Hidden Disabilities

[emam]

What do you reckon the chances are of P&O cruises taking this onboard. Probably nill as there could be more people wearing them than not.

 

 

P&O FERRIES IN FIRST FOR MARITIME SECTOR WITH LAUNCH OF ‘HIDDEN DISABILITY’ SUNFLOWER LANYARD SCHEME

06.01.2020

P&O FERRIES today announces the launch of the hidden disability sunflower lanyard scheme across its North Sea routes. The initiative, which is designed to support those who might not have an immediately visible disability and who might need additional assistance while travelling, reinforces P&O Ferries’ commitment to providing accessible travel for all.

Passengers of P&O Ferries sailing between Hull and Rotterdam, and Hull and Zeebrugge, can now request a sunflower lanyard free of charge, to act as a discreet sign to crew members and on-shore staff that they may need extra help or support during their journey. Designed to enhance the customer’s entire experience, P&O Ferries’ team will provide added support at all points of their journey, from arrival at the port and check-in to disembarkation.

Working closely with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), P&O Ferries has provided extensive training for all its employees ahead of the scheme’s launch, with specialist content provided by the charity, which supports those with sight loss. Examples of where further support will be provided include allowing extra time for customers to prepare at check-in and security, ensuring they are able to remain with their families at all times where possible, as well as providing a more comprehensive briefing on what they can expect as they travel through the port and reading information from departure boards.

Passengers can request a sunflower lanyard via the ferry operator’s website, or by emailing or calling the customer services team, which will then be posted out to them ahead of their journey. In addition, passengers who have not pre-requested a lanyard can collect one at check-in or at the reception desk onboard the ships.

Michaela Mullen, Head of Brand and Customer Experience at P&O Ferries, commented, “We’re delighted officially to launch the sunflower lanyard scheme across our North Sea routes. It has been fantastic to work with RNIB to introduce the initiative and we are proud to be the first to do so within the maritime industry. We are fully committed to providing accessible travel for all and we hope that the introduction of the sunflower lanyards will provide an extra layer of reassurance to passengers with hidden disabilities, as well as their families.”

Marc Powell, Strategic Relationship Executive at RNIB, which supports the sunflower lanyard scheme, added, “It’s great to see P&O Ferries adopt this initiative and lead by example within the maritime industry. For those with a hidden disability, such as a vision impairment, travelling can sometimes be a stressful experience. Now, by offering the sunflower lanyards as an option, P&O Ferries is helping to alleviate some of this pressure, which will provide added reassurance and an important confidence boost for blind and partially sighted people while they are on their travels.

“These lanyards are now widely recognised by organisations across the UK, so once a passenger has picked one up, they can keep hold of it, safe in the knowledge that others will understand and act on what it represents.”

Passengers can find more information about the sunflower lanyard scheme on P&O Ferries’ website, as well as at the ports it operates from and onboard its ships. P&O Ferries expects to rollout the scheme across all of its routes by summer 2020.

 

[janny444]

Hi....I think in time they will become more and more " popular"....some supermarkets already have them available upon request. I think the trouble is that anyone can request them....hidden disability or not perhaps thinking that they will receive preferential treatment. My thought is that a medical professional should issue a form to you so that will show you have a hidden disability.

In April last year I became one with a hidden disability...I suffered sudden permanent vision loss in one eye ....I choose to wear a badge....mainly because some of the public think you  are being gormless and " messing about"... but once again it was something I bought myself showing that anyone can buy one....vision loss or not.

 

Edited January 16, 2020 by janny444

[AndyMichelle]

It might go some way to calming people down in the lifts... 

But if anyone can buy them, pointless.. 

Andy 

[terrierjohn]

16 minutes ago, AndyMichelle said:

It might go some way to calming people down in the lifts... 

But if anyone can buy them, pointless.. 

Andy 

A very good point Andy, their issue needs to be done via a health care professional.

[Eglesbrech]

Perhaps I am just being naive but do you really think there are masses of people who would go about wearing a symbol meant to assist people with a disability - fraudulently?
 

I know that you get the odd selfish person who will park in a disabled space because they think that they will get away with it (around here they generally don't, get caught and fined) but that is a long way off having the brass neck to parade about a ship with a lanyard / badge if you are fit and healthy.
 

In general I find people on ships a nice bunch and surely anyone with any self respect would not stoop to something like that.
 

 

[purplesea]

The airports have been doing this for a while.  I do have a hidden disability, after nerosurgery, but would not consider wearing a lanyard announcing it to the world!

[AndyMichelle]

26 minutes ago, Eglesbrech said:

Perhaps I am just being naive but do you really think there are masses of people who would go about wearing a symbol meant to assist people with a disability - fraudulently?
 

I know that you get the odd selfish person who will park in a disabled space because they think that they will get away with it (around here they generally don't, get caught and fined) but that is a long way off having the brass neck to parade about a ship with a lanyard / badge if you are fit and healthy.
 

In general I find people on ships a nice bunch and surely anyone with any self respect would not stoop to something like that.
 

 

The problem is, if anyone can get them, nobody will believe anyone who has them. 

Unfortunately, there are some people who may take advantage. 

Medical fraud is the new benefit fraud and I think these people start to believe it themselves. 

Andy 

[john watson]

I think I should qualify for a sunflower lanyard because I was born with a disability and had to cope with it for all my life.  It sometimes comes up as an issue; at a local petrol station they got a new card machine and it was a bit difficult to use.  The girl tried to help me and said you put your pin number in and then press the green button.  I said "Which one is that then?" she answered "The green one".  I replied in easy to understand terms "Which button is the green one?" and she did not know without handing her the machine.   People just do not see hidden disabilities and unable to understand them.

 

Regards John

[janny444]

1 hour ago, john watson said:

I think I should qualify for a sunflower lanyard because I was born with a disability and had to cope with it for all my life.  It sometimes comes up as an issue; at a local petrol station they got a new card machine and it was a bit difficult to use.  The girl tried to help me and said you put your pin number in and then press the green button.  I said "Which one is that then?" she answered "The green one".  I replied in easy to understand terms "Which button is the green one?" and she did not know without handing her the machine.   People just do not see hidden disabilities and unable to understand them.

 

Regards John

Hi....that is the point I was trying to make ....one may not be " blind" but having limited vision can be difficult at times and when you have to ask something which is obvious to them but not to  you and you are spoken down to in a sharp manner it can be upsetting so wearing a sunflower lanyard ....or badge in my case....it just makes them more aware that you have a sight problem  and you are not being " thick".

[Fanny Annie]

3 hours ago, Eglesbrech said:

Perhaps I am just being naive but do you really think there are masses of people who would go about wearing a symbol meant to assist people with a disability - fraudulently?
 

I know that you get the odd selfish person who will park in a disabled space because they think that they will get away with it (around here they generally don't, get caught and fined) but that is a long way off having the brass neck to parade about a ship with a lanyard / badge if you are fit and healthy.
 

In general I find people on ships a nice bunch and surely anyone with any self respect would not stoop to something like that.
 

 

 

[Mrs applehead]

We have been using the sunflower lanyard for over a year.

Our daughter has special needs and we have found it helpful particularly at airports with queing etc but still find a lot of people do not know what it is for.

[john watson]

I think Post Malone sings about the status of A Sunflower. Needless to say I'm keeping a check.

 

Regards John

Edited January 16, 2020 by john watson

[emam]

Actually, even though I started the thread, i'm not sure that if I saw someone wearing one that I would immediately realise what it was for. Maybe now after discussing it I might, but I'm not very observant and probably wouldn't even notice someone wearing one.