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A little sunflower can make a big difference
Neepawa duo raise awareness of
Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program
By Eoin Devereux
Pictured: Michelle Kasprick and Marg VanBuskirk.
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Airport travel, even at the best of times, can be a stressful and exhausting experience. Long lineups, unfamiliar terminals and the challenge of making connecting flights can be overwhelming for anyone. For seniors and people living with disabilities that are not immediately apparent, those challenges can perhaps be even greater.
But Marg VanBuskirk and Michelle Kasprick are hoping to take some of that stress and uncertainty out of travelling by spotlighting a global initiative that can make a meaningful difference.
The duo are working around Neepawa to raise awareness for the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program. Sunflower is an initiative started in 2016, that provides people a discreet way to indicate they may need additional assistance, patience or understanding. Participants wear a green lanyard decorated with bright yellow sunflowers, signalling to trained staff that extra support may be helpful.
It’s focused towards seniors and individuals with hidden disabilities, such as brain injuries, chronic pain, vision or hearing impairments, autism, or mental health conditions.
For VanBuskirk, the program made a significant difference during her recent trip from Winnipeg to Portland, Oregon. In an interview with Lyle Watson on NACTV’s Coffee Chat, Marg explained how the sunflower lanyard provided an additional way to communicate her needs throughout the journey.
At Winnipeg International Airport, staff helped her navigate check-in and reach her departure lounge. When her flight was delayed, employees continued checking on her well-being and arranged a new boarding pass.
In Vancouver, airport personnel helped her through customs, transported her between terminals and ensured she reached the correct departure lounge. When she arrived in Portland, staff helped her collect her luggage and escorted her to her daughter’s vehicle.
The experience demonstrated how the Sunflower Program can make travelling less intimidating for people who might otherwise struggle with unfamiliar airports and complicated connections.
VanBuskirk has since shared lanyards with others, reporting positive experiences from those who have used them. She and Kasprick are now working together to encourage people who have been hesitant to travel because of mobility challenges or hidden disabilities to reconsider their options.
“I started talking to people about it, and then I got some more lanyards to be able to give to people that I know are going to be travelling,” said VanBuskirk. “When I talked to Michelle about it and I asked her if she would keep them, and we just want to inform people, so that everybody who has been nervous to travel or knows that they need assistance and wouldn’t go because of that, understand that there is something out there that will help.”
Approximately 20 lanyards are currently available through Kasprick, offering an opportunity for Neepawa residents to learn more about the program.
The lanyards are free and can also be obtained at participating transportation hubs, including Winnipeg Airport. More information is also available through the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower website.
Find this story and many more in this week's edition of the Neepawa Banner & Press!
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