prosecute discrimination cases within the jurisdiction of the Washington Field Office.

The EEOC prevents and remedies unlawful employment discrimination and advances equal opportunity for all. More information is available at www.eeoc.gov. Stay connected with the latest EEOC news by subscribing to our email updates.