The People’s Orchestra has teamed up with the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Scheme to help more people get the support they need.
Orchestra and choir members, who have a hidden disability, will be able to get one of the the sunflower lanyards, which act as a subtle sign for them to gain help in public spaces like airports, train stations or even while shopping, for free
The initiative aims to act as a discreet sign that someone wearing the lanyard has a hidden disability and requires additional assistance while out in public.
Lanyards are aimed at people with hidden disabilities including autism and Asperger’s, learning disabilities, dementia, mobility issues caused by arthritis, MS, ME or chronic illness and visual or hearing impairments.
Supermarkets Tesco and Sainsbury’s have started using the lanyards this year. Staff at the organisations taking part are able to adapt their behaviour, such as offering more time at the checkout, helping to pack a person’s bags or offering help to reach hard-to-reach products.
Support can also be in the shape of speaking face-to-face to allow lip reading, using clear and easy-to-understand language or making others aware a person may be struggling or have behavioural issues.
