United Airlines and Special Olympics International today announced the expansion of their relationship globally, celebrating in their shared vision to end discrimination against people with intellectual disabilities. The announcement is the next evolution in United’s relationship with Special Olympics that represents a continued effort to break down barriers and further build on the organization’s remarkable legacy of inclusion by engaging the airline’s employees around the world.
“We are honored to evolve our relationship with Special Olympics, an organization that embodies United’s spirit of inclusion and connecting the world,” said Oscar Munoz, chief executive officer at United Airlines. “Special Olympics has always been near and dear to many United employees in many of the cities we serve.”
As part of the relationship, United will implement new employee training scenarios to make traveling a positive experience for individuals with intellectual disabilities. By the end of 2018, more than 60,000 United frontline employees will participate in new training modules that reflect Special Olympics’ insights as the airline takes steps to lead in inclusion.
“At Special Olympics we believe everyone has a role to play in ensuring inclusion,” said Timothy Shriver, chairman of Special Olympics International. “Expanding our relationship with United will help provide a platform to drive inclusion throughout its network aiding us in our efforts to create a more inclusive world.”
Through this commitment, United will also support Special Olympics 50th Anniversary celebrations in Chicago and the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games in Seattle. In other parts of the US, United will be represented at Special Olympics events where customers and employees live and work including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Denver, Houston, Chicago, Virginia, New York and New Jersey.
