Delta Air Lines to identify employees who know sign language with lapel pin

Credit: Peter Garritano/Delta

Credit: Peter Garritano/Delta

Delta Air Lines says it will soon have a lapel pin to identify its employees who know sign language.

The Atlanta-based company said it is the first U.S. airline to add the language bar as an option for employees who know any of the more than 300 sign languages in the world.

>> Read more trending news

The move comes after Delta has been criticized in the past for treatment of deaf passengers.

The company said in a July 17 news release that it will add the sign language pin as an option for employee uniforms after feedback from customers, its ABLE disability business resource group for employees and its Advisory Board on Disability. Passengers can expect to see the new language bars on employee uniforms in the fall.

"Our mission is to connect the world, which starts with making travel easier for all people," CEO Ed Bastian wrote in a LinkedIn post earlier this month. "One way we're doing this is through sign language name bars, allowing customers to immediately identify and connect with Delta Air Lines team members who share the same signed language. It's a small step on our journey, but a powerful change as we seek to make the world a smaller, more inclusive place."

About the Author