AIBU to question sunflower lanyards for adults at airports?

Which means it’s a culture issue, not something linked with using sunflower lanyards

Oh.

no.

Although I’ve not lived in the US only visited. Their accessibility is much better generally than the U.K. though.

i am genuinely slightly amazed that so many people are happy to take advantage of something that is meant to support disabled people. Absolutely awful behaviour. Cannot imagine what living in India must be like for disabled people - presumably horrendous.

I have never been as have been told by friends who are Indian and also my brother who was out there for a while as a bbc reporter that it is absolutely not safe for women at all and as I use a wheelchair and can’t walk far it’s totally unsuitable.

It’s not lanyard related at all, just an example of people abusing the airport assistance but definitely sounds like it’s a cultural problem

Fwiw in the last few years I graduated from walking slowly and struggling to stand to walk with a stick and now using a wheelchair.

Most of those posts are basically confirming something I’ve noticed before.
If your struggles are easily identified (like a wheelchair or even a walking stick), then you’re deemed ‘disabled enough’.
Have the same struggles but try to push through? You’re labelled a faker.
Which is a shame because I needed much more help/‘jumping the queue’ when I have no mobility aid than when in a wheelchair. (That’s the whole point of me using a wheelchair btw)

fwiw yes assistance means you avoid queues.
It also means assistance on the ground isn’t always available and you have to wait to disembark. You might miss your flight too - I have.
Note: that had nothing to do with too many faking disabilities. It’s just Amsterdam airport Being crap at peak season.
It might mean waiting in a designated area for 2 hours. Nothing to do when you could have spent that time having breakfast/a cafe etc….
Oh and even if you avoid queues, you still need to wait for your baggage so you haven’t won anything really.

Assistance though is a completely different situation than the sunflower lanyard.
These are not used just at airports but on a daily basis and are normally coming with set cards that explain the person issues (eg struggles to speak in certain circumstances etc….) so they can be best helped/supported.
They shouldn’t automatically lead to ‘jumping queues’

I remember being told by GWR that they've had a lot of people who use the passenger assistance because of luggage and not disabilities which is their excuse for not giving me the requested assistance. Yet if I wasn't disabled I wouldn't waste my time constantly complaining about the failed assistance (people not turning up, being refused a ramp especially at stations with huge gaps - I've fallen through one of them and can confirm it hurts, and being put on the wrong train which when it happened the first time I was told to describe the person. Bit difficult as someone who is visually impaired. Thankfully they took responsibility the second time. They refused the first time because I couldn't describe the person

What system is that then ?

The system of airports providing assistance upon request

someone being put in a wheelchair and wheeled through the airport due to shortage of English skills but no disability in my view is taking resources away from those who really need it

Gods sake leave people with invisible disabilities alone. Sick of these ableist troll threads being allowed.

India, from what people friends and current/former colleagues have said is not a safe or disabled friendly place. Many of the trains, as well as packed like sardines, require you to climb a huge step to board the train. Like 3 stairs height.

Plus no concern about pedestrians. Seen them drive? Then the roads and pavements are in dreadful condition.

My Dd (19) has Autism, Hypermobility & Dyslexia. She is also situationally mut NHS diagnosed - so the more she needs assistance the less she can ask for it.
So yes, a sunflower lanyard lets people know she needs time & patience.
My Ds (22) has Autism, ADHD, & a heart condition. He is extremely anxious.
A sunflower lanyard should let people know that he needs more time & patience. However, being 6'2, bearded & 'shifty looking' (very anxious) he gets pulled by security every time. The lanyard should be a first clue that he's ASD.

Just be glad that you don't need one - as an adult.

But if there was a special lanyard you could wear that meant you could be taken to a part of the ferry where you wouldn't feel sick, you'd be able to go on a ferry. Unfortunately that can't happen. But for people who struggle with flying, there is a lanyard that helps make it possible. So why should they not use it?

Lanyard abuse isn't a thing! It sounds like someone has been whacking someone with a lanyard. Why are you so stressed about it? As much as I care about disabilities, and I really do, I'm also mildly amused that you're so irate about people wearing lanyards! Is it sunflower specific or are you angry about them in general? If it is the latter, and not linked to disability, then I think it's quite an endearing quirk although I probably wouldn't want to talk to you too long at a party!

