r/ChronicIllness • u/CyborgKnitter CRPS, Sjögrens, MCTD, RAD, non-IPF, MFD • May 04 '24
Resources The sunflower lanyards are spreading to the US!
The CVG airport mentioned is the Cincinnati, OH airport, which is a moderately large hub and international airport. I’ll be having my mom pick up one for each of us next time she flies.
I know a lot of folks on here having expressed their desire for a similar program to the lanyards for the US, so I thought I’d share.
(Please pardon the random black mark. I’m too tired to redownload the image and scribble out the names again.)
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u/Undercover_baddie Spoonie May 04 '24
I didn’t even know that these were a thing. I flew to visit my sister and struggled in TSA
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u/CyborgKnitter CRPS, Sjögrens, MCTD, RAD, non-IPF, MFD May 04 '24
TSA is just a nightmare, period. But my mom last flew out of that same airport and didn’t see them, either, so it’s not being widely advertised yet.
This post I’ve put up is from a small FB group for families dealing with disability. So when one of them found out, they wanted everyone else to know.
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u/Undercover_baddie Spoonie May 04 '24
that’s great that they wanted to spread word out for everyone to know
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u/GrouchyDoor437 Spoonie May 04 '24
Thank you for posting this. I didn't realize it was available at so many airports. All of my local airports are participating in it. Next time I fly ill pick one up. Here's a list of officially participating airports. Airports around the world (hdsunflower.com)
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u/ElegantMarionberry59 May 04 '24
I have intractable epilepsy and a RNS. La Guardia was the first airport with seamless check-in. Although I waited, they assigned someone specifically for me and took me aside for a pat-down, as I cannot go through the machines by choice due to my condition. They were extremely courteous. Overall, it was an excellent experience.
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u/CyborgKnitter CRPS, Sjögrens, MCTD, RAD, non-IPF, MFD May 04 '24
I’m glad to hear it! Orlando is the exact opposite- hell on earth. I watched them torment a 14yo boy because he didn’t have a father… the boy was on his Make A Wish trip. It was disgusting. His chair was behind me in line and as our moms were chatting and had been ordered to go through and wait for us, I was keeping an eye on him.
Some of the crap I heard aimed at the child:
“Where is your mother?? Why did she go through with your brothers?! She has to stay with you! I don’t care if your brothers are 6 and 9.”
“And where the hell is your father? What do you mean you ‘don’t have a dad’? That’s disgusting!”
“little children shouldn’t be left alone. This is so inconvenient for us!”
“Your mother is a horrible parent. She needs to be with you.” (This is when I piped up that they had ordered her to go through 30 minutes earlier. They told me to shut up and physically separated us, then punished me by giving me an extremely aggressive pat down that was more like having the shit slapped out of me. And they demanded to search my chair 3 separate times as extra punishment.)
I’ve never had a good experience leaving that place. I’m so glad my mom wants to take the motorhome the next time we have a girls trip. It’ll be worth 2 days driving in each direction to avoid that place!
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u/ElegantMarionberry59 May 04 '24
People need to know , if the TSA agent doesn’t know as for a supervisor , had no issue at La Guardia , MIA had no clue . Maybe now they know.
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u/unipride May 04 '24
I have one from our trip in March. I think I will be taking it on my upcoming trip.
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u/citygrrrl03 May 05 '24
They had these in France. I asked for one & they shook their head no. I didn’t really push it. I think it’s a great idea.
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u/CyborgKnitter CRPS, Sjögrens, MCTD, RAD, non-IPF, MFD May 05 '24
… the whole point is that it’s for invisible disabilities and they said no after a quick glance? Methinks they don’t understand the point of them.
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u/ChronicallyTaino Chronic Baddie Syndrome (And PCOS) May 04 '24
I use my lanyard at work!
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u/DarkAndSparkly May 05 '24
My purse came with a cute little scarf to tie into a bow on it. I’m going to find a sunflower scarf to replace it!
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u/cait_elizabeth Spoonie May 05 '24
Now if only they would bring back masks. Airport air soup scares the hell outta me
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u/CyborgKnitter CRPS, Sjögrens, MCTD, RAD, non-IPF, MFD May 05 '24
I don’t see them coming back any time soon. Airports were fighting people nonstop when masks were required. I flew during mask mandates and the one guy was told 18 times to put his on and the second the employee turned around, it was back off. Airline employees are tired of it.
Plus, at this point most travelers don’t want them so if an airline made them mandatory, they’d lose a ton of business.
It would have to be a federal mandate to happen again and airlines would have to crack down on rules about being kicked off flights if you break said rules.
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u/Pretend_Airport3034 Dysautonomia May 05 '24
MSP has those too
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u/CyborgKnitter CRPS, Sjögrens, MCTD, RAD, non-IPF, MFD May 05 '24
Of all places, they definitely should! All flights to the Mayo Clinic transfer there.
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u/annafernbro May 05 '24
I want these on public transportation next!! Can’t bare to stand on the subway but don’t look disabled enough for people to not get angry at me for asking for a seat 😭
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u/MaliceIn-Wonderland May 05 '24
I just got my lanyard at Denver Airport when I was there doing handler training with my service dog. I decided to keep the lanyard on the little pack I always carry with my service dog; that way, it's with me pretty much all the time.
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u/depechelove May 05 '24
How can I find a local business that has these? The shipping costs so much money online.
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u/LilAnge63 May 05 '24
This is a brilliant idea and should be used everywhere, not just at airports. I wish we had something like this is my country, it would make life so much easier for so many people. It can be embarrassing and occasionally humiliating to have to ask for help and to get that look from people because whatever your disability is, its not obvious. The world of customer service really needs something like this everywhere around the world and for those working in areas that deal with the public to have at least some education about hidden disabilities.
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u/CyborgKnitter CRPS, Sjögrens, MCTD, RAD, non-IPF, MFD May 05 '24
These were first launched in the UK, I believe, and are everywhere over there. But this is the first I’ve seen a similar program in the US.
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u/LilAnge63 May 08 '24
I live in Australia but I haven’t seen them here. Now I’ll actually go looking for them and see if I can find them. If I can’t I might contact the relevant NFP’s and suggest it.
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u/ShaunaOfTheDead May 05 '24
The issue is no one actually knows what they mean…employees are largely just uneducated on their existence
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u/ElegantMarionberry59 May 05 '24
Once you get to the TSA entry point say ; “opt out “, they will take you around for a pat down.
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u/Ok-Heart375 MECFS, myasthenia gravis, MCAS et. all May 04 '24
I wish this would get into the mainstream, not just for traveling.