First Experience with the Sunflower Landyard

What is the Sunflower Landyard and Where Did it Come From?

The sunflower landyard was thought up by the accessibility team at Gatwick airport. They had been assisting over 500,000 disabled people. They wanted to help people who were disabled and everyday people wouldn’t be able to tell.

They wanted to have a discrete symbol to show employees that the wearer may need some help extra assistance.

They partnered with with the Airport Advisory Group. Ruth Rabet was the Sunflower Business Development Director.

Together they worked with different organizations benefiting different types of disabilities on what symbols should be avoided.

After much deliberation, it was decided it would be a sunflower. They chose this because it reflects the idea of confidence, growth and strength.

Timeline of the Sunflower Landyard

May 2016

The Sunflower Lanyard Scheme® launches at London Gatwick Airport 
The lanyard is designed to identify passengers with a hidden disability who may need additional help while travelling

2016-2018

The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Lanyard rolls out across all major UK airports

2018

UK rail providers become members of the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Lanyard Scheme®.

The Co-operative Channel Islands is the first UK supermarket chain to pilot the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Lanyard

Major UK supermarkets trials take place

NHS trusts and independent GP surgeries trial and launch the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Lanyard Scheme®

Work with international airports including sharing training materials and advising on best practices

2019

Tabbers Limited trademarks the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Lanyard Scheme®

Cinemas and visitor attractions launch the scheme throughout the UK

Supermarkets:

M&S is the first UK supermarket to roll out the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Lanyard in all their UK stores; Sainsbury’s and Argos launch throughout their UK stores; and Tesco launch in all of their stores in the UK and Ireland

Banks, hospitals, insurance companies, shopping centres, sports venues, and arenas join across the UK

The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower online store opens up to the general public.

Facebook Page 25,000 likes within a few days – individuals and businesses from all over the worldbecome aware and request the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Lanyard.

Global airports launch the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower:  

Sydney and Brisbane in Australia

Seattle and San Jose in the US

Copenhagen, Trieste and Amsterdam in Europe

Istanbul in Eurasia and Dubai in the Middle-East

Over 2 million lanyards distributed globally

2020

The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower training videos are released for businesses and organisations to train their staff

Nationwide trials the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower becoming the first financial institution to join the scheme

Chelsea Football Club launch

National lockdown starts in the UK – new Sunflower cards released to raise awareness and support people with hidden disabilities during the pandemic

National Express becomes the 1st national road transport business to recognise the Sunflower

Sunflower Stories launched – a series of interviews to find out more about Sunflower wearers’ experience of living with a hidden disability

Face coverings mandatory on all UK public transport – Hidden Disabilities Sunflower collaborates with the national rail network to find a way to support those people whose hidden disability means they are unable to wear a face covering. The result is a Sunflower face covering exempt card to indicate that the person wearing it has a hidden disability and that hidden disability makes them exempt according to the UK Government guidelines.

Hidden in Heritage 2020 – Hidden Disabilities Sunflower creates and launches an online festival to shine a light on hidden disabilities in heritage

Australia and New Zealand launch – partnering with Bayley House

North American launch – partnering with The Sourcing Group

Pearson Airport becomes the first airport in Canada to recognise the Sunflower

Students return to university –  Hidden Disabilities Sunflower launches its Back to Campuscampaign to support students living with a hidden disability

International Day of Persons with Disabilities -Hidden Disabilities Sunflower releases its ‘Hidden Disabilities and me’ poetry book, an anthology of poems written by Sunflower wearers and supporters

2021

Borderforce UK launch the Sunflower to ensure everyone travelling into the UK wearing a Sunflower will be provisioned for by Borderforce staff

UK vaccine roll-out – HIdden Disabilities Sunflower launch ‘Our Sunflower, Your NHS’ campaign to provide free Sunflower products and training to every Covid vaccination centre in the UK, to ensure that wearers of the Sunflower will be supported whilst receiving their vaccination

My Preconceived Notions About It

For a few years I have been hearing my British friends talking about the sunflower landyard. I had mixed feelings about it.

I would not want to be singled out as disabled. To me, it would make people more likely to target disabled people.

Then after many years, I had to fly by myself. I went on an advocacy trip with Emma Dalmayne and Melissa Eaton.

I had heard that the sunflower landyard program had finally made it to the US from Europe. The idea of traveling alone with EDS made me nervous. I requested a landyard from Miami International Airport.

After one week, it arrived via US mail. It was sitting in my bag until I needed it.

Leaving to Travel Solo

I made sure I had everything. I put the landyard in the outside pocket of my tablet bag. It had a card holder so i put my ID in there to make getting through the airport easy. I brought my wooden dog cane with me to help me walk if I had pain. I am glad I did.

Burlington has a rather small airport. I was easily able to navigate where I needed to be. There were even rocking chairs by my gate so I could fidget while I was waiting for me to board.

Preboarding was then called. I had one of the airline employees come and told me it was time for me to board. I told her thank you. I got up, found my seat. Employees helped me to put my bag in the overhead bin and I put my tablet bag underneath the seat in front of me.

I appreciated the extra accommodations, because of a silly landyard. No one who didn’t need to know said anything to did anything to indicate what it means.

It was Time To Travel Home

The Miami airport is large and difficult to navigate. I had asked several employees where to go and they sent me all over the airport and I wound up missing my flight.

I explained the situation. The employee told me she was ordering me a wheelchair. It’s a good thing she did. My gate was on the other side of the airport.

My connecting flight was in Chicago. When getting off the plane, I had a wheelchair waiting for me. I was impressed. I didn’t have to ask.

The guy pushing the wheelchair was super nice. Asked if I had to stop anywhere on the way to the gate. I clocked it on my phone, the gate was 1 mile away and I already had a high pain level.

Final Thoughts on the Sunflower Landyard Program

The sunflower landyard seems like a way to single out disabled people. It does not and I am forever grateful for it. I don’t think my travels would have been as smooth as it was. If you have to travel, contact your local airport and they will mail you and landyard free of charge.