Northwest Airlines Honored By National Association Of The Deaf

Award Recognizes Northwest's Customers with Disabilities Advisory Board

Northwest Airlines today announced that it has been honored by the National Association for the Deaf (NAD) for the carrier's inclusion of people with disabilities on it's Customers with Disabilities Advisory Board. The award was presented during the 45th Biennial NAD Conference in Norfolk, Virginia.

"We're honored by this recognition from NAD for our efforts to improve accessibility and service for our customers with disabilities," said Northwest Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Richard Anderson. "We appreciate the time and effort of our Customer Advisory Board and the help they give us in improving services for our passengers."

Northwest's Customer Advisory Board is led by Ronald Pettit Jr., Northwest manager customer service policies and procedures. "As an individual who is hard of hearing, I understand the perspective and insight our advisory board members bring to the table," said Pettit. "Our advisory board members are either individuals with a disability or are affiliated with an advocacy organization for people with disabilities."

The ten-member advisory board began meeting in December 1999. The group meets quarterly to review Northwest's existing and proposed policies and procedures as well as training programs related to services for passengers with disabilities.

"As a result of the American with Disabilities Act more people with disabilities are entering or remaining in the workforce," said Laurel Van Horn, Customer Advisory Board member and executive director, Society for the Advancement of Travelers with Handicaps (SATH). "Often these people must travel for business and must have convenient and accessible air travel. Part of our mission with the Northwest's Customer Advisory Board is to help Northwest identify options that assist individuals with
disabilities, and ultimately make air travel easier for all the carrier's passengers."

The National Association of the Deaf, established in 1880, is the largest constituency organization safeguarding the accessibility and civil rights of 28 million deaf and hard of hearing Americans in education, employment, health care, and telecommunications. A private, non-profit organization, the NAD is a dynamic federation of 51 state association affiliates including the District of Columbia, organizational affiliates, and direct members. Primary areas of focus include grassroots advocacy and empowerment, captioned media, certification of American Sign Language instructors and interpreters; deafness-related information and publications, legal assistance, policy development and research, public awareness, and youth leadership development.