The sunflower is a globally recognised symbol for invisible disabilities, which can include autism, low vision and blindness, chronic pain conditions, musculoskeletal conditions like arthritis, acquired brain injury, deafness, mental health conditions and dementia.
He said that travelling on public transport can be stressful for some people – there can be sensory, interactive, and other challenges to overcome for someone with an invisible disability.
Hugely supportive of Metro joining the Sunflower network, he said wearing his lanyard felt like having a “shield” when travelling on public transport.
Metro has recently trained customer service staff to recognise the sunflower symbol and support passengers that may need assistance. Passengers can look out for staff wearing a Sunflower supporter badge, which shows they have completed training.
“The best way you can assist someone wearing a lanyard is to check if they need assistance and are comfortable to interact with you, as sometimes the interaction itself can be a source of anxiety,” Whyatt said.
“Listening to what the person is saying, reading the signals they are giving you and being compassionate throughout the interaction are all important.”
Metro is distributing free lanyards, pin badges and wristbands to people that would like them at 12 key stations across the network from Monday 26 June.
Metro’s chief operating officer Aline Frantzen said Metro was dedicated to helping all passengers, including those with an invisible disability, to ensure everyone feels safe and included on the network.
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