The following article, is from the ME Associations magazine, ME Essential, it is copied, and pasted.
Enjoy.
Let the sun shine in
The Sunflower Lanyard
Scheme was developed
by designers Tabbers
Limited, alongside OCS UK
who provide support to UK
Over 10,000 lanyards have now
been collected since the launch
in 2016 and the lanyard scheme
has expanded from airports to
supermarkets, railway stations and
sports venues. On top of this, the
lanyards are also starting to be
recognised at international airports,
cinemas, shopping centres and
several NHS trusts.
What Kind Of Support Can
Be Provided When Using The
Lanyard Scheme?
Staff are trained to recognise that
people wearing the sunflower
lanyard need extra help, but will
not know what disability you have.
Support can include things such as:
n Extra time at
checkouts/opening
a new lane for paying
n Packing your bags
n More time for security
checks
and boarding planes
n Facing customers
whilst speaking
to help with lip reading
n Making other staff
aware of
behaviour issues
n Using clear and easy
language
And much more! LNER even
have staff with red sunflower
lanyards - ‘Sunflower
Ambassadors’ who
have received
extra training
to help those
on the
scheme.
And,Manchester
airport have
their very own
‘Sunflower Room’
for those who need
somewhere quiet to wait
before boarding.
I enjoyed watching a number of
other passengers get on to use
the ‘limited mobility’ seats, who
to you and I looked completely
normal, but out of one man’s
bag he got his lanyard and noone
approached to ask him to
move. For me, the scheme gives
me confidence. Confidence that
I’m not going to be tutted at for
sitting in a disabled seat when I’m
not by my chair and confidence
that I’m going to be treated with
a little more understanding about
my hidden battles. And extra help
never goes amiss!
Am I Eligible For A Sunflower
Lanyard?
The types of hidden
disability
which are eligible for a sunflower
lanyard include:
n Mobility issues (eg
arthritis, MS,
ME, chronic illness)
n Learning disabilities
n Dementia
n Autism and Asperger’s
n Visual and hearing
conditions
How Do I Get A Sunflower
Lanyard?
You can pick up a sunflower
lanyard at any participating venue,
station, store or airport at the
customer service desk or checkout.
Alternatively you can buy one at
www.hiddendisabilitiesstore.com.
You do not have to provide proof
of your disability when getting a
sunflower lanyard, which is one
of the many reasons I love the
scheme as I find I spend my whole
life having to ‘prove’ my condition!
Although I hope that because of this
people won’t misuse
the initiative.
Overall Thoughts
The scheme is growing fast; from
one airport to now supermarkets,
stations, venues and more. I don’t
think it will be long before it will
be an international recognisable
symbol for people with hidden
disabilities and I certainly hope
that more organisations join. It
would be amazing to get the
government’s backing for a scheme
like this and include more training
opportunities around people with
hidden disabilities, but for now I’m
pleased to see it is starting to make
an impact on many people’s lives.
So if you have a hidden disability, I’d
definitely recommend picking up a
free lanyard. N
Sainsbury’s Initiative:
https://tinyurl.com/y33vgzyt
Tesco: https://tinyurl.com/y4hp5qtr
https://tinyurl.com/yyc8rvyl
LNER: https://tinyurl.com/y4jhhzvr
Miriam
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