Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Lanyard Program Adopted at Tulsa International Airport

Dec. 16, 2020

Passengers who may need extra assistance while traveling will now have a new program to utilize at Tulsa International Airport (TUL). The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program has been launched at TUL, where the airport will provide sunflower lanyards free of charge to passengers with hidden disabilities. 

Wearing the sunflower lanyard is a discrete way for a person with a disability to make staff aware that they may need additional time, patience or assistance navigating the air travel experience. The program started in 2016 at London’s Gatwick Airport before expanding to more than two dozen airports, and TUL is among the first U.S. airports to join the program. 

“Without revealing the nature of the disability, the sunflower lanyard is a simple way to signal to airport staff that someone may need more help during certain aspects of the travel process,” said Bryan Crook, director of customer experience. “We are happy to add this program to our lineup of accessibility programs at TUL.” 

There are no prerequisites or documentation required to wear a sunflower lanyard. To acquire a sunflower lanyard, passengers can pick one up from the airport lobby in room A-211, send an e-mail to [email protected], or by calling 918-838-5000 to have one sent in the mail. Once TUL’s Ambassadors are able to return to their posts, the lanyards will also be available at the airport’s information desks. 

Representatives from each company at the airport as well as airport employees have received training to recognize the sunflower lanyard throughout the airport.