Contact: Raymond M. Flynt, President
Travelers Aid International
Office (202) 546-1127
info@travelersaid.org

TRAVELERS AID INTERNATIONAL RECEIVES AWARD FROM NATIONAL ORGANIZATION ON DISABILITY

Washington DC —Travelers Aid International, the national association for Travelers Aid agencies, has been selected to receive a National Partnership Program (NPP) Award from the Washington DC-based National Organization on Disability (NOD). Travelers Aid International is one of only 10 winners of the prestigious national award. The NPP award is made possible by a grant from Prudential Financial.

The award recognizes Travelers Aid International’s efforts to support the goals of the Americans with Disabilities Act and to celebrate 15 years of civil rights progress for individuals with disabilities.

“We are thrilled to receive this distinguished award,” said Raymond Flynt , President/CEO of Travelers Aid International. “Travelers Aid strives to make travel available to all individuals. That is why we invest in training our staff and volunteers in ensuring that individuals with disabilities are treated with dignity, compassion and respect as they travel through our nation’s transportation facilities.”

“We thank Travelers Aid and all of its members nationwide for conveying our message to all America that it’s ability, not disability, that counts,” stated NOD’s president Michael Deland.

I n its application to NOD, Travelers Aid highlighted its programs in the Washington DC area, specifically Washington Reagan National Airport , Dulles International Airport , and Union Station. Travelers Aid Washington DC provides:

• large-print Metro maps and Metro directions in Braille
• airport facilities brochures for patrons with disabilities
• referrals to facilities and services, such as TDD units
• passenger escort service to gates and curbside
• Visual Paging service
• (some but not all) volunteers trained in sign language
• volunteers trained in ADA requirements, etiquette and terminology

Travelers Aid Washington DC was instrumental in assisting Reagan National Airport achieve ADA compliance when it expanded with new facilities in 1997. The organization estimates that in the Washington DC area, three percent of the passengers they assisted in 2005 had disabilities, or 31,412 individuals -- 31,412 people who would have not been able to travel or would have had great difficulty if Travelers Aid had not been there to provide services.