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Press Release -- June 15th, 2015
Source: Sprint Nextel
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Sprint Named One of the Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion Policies and Practices

Disability Equality IndexSM survey results reflect Sprint’s continued commitment to people with disabilities

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BUSINESS WIRE), June 15, 2015 – Sprint (NYSE:S, news, filings) received a top score of 100 points in the Disability Equality IndexSM (DEISM) survey results, announced by the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) and the U.S. Business Leadership Network® (USBLN®). The top score (100 out of 100) was awarded as a result of Sprint’s long-standing commitment toward ensuring that people with disabilities are included within the workplace, customer base, supply chain practices and the telecommunications industry as a whole.

The DEISM survey, which is a joint initiative of the AAPD and the USBLN®, is a national, transparent benchmarking tool that offers businesses an opportunity to receive an objective score on their disability inclusion policies and practices. The goal of the initiative is to assist companies in improving their disability inclusion policies, which will lead to increased employment opportunities for people with disabilities in a variety of spheres within corporate America.

“Sprint has consistently strived to create an internal and external environment of equality and inclusion for all employees, customers and supply networks,” said Mike Ellis, national director of Sprint Relay at Sprint. “Achieving a top score in the DEISM survey strengthens the company’s dedication to further advance its disability inclusion policies and practices. Doing so helps Sprint deliver innovative solutions to help improve the quality of life for people with disabilities.”

The inaugural DEISM survey was conducted in October 2014 and included 80 Fortune 1000 and large-scope companies across 22 industries. Sprint was among the top-ranked companies with a top survey score when assessed against industry best practices for comprehensive disability policies. The participants were judged in four categories: culture and leadership; enterprise-wide access; employment practices (benefits, recruitment and advancement); and community engagement and support services. Survey questions focused on whether the company is an equal opportunity employer, embraces diversity, encourages people with disabilities to be themselves, and has comprehensive policies in place to assist people with disabilities.

“By becoming a first adopter of this groundbreaking index, Sprint has taken an important step in ensuring that the company can maximize its business results through full inclusion of people with disabilities,” said Jani Willis, DEISM program manager at USBLN®. “We look forward to Sprint’s continued partnership and leadership in moving the needle to drive business success through disability inclusion.”

Sprint has developed a unique work culture of diversity and inclusion for employees with disabilities through its employee resource group (ERG), the REAL DEAL – Resourceful, Empowering, Awareness, Limitless (REAL) for Disabled Employees Accessing Life (DEAL). REAL DEAL recognizes and celebrates the contributions of people with disabilities, and taps the collective resources, knowledge and experience of Sprint employees who have a disability, or know someone who has a disability.

Currently, Sprint is the largest and most advanced Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) provider with 25 years of experience in providing communication services to those who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf-blind, or have a mobility, cognitive or speech disability. For Sprint’s continued efforts to develop innovative communication solutions to better serve the special-needs community, the company was recognized with the Quality Services for the Autism Community (QSAC) 2014 Change Maker Award as well the Disability Matters Marketplace Award by Springboard Consulting in 2013.

About Sprint

Sprint (NYSE: S) is a communications services company that creates more and better ways to connect its customers to the things they care about most. Sprint served more than 57 million connections as of March 31, 2015, and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; leading no-contract brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. Sprint has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) North America for the past four years. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com orwww.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint and www.sprint.com/accessibility andwww.sprintrelay.com

About the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD)

The American Association of People with Disabilities is the nation’s largest disability rights organization. AAPD promotes equal opportunity, economic power, independent living, and political participation for people with disabilities. AAPD’s members, including people with disabilities and family, friends, and supporters, represent a powerful force for change. To learn more, visit the AAPD Web site: www.aapd.com.

About the US Business Leadership Network® (USBLN®)

The US Business Leadership Network® (USBLN®) is a national non-profit that helps business drive performance by leveraging disability inclusion in the workplace, supply chain, and marketplace. The USBLN serves as the collective voice of nearly 50 Business Leadership Network affiliates across the United States, representing over 5,000 businesses. Additionally, the USBLN Disability Supplier Diversity Program® (DSDP) is the nation’s leading third-party certification program for disability-owned businesses, including businesses owned by service-disabled veterans. www.usbln.org.

CONTACT(S):

Sprint
Media Contacts:
Marci VerBrugge-Rhind, 913-794-6319
Marci.j.verbrugge@sprint.com
or
Christine McCarthy, 617-939-8363
cmccarthy@conecomm.com

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