Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) announced that passengers can now participate in the Hidden (or non-visible) Disabilities (HD) Sunflower Program, which aims to raise awareness of and support individuals with non-visible disabilities, such as autism, anxiety disorders, dementia, and Chron’s disease.
As part of the program, passengers or their companions with non-visible disabilities can order a Sunflower lanyard to wear at AUS. The green lanyard with sunflowers works as a visual cue and discreet way to indicate to airport staff and other passengers that the wearer has a non-visible disability and may need a little more time, support or assistance at AUS.
Passengers can request a lanyard and pick it up in person at the airport or mailed to them ahead of their trip by contacting the AUS Guest Services team via email.
“AUS is excited to adopt the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program, which is an international program recognized at airports across the world that provides tools to help passengers with non-visible disabilities,” said Ramonika Carr, AUS guest services division manager. “As an international airport, it’s our responsibility to provide services that support every passenger. Thanks to this program, we hope to support the growth and confidence of individuals with non-visible disabilities while they navigate our airport.”
The HD Sunflower Lanyard Program is an internationally recognized program that launched in 2016 in the United Kingdom and more than 90 airports throughout North America now participate in this universal approach to identifying and providing services to passengers with non-visible disabilities.
