Greater Anglia continues to support the Sunflower Lanyard scheme

The rail operator is backing the scheme which supports people with non-visible disabilities to get the support they need when travelling.

The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Lanyards and ID cards are stocked at Greater Anglia’s main staffed stations and are available for passengers who need them.

The lanyard and the ID card both feature a design with a sunflower on a green background and let other people know that the cardholder may have a disability which is not immediately obvious like learning difficulties, mental health or issues with mobility, speech, visual or hearing impairments.

Paul White from Hidden Disabilities Sunflower said:

“Living with a hidden disability can make daily life more demanding for many people, but it can be difficult for others to recognise, acknowledge or understand the challenges that they face.

“The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower helps by discreetly indicating to people including staff and colleagues that those who choose to wear it, have a hidden disability and may need additional support, help or a little more time.”

Greater Anglia’s Accessibility Manager, Rebecca Richardson, said:

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“We’re delighted to continue our support of this initiative to help our staff recognise that customers may have different access needs when they travel with us which may not be immediately obvious. Our new trains offer a significant improvement in terms of accessibility and we are striving to improve accessibility in all other parts of the customer journey including web access and information provision.

The sunflower design was selected to represent the scheme as it creates a feeling of happiness, positivity, strength as well as growth and confidence. The sunflower is also a universally recognised flower and is also gender-neutral. The lanyard and ID card provide everyone with hidden disabilities the choice to be visible when they feel they need to.

The scheme was launched in 2016 and has been taken on globally by major airports, venues in the UK and many supermarkets, railway and coach stations, leisure facilities, and the NHS alongside a number of police, fire and ambulance services with a rising number of small and large businesses and organisations now taking part.