AIBU to question sunflower lanyards for adults at airports?

No they weren’t. They were always for people with ANY non-visible disabilities.

You do and they give you a lanyard to alert staff you need help.

You can buy them anywhere that’s the problem. You can also buy radar keys too. I know someone who has both and zero need for either, but likes to use accessible loos and areas because they’re generally nicer or handier.

Yes.

There are undoubtedly people who benefit from them as they do need a little extra help / reassurance.

There are others who really don’t need them.

I felt with this with the very sad case lately regarding Noah Woods. The initial press release described him as severely autistic, non verbal and partially deaf .

The dad latterly put out a statement to correct some inconsistencies and that that he was “just a little bit autistic” and could carry out daily tasks fine.

I just feel it’s all gone a bit far. Too many people labelling themselves as “autistic” and “disabled” and it’s just dilutes the care available to those who genuinely need it.

Maybe she didn’t. Maybe she used all her energy and coping skills on the airport and that had a negative impact on her later down the line.

The behaviour I have described is why many people wear them.

YABU to ask as it has no impact on you so why does it matter. If it makes somebody feel better while travelling, unless they gain some advantage that feels unfair, just let them get on with it. Having assistance from airport staff doesn't reduce the treatment you get so it's not something most people could get worked up about.

I think like many other things it was a really great inclusive idea but there are people abusing it which is such a shame.

My severely autistic son wears a lanyard (autism one, every time he is out). It lets people see there is a reason for his behaviour and hopefully be a bit understanding. My hope is people take a step back and nobody gets bitten.
That was not a joke.

Here’s another example of why my dd wears one in airports- if she goes through security and has to be and searched it immediately lets the security person know to ask if there is anything she needs. Otherwise how would the security people know? She has had to be hand searched a few times, once without a lanyard and they went straight in, without explaining first. A lanyard says “this person has a hidden disability” so they ask first if there is anything that she needs or they should be aware of.

I think sadly the scheme has become so widely used (and by too many abused) that it is pretty pointless now and I question if it actually helps those who really need it.

We bought one online for her. You can also get them from special assistance at the airport.

And yes I also think it helps if people see her acting anxiously, stimming etc.

So if she coped then, why can't she cope now?

How did YOU cope before the internet existed? Why don't you do that now?

The sunflower lanyard meant that my DDs could go in the quiet queue and wait in the assistance lounge, then be taken to the boarding area. On one flight getting on first was the best thing, on another, getting on last was best. It meant that they were given a seat when waiting, which meant that they didn't have to be jostled in the queue. They would have been quite happy sitting in an area off to the side and waiting until last to be boarded because the issue is about strangers in close proximity and noise, not 'priority'.

Small things can have a huge impact and it's so much better for every passenger if everyone is calm on the plane. If giving a little accommodation at the airport achieves that, it's better for everyone.

She is 18, she lost her sight when she was 11, just before the pandemic. I actually can’t recall a time before sunflower lanyards. They were a godsend during lockdowns when my DD struggled with social distancing in supermarket queues etc because she couldn’t see to maintain her 1m distance. Also, she was not able to mask up as her special glasses would steam up. DD1 is blind in law but has a tiny amount of useful sight in one eye. Her special glasses help her optimise the last remaining bit of functional sight.

Does he tolerate it?
Im not sure my severly autistic son would ?

I'm autistic and as I'm high functioning/low support needs, I generally travel just fine without needing extra support. However, if I were travelling alone and a meltdown was triggered (such as by constant loud noise in small areas, as has happened before), I might not be able to speak to a staff member to help me find somewhere quiet. This is where the lanyard would come in handy, because they might see me about to have a meltdown (fingers in ears, eyes closed and concentrating on breathing) and it would alert them that I might need assistance. Thankfully I'm rarely in situations where a meltdown is triggered, but that's one scenario where the lanyard could be useful.

Women “coped” before equal pay, the vote. Gay people “coped” before marriage rights, maybe we should rescind those.

Why are disabled people supposed the bottom level basic existence?

That's appalling.

But let's face it, a lanyard isn't going to stop nasty bastards like that, is it?

Yes. The profusion of these lanyards means that those of us with physical disabilities are having to wait longer & longer, often on those bloody uncomfortable airport wheelchairs, to be taken to the aircraft.

It’s not a case of ‘I can’t cope…’ for us. Without this special assistance, it’s a case of I can’t go on an aircraft at all.

Some of us have hidden disabilities. Airports are getting busier, noisier and ever more stressful.

This issue us that now the scheme is well adopted the expectation is to have a lanyard if you need assistance. From experience it can be really hard without.
If OP needs more assistance to understand why, considering how streched staff whose role it is to help, compared to 5yrs ago, may be useful.

It really does reduce it. As they see she has a reason. We still get some grief, but nowhere near as much.

Now most people probably think she is faking it like half of Mumsnet do.