To think Sunflower Lanyards have been hijacked

[Sharkology]

By those who just don't want to wear a mask in some cases rather than those who actually cannot wear a mask?

Fourth Avanti train trip this week, had three train journeys with them a couple of weeks back - either they have a bloody awesome EDI hiring policy, in which case it should be published as national pride, or some of their staff are taking the piss.

I've seen two members of staff out of around 50 actually wearing a face covering.

It absolutely devalues the sunflower lanyards for those who really need to use them. It's such a shame for all with hidden disabilities.

People wouldn't pretend to have cancer or a physical disability so why assume they'd fake a hidden one? Or am I naive? They are welcome to my hidden disability if they would like it.

I think they mean if you have an a easy spot disability like wheelchair. Then couldn’t wear a mask you would hope joe blog would make link that your disability meant mask was hard. But given abuse non mask wearers have had even those with obvious disabilities felt more protect with one on.

I agree OP. Our DD1 (6) has had a sunflower lanyard for a few years because she's autistic, and certain situations and noises cause her a lot of distress, and the lanyard has been really helpful in the past as we don't have to constantly explain that she has special needs when she acts 'oddly' in public.

But now every other bugger seems to be wearing a sunflower lanyard, as some sort of mask exemption excuse. The irony is the majority of people who have a genuine hidden disability (diabetes, COPD etc) will be those who benefit most from the wearing of masks and are more likely to be wearing them, as they are at a higher risk if they do get covid.

@HomerSimpsonsDonut

One of my friends has bought a lanyard that claims she has a "hidden disability".

She has no such thing. She has even told me all her mates do it because they don't like to smudge their makeup on a night out.

Why is she still a friend. Faking a disability is a disgusting thing to do.

[quote SorrySoldOut]@LonginesPrime but the lanyard isn’t for people with disabilities[/quote]
Then why is the company that makes them called Hidden Disabilities and why is is promoted as the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower to raise awareness of the hidden disabilities that people may have that might mean they need extra assistance when out and about and might not be able to ask for that assistance or explain their own disabilities or support needs to people?

I dont know... its absolutely crap that people are using them to get out of mask wearing for no reason but it HAS raised awareness of them so people are more likely to at least recognise they might mean something. I have 2 DC with autism, they clearly below the madk wearing age so when they wear theirs people recognise they aren't just for putting badges on. Neither like wearing specific disability identifying items. It has helped us as people have been more tolerant of their behaviours or give us more space/time when things are difficult when wearing them whereas they weren't before as they didn't know they had ANY significance. People who as close to the disability world have known what they are for years but many many other people didnt. Im hopeful once mask wearing ceases and there is no benefit to wearing one without reason tge increased awareness might persists.

To be fair shop workers/security guards/bus drivers etc have been telling people they should wear one so they don't have to question you. I actually hate wearing it. And I don't particularly care if people believe I am genuinely unable to wear a mask or not, the fact is I have been told repeatedly to wear the lanyard because I am not wearing a mask.

@SorrySoldOut But the lanyards are for people with hidden disabilities! That was the whole point of the scheme originally to alert members of the public to the fact that someone has a hidden disability (autism, dementia etc) and may need extra support. It was a scheme that was around long before covid, and therefore never originally had anything to do with mask wearing.

I am a bit stressed about this matter. The sunflower lanyard was great for my child with autism and adhd in 2019. He wore it in appropriate situations, for example to the cinema, or a museum, or the shops. He wouldn't wear it in the park or soft play as it would be dangerous. But, it was really helpful when he used it as people understood what it meant, people gave us more time and understanding which made trips out far less fraught for us all.
We are planning days out for this summer and I really want to be able to use the lanyard for him, but it has been trashed by people using it inappropriately. A lanyard should have been fine, but why didn't they just use a plan one with the mask exempt card in it if they wanted to use one, rather than using the hidden disability one (unless of course they did have a hidden disability).

I think it’s really helped raise the profile of the sunflower lanyard.

Yes, some people take the piss.

But when Covid and mask wearing recede, we’ll be left with a general population who will then see a sunflower lanyard and think, “oh - vaguely aware allowances to be made for something or other.” Which isn’t bad 🤷🏻‍♀️

@Whoarethewho

It always amused me how many people are unable to wear a mask here in the UK but in Asia mask wearing is much more universal. We must be very sick people here.

