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The sunflower lanyards used in the United Kingdom.
A Gulf Harbour mother, Georgia Hood, is campaigning to have a universally recognised lanyard introduced at all New Zealand airports to make travel for people with hidden disabilities much easier.
Georgia, who has a four-year-old son with autism, has started a petition asking New Zealand airports to provide lanyards as an option.
“We are a family that likes to travel, but places like airports are a sensory overload for our son Fergus, so it becomes difficult,” Georgia says.
“A lanyard is a discreet way of communicating to staff and other passengers that he may need extra assistance, without us constantly having to explain ourselves.
“It seems simple, but it can take away a lot of stress for people with all kinds of hidden disabilities, from anxiety to dementia.”
In just over a month, the petition has gathered 2880 signatures.
The idea has already been successful in the United Kingdom, where a sunflower lanyard, that is provided free-of-charge by airports, is universally recognised as a symbol for hidden disabilities. The lanyard’s availability has spread to other transport providers and Tesco supermarkets, which Georgia hopes will eventually happen in New Zealand, too.
As well as the petition, Georgia has been contacting airports and supermarkets directly.
NZ Airports Association chief executive, Kevin Ward, has responded favourably to the idea, and says it will be discussed at a meeting next month.
The Hood family’s next trip is to Sydney in December.
“Even though we have been telling Fergus lots of stories about air travel to help prepare him, I am still dreading it after his last flight,” she says.
Georgia says the lanyards give her hope. “Having a hidden disability should not stop anyone from travelling, going to the supermarket or doing anything,” she says. “This is a simple, inexpensive solution to a very stressful situation for people. It will help give people with hidden disabilities dignity and independence.”
Info: search NZ sunflower lanyards on www.change.org
