The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program, which is designed to ease travel for people with disabilities, has arrived at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.
MSP airport adds program for travelers with hidden disabilities
November 28, 2020 at 6:47PM
The program got its start at London's Gatwick Airport in 2016.
Travelers at MSP can now pick up a sunflower lanyard, which indicates to airport staff that the person may need assistance or extra time to navigate the airport.
"There are many travelers who have disabilities that aren't immediately visible but still create challenges in their daily lives," said Phil Burke, assistant director of customer experience for the Metropolitan Airports Commission, which operates MSP.
The sunflower lanyard signals that someone may need more help for a host of reasons, including low vision, hearing loss, autism and post-traumatic stress disorder. Passengers should still arrange for assistance with their airlines if disability services are needed.
The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program has grown across Europe and is now in nearly 10 U.S. airports including Orlando, Miami, Seattle, San Jose and New York-JFK.
Lawmakers, meet your latest lobbyists: online influencers from TikTok.