I was shocked at the number of people who were asked to shield, and who were on vulnerable lists for reasons unrelated to age. We are a very unhealthy country.

@SorrySoldOut

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Registered disabled?

So much lack of knowledge in one post

*I have to say I spent last week in England - I live in NE Scotland and I found there was a huge difference between the 2 countries.

So many more people in Scotland seem able to wear masks than where I was in East Anglia.*

I recently moved to a small town in NE Scotland and if every single person wearing a lanyard or going maskless in stores is truly disabled, it must be the town with the highest proportion of people with disabilities in the entire country. I was actually quite surprised at the difference compared to where I moved from (although fwiw I hate wearing a mask as it makes me anxious and overheated but my workplace requires them, I too would drop it if I was allowed).

She has no such thing. She has even told me all her mates do it because they don't like to smudge their makeup on a night out

Well I've heard of some pathetic reasons not to wear a mask but this is right up there.

@SorrySoldOut

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Hidden disabilities are disabilities - again, the clue's in the name. They're just not visible to others = hidden.

What do you mean by registered disabled? Thats not a thing.

@MouldyPotato I agree, it is disgusting. I don't want to end a long-term friendship over this but I'm keeping her at arm's length.

So many more people in Scotland seem able to wear masks than where I was in East Anglia

Well I don't know about either of those places, but in my little corner of Hampshire compliance has been close to 100%. I've hardly seen anyone without one.

@igelkott2021

She has no such thing. She has even told me all her mates do it because they don't like to smudge their makeup on a night out

Well I've heard of some pathetic reasons not to wear a mask but this is right up there.

Yup. I agree. I didn't know what to say when she told me, I just stood there flabbergasted.

[quote SorrySoldOut]@LonginesPrime but the lanyard isn’t for people with disabilities[/quote]
So what's it for then?

@MissChanandlerBong90

Well, in 12 days’ time it won’t matter.

That is indeed the point. In 12 days time people will not be breaking the law by not wearing a mask whilst pretending to have a hidden disability. I’m pretty sure a lot of the lanyards currently on display will miraculously disappear overnight…

OP I agree, like so many crises, this pandemic has highlighted human nature at its best and at its worst.

@Sharkology

Like I said in the OP - if it is the case that they have hidden disabilities then Avanti should be absolutely praised at the highest level - because it is simply amazing that they have that number of staff hired by them with disabilities and medical conditions (and, I want a job with them because employer treatment of people with disabilities in my experience has mostly been consistently shite).

You're obviously unaware it doesn't necessarily have to be a disability. Plenty of people have health conditions that make it difficult to wear a mask but don't rise to the level of disability. People with asthma that is normally manageable if they are breathing freely. People with trauma or panic attacks who are triggered by their mouth being covered. There are all kinds of medical conditions that aren't disabilities that make wearing a mask difficult or impossible, and last time I checked you didn't have to disclose your medical history when applying for a job, you don't even have to disclose your disability if you don't want to and don't think it's relevant.

So yeah, YABU. But I suspect you know full well and just wanted an opportunity to be a bit snide and superior.

We are planning days out for this summer and I really want to be able to use the lanyard for him, but it has been trashed by people using it inappropriately.

Or, depending on his age and self-perception of his conditions, you could use it as an example of the fact that lots of other people are likely neurodivergent and have other hidden conditions just like DS.

I know for my eldest DD, she has always been painfully self-conscious and ashamed of her ASD, so knowing that she's not alone or unusual is actually really helpful for her self-esteem.

I work in customer services. Unfortunately anyone can ask for , and get one.
At one time the sunflower lanyards would prompt us to offer / or be mindful that these customers might need extra help.
Not anymore.
I wouldn’t engage with most of the people wearing one now / let alone offer them assistance these days. 😡
It’s a disgrace they were allowed to be abused in this way.

@withlotsoflove

I work in customer services. Unfortunately anyone can ask for , and get one. At one time the sunflower lanyards would prompt us to offer / or be mindful that these customers might need extra help. Not anymore. I wouldn’t engage with most of the people wearing one now / let alone offer them assistance these days. 😡 It’s a disgrace they were allowed to be abused in this way.

Even if they were wearing a mask? I have a lanyard. I'm diagnosed with autism. I still wear a mask.