A Gen Xer with paralysis says he has no choice but to drive for Uber and Lyft to earn a paycheck — here's how he makes it work

• Robert, 56, drives for Uber and Lyft and said he has no other options to supplement his disability benefits.
• He said he's driving twice the number of hours to make the same money he did pre-pandemic.
• He said he's received poor ratings from passengers due to his disability, which has made him nervous.

Robert, 56, has no other option but to keep driving — with a broken arm.

The Portland, Oregon-based Uber and Lyft driver had been in construction his whole life until experiencing a major stroke a decade ago. After multiple brain surgeries, he was left partly paralyzed, putting him out of work for a few years.