I had to provide proof of disability to get assistance

Lanyard abuse, and the trajectory of it, is most certainly a thing. There’s evidence of it on this thread alone. If you haven’t read the examples, that’s your problem. I certainly won’t be repeating myself.

You also seem incapable of hearing an opinion you disagree with, without diagnosing the person expressing it as “stressed” or “irate.” That’s tone-policing. Frankly, having to constantly have your emotional state interpreted by someone else, just because they don’t agree with you, sounds boring, and is exactly the reason why I would swerve you at a party too 🥱.

Well often people either didn’t if couldn’t and it caused them significant challenges. Travel is now busier than ever. In the same way something like a white cane can identify someone as blind a sunflower lanyard can help identify someone who has a hidden disability. An example is that a staff member may speak slightly slower in clearer language or have better understanding if they need to repeat themselves. No one is asking for a red carpet to be rolled out.

Honestly all of your posts in this thread are nasty. It should be titled “My sister in law has a disability and I judge her for it, how can I get strangers to pile on too so I can feel more smug”.

Are you actually serious?!
Do you have a clue what they are used for?

Sunflower lanyards are for disabilities, both visible and invisible.

Wtaf are you on about "managing behaviour and actions"?

I have an invisible chronic back condition which makes it hard for me to walk very quickly or stand for long periods. Wearing the Sunflower lanyard means staff can understand quickly that i may need to use the accesible lane for queues, may need more time to board etc. without me needing to share my personal private medical history to justify my needs!

If your SIL wears hers for anxiety or simlar, this is also valid! Coping and pushing through in the moment because you have no choice doesnt mean its without cost to the individual later.

Please educate yourself on disability before judging from a place of ignorance!

How do you "know" she doesn't need one?
And in what way is she "taking it away from someone else"?

Everyone who needs any form of assistance is entitled to a lanyard to access the assistance they may need. It's not as if airports will deny someone in a wheelchair for example from support when going through security.just because they've already supported 12 other people witn lanyards that day!!

If the lanyards WERE somehow being abused, do you not think airports and the like would call for their use to be reviewed... because if everyone is claiming to have additional needs then they'd just be standard needs!

I think this is a complete non-issue that you know nothing about and lack basic compassion and understanding for us.

"Not finding airports a walk in the park" as a non disabled adult is in NO WAY comparable to the experiences of adults who are physically disabled or neurodivergent or sensory impaired or disabled in any other way.

And as for "booking assistance", I dont need a person to support me or wheel me around to assist me with my mobility due to my back, because that's neither helpful or appropriate use of resources for my specific disability/needs,What IS helpful is being able to independently access what is required at my own pace and have shorter queues to wait in!

Please take a moment to reflect on the responses here and your own perspective rather than just doubling down and justifing your judgement.

Wait till you find out how many disabled people could do with one but aren't using it because of people like you, OP.

How is she "taking it away" from someone else? Do you think the lanyards operate on some kind of "one in, one out"-system?

Some people believe that sunflower lanyards meant “I’m wearing one. Don’t question my health”.

Then in the mask wearing times “I’m wearing one don’t question why I’m not wearing a mask”
That included the anti mask/covid deniers. The ones that shopped in my previous workplace were all the same age group mid 20s - mid 30s, lived in social housing and had drug issues.

They represented 97% of the ones that abused the sunflower lanyards. Wearing them to excuse them from wearing masks. Did get a handful of ones outside the group.

I’ve never had to do that.
Not when registering for assistance - you need to say what sort of help you need ofc
Not at the airport.

Nor when taking a train etc…

None of tye help I’ve received has ever been tied up with ‘A Proof’. I’m not even sure what theyd be asking for tbh

Yep.
Funny this isn’t talked about much.
Nearly as people prefer to not ‘see’ people with dusability or assume theyre just (hidden) at home, not in a fancy place like an airport.

Attention seeking

What a bizarre post. No one is obliged to reveal their health status and that is exactly what a lanyard is for, though some do have symbols that tell someone who does need to know what the wearers difficulties are.

We are well beyond wearing masks. What people did in Covid bears no relation to how lanyards are used now. As for your social housing comment, that tells me a lot more about you than a lanyard can tell me about someone’s health.

Who? You or the OP?