Rideshare company Lyft has announced a new version of their app aimed at older adults. It’s called Lyft Silver. The company says it’s about giving seniors “the gift of independence, without the weight of worry.”
What’s different about it? Larger text, simpler menus, and the ability for riders to book vehicles that are easier to enter and exit. Also: live human support when needed.
Good for them.
The company is patting themselves on the back for the new service. They’ve “poured their hearts” into this design, thinking about “those we cherish most.”
But why is it a special, segregated-for-old-people different service?
Seems to me they’ve some up with a better version of Lyft.
Not just a special accommodation for the elderly.
That’s the important question in this article at Forbes.com: Lyft Silver For Seniors: Why Is Good Design Age-Restricted?
As the author notes:
Wouldn’t many people of all ages struggle to read tiny app text on a sun-drenched phone screen while standing on a street corner? Who hasn’t been frustrated when an app update buries an essential function three menus deep? Might other users prefer to be matched with vehicles that are easier to enter? And who wouldn’t want to connect with a live human when things go south?
This is an important question for fundraisers, because we talk to people of all ages, but mainly to older people.
We should always send out the “Silver” version of our fundraising — to all our donors.
It will work better that way.
No need to condescend to our unfortunate senior donors. Just make it readable, straightforward and human-centered.
It’ll work better that way, for all your donors.
It’s an important concept called Universal Design: Respect, include, and welcome all, and you’ll be serving everyone better.
(I wonder how long it’s going to take Lyft to figure that out?)
The fact that most donors are older is one good reason to make things work for them. But there are people of all ages who have visual acuity challenges. And there are a lot of people with reading and/attention issues — something like 20% of everybody.
And then there are those with none of those issues at all.
Create your fundraising for those who need things like large print and clarity … and you’ll raise more money.
From all your donors.
(See my series on Inclusive Fundraising.)
Jeff Brooks has been serving the nonprofit community for more than 35 years and blogging about it since 2005. He considers fundraising the most noble of pursuits and hopes you’ll join him in that opinion. You can reach him at jeff [at] jeff-brooks [dot] com.
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