Would you wear a sunflower lanyard?

[Mrsmunchofmunchington]

If you have a hidden disability would you / do you wear a sunflower lanyard?
Asking about adults only, not children.
If you do wear one what benefit does it bring you and are there any downsides?
If you don’t wear one why not?

I wear mine whenever we go to an airport. Benefits are that no one rushes me. I feel like the staff are more patient if I take longer to do things.

I did when flying. I'm autistic and needed help in the airports. I had a card attached explaining my condition.

My DC wears theirs when getting on transport, in the hope people will just be a bit more understanding if they are taking a bit longer (processes dufferently). Hopefully it saves an entire conversation.

Travelled on a plane yesterday with someone who was wearing one, who didn't (from what I saw) particularly need anything through the time he was in "my space," but it occurred to me that if it was such a great idea. My now adult DS is ASD and I could easily see why wearing one when travelling might be a good thing.

We’ve only use one flying and the airport stuff were definitely more helpful as my teenager is taller than me like an adult, however is autistic and goes mute under stress which appears odd and they always get picked out at security checks.

I wear one at the airport and don’t look like I need help and yet if something happened to me (a collapse or medical issue) I am on medication folk need to know about.

I’m also not able to stand in long queues for very long periods of time.

The rest of the time it’s in my bag.

Have a hidden disability but often in a wheelchair when out, so that sort of helps. Have debated whether to get a sunflower lanyard in the past but never actually sorted one out!! Good to hear it's helped other people, maybe will get one sorted!!

I got one last year and have used it twice, for air travel. The first time I used it I really needed it and probably only caught my flight because I wore it!

I had a “toileting” issue (related to my condition) in the airport car park which took around 40 minutes to clean up outside and I was really late and stressed when I got into the airport. At security I was invited to use the fast lane which made all the difference.

The other time I wore it at the airport I was given no special treatment despite long queues, but I didn’t need it that day anyway.

DD used one yesterday and it was super helpful both in UK and abroad for the journey. She doesn’t want to wear one on holiday but it’s clear they’d be helpful

My DD wore hers when flying alone aged 17 and without her asking, a member of airport staff whisked her through fast track security and asked if she needed any extra help.

I don't, but I understand why others do.

I have multiple reasons for not wearing one - I think the general public have come to associate them with autism or neurodivergence rather than hidden disabilities in general, and while I'm ND that isn't my disability, so I don't feel like there's much point in me wearing one as they've become misunderstood.

Secondly, I'm "lucky" (that's the wrong word 😅) to have a disability that is, for want of a better word, "sexy" - that is, people hear it and are like "oh yeah ok fair play that is a disability", so if I was ever challenged for using facilities or parking etc I can literally turn and say my diagnosis and they shut up. If I had a diagnosis that was less well known or considered "controversial", I'd probably wear a lanyard.