Manchester Airport has issued guidance for passengers with non-visible disabilities ahead of the busy summer travel season, encouraging them to use the Sunflower lanyard to discreetly signal to staff that they may need extra time, patience, or understanding.
What is the Sunflower Lanyard?
The Sunflower lanyard is a simple tool for individuals with hidden disabilities to voluntarily indicate that they might need extra help or more time. According to Hidden Disabilities Sunflower, some disabilities, conditions, or chronic illnesses are not immediately obvious, making it hard for others to understand the need for support. The initiative aims to encourage inclusivity, acceptance, and understanding.
Benefits at Manchester Airport
Manchester Airport explains: "The Sunflower lanyard now offers access to all lanes at departure security, in addition to our Family and Assisted Travel lane." All channels at departure security feature next-generation screening, providing a quicker, quieter, and more customer-friendly process. Security colleagues have received hidden disability awareness training and are available to assist with any questions during the security process.
How to Obtain a Lanyard
Passengers can collect a Sunflower lanyard from the Assistance Reception areas in the Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 check-in halls on the day of travel. The airport states: "We will be happy to provide you with a lanyard, even if you feel you don’t need or haven’t booked assisted travel in advance. If you have a Sunflower lanyard already, you can use it if you wish. We are sorry, lanyards cannot be posted to you ahead of travel."
Global Reach of the Sunflower
The Sunflower initiative has been launched across multiple countries, including Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Ireland, Latin America, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the UK, the UAE, and the USA. Passengers can use the Sunflower map to find participating locations near them.
