*Photograph: Arthur Ellis
SHANNON AIRPORT has become the first organisation in Ireland to install tapitags to raise awareness of the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower programme.
Fifteen tapitag points have been introduced at locations throughout the terminal building at Shannon Airport where a QR code can be scanned on their phone to learn more about the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower programme and supports available at the airport.
Passengers travelling through Shannon Airport can now avail of a free Sunflower lanyard to indicate that they have a non-visible disability and would appreciate an offer of support. The airport team and the wider airport community underwent specialist training to recognise the Sunflower and provide time, understanding and assistance to those wearing it.
The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower is the latest in a series of initiatives to make the travel experience through the airport as seamless and inclusive as possible.
In 2017, Shannon was the first airport in Europe to open a sensory room for passengers with additional and neurodivergent needs. It has since been utilised by thousands of passengers. Shannon was also one of only two airports in the world to be granted Age-Friendly status by the World Health Organisation in 2022, in recognition of its efforts to make the airport journey more accessible for people of all ages. Measures introduced as part of this initiative include age-friendly parking, additional signage and covered walkways from the airport car parks and aircraft to the terminal building.
Pamela Brooks, Head of Operations at The Shannon Airport Group commented, “Like the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower team, we firmly believe that travel is for everyone, so we are very proud to officially become members of this incredible international network, dedicated to making the process of navigating public spaces such as airports, more accessible for people with hidden disabilities. The Sunflower Lanyards are available free of charge at our Airport Services Desk.
“Over the past few months, our team has participated in training and worked hard to ensure that we can implement the Sunflower across our operations as effectively as possible. Shannon is on track to reach the two million passengers mark this year for the first time since 2009, and as we continue to welcome more and more people from all over Ireland and indeed the globe, initiatives such as the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower will be vital in assisting us with making the travel experience as easy and enjoyable for every customer that comes through our doors,” she added.
Ruth Rabét, Global Business Director, Hidden Disabilities Sunflower stated, “Disabled people make up one in seven of the Irish population and 80% have an invisible disability. This means over half a million people in Ireland have a non-visible disability. We are excited to announce that Shannon Airport has become the newest airport to join the global Hidden Disabilities Sunflower network. Adopting the Sunflower and implementing our training for its staff improves accessibility for passengers with invisible disabilities. As Sunflower wearers travel through Shannon Airport, airport staff will recognise them with an offer of support, understanding, and empathy to provide an inclusive and stress-free journey”.
