What’s it all about?

Making every day life more accessible for everyone

We are working with a number of the GDA member charities and the States Disability Officer to identify how we can improve the shopping, eating out, travelling and overall Guernsey experience for islanders and visitors with hidden disabilities.

If this applies to you or someone you’re out or travelling with, we can offer you a special lanyard (pin, badge or hair clip) to wear whilst you are out and about.

If you are wearing the lanyard, staff (and others including the police and constables) should recognise it and understand that you have a hidden disability and that you may need a little extra help or time. However, they will not know what your particular disability is, or what challenges and issues you may face. If you have specific requirements, please ask a member of staff  for help (they will be wearing the Here to Help badge)

Hidden Disabilities slides – draft

The history of the lanyard

The Hidden Disabilities lanyards started as a scheme in Gatwick Airport to improve the airport experience for their vulnerable passengers who may not want to share details of their hidden disabilities. The idea was that if people were wearing the lanyard staff should recognise it and understand that people have a hidden disability and that they may need a little extra help or time.
You can also find out more about the scheme on the Gatwick website

Its not just a Lanyard

Disabled islanders with hidden disabilities can choose between a sunflower lanyard, badge or pin. There are also sunflower hair clips and a few other ideas we and The Co-Operative Society are trailing.

The Lanyard

Badges

Pins

Hair Clips

If you would like to receive a Lanyard they are currently available at Guernsey Airport, Guernsey Information Centre (Tourism), Health Connections, Co-Op stores and GDA member charities.

Badges are currently available through the GDA member charities and States Disability Officer (DisabilityOfficer@gov.gg).

Pins and Hairclips (hand made so not many are currently available) are through the Co-Op.

How do I know which shops and members of staff have done accessibility training?

Shops and venues

Businesses, services and community groups that have completed the Hidden Disabilities scheme training will be displaying the window or desk sticker. They currently include: Guernsey Airport, a number of Co-Op stores, Guilles-Alles Library, Sure and Boots (High Street and St Sampsons), the police will follow shortly.

Staff members

Not all staff in all businesses have completed the Hidden Disabilities training. So to help you identify the most relevant person we have produced a ‘Here to Help’ badge with the sunflower on. Staff wearing these will have completed the training and are available to assist you where possible.

These companies have all taken the accessibility training

Our Hidden Disabilities training outlines the lanyard scheme and how it came about, draws on the hints and tips from GDA member charities (including Autism, Dementia, Mind), how simple changes can be made.
If you would like to find out more or ask about training please contact us on karen@matter.gg

More information

Rolling out the Hidden Disabilities, sunflower scheme wider than the airport and Co-Op, is a fairly new concept that came about during the Accessible Town project planning 2019. We are open to ideas on how to improve the scheme wherever possible. As we are registered charities (Access for All and We All Matter Eh? (GDA)) we will require funding to roll it out further and would welcome discussions with businesses and funders. Please email us through karen@matter.gg