The City of Mississauga has launched the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program, making it the first municipal transit provider in Canada to join. The program uses a sunflower lanyard to discreetly signal to transit staff that a rider may need additional support.
The City of Mississauga has joined the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program, becoming the first municipal transit provider in Canada to become a member. The program also includes Toronto Pearson Airport, Air Canada and Metrolinx. The lanyard is meant to discreetly inform transit staff that the rider may need more support, help or patience during their trip.
'You wear something that doesn't point out that you are different or that you have special needs, it isn't obvious,' explains Doris Cooper, a member of Mississauga's transit advisory committee and a participant in the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program. The City of Mississauga recently joined the program, making it Canada's first municipal transit provider to become a member. The lanyard is meant to discreetly inform transit staff that the rider may need more help or time. It also aims to support and improve the travel experience of riders with hidden disabilities, making their trips smooth, seamless and respectful. Cooper, who's 72 years old and struggles with back pain, participated in the program at Toronto Pearson Airport and says she felt respected and seen. 'The staff just came right up to us and started chatting like we were long time friends and took us to our seat,' she said. Cooper then helped advocate to get the program into MiWay, Mississauga's transit system. More than 201,000 people in the city live with a disability, and the program highlights that 80 per cent of these disabilities are not visible to others, including autism, dementia and epilepsy
MISSISSAUGA HIDDEN DISABILITIES SUNFLOWER PROGRAM TRANSIT ACCESSIBILITY DISABLED COMMUNITY
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