Disability services I use and would recommend

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Sunflower Lanyards

If you have a hidden disability it might be helpful to wear a Sunflower Lanyard to highlight to those around you that you have a hidden disability and therefore might require special assistance or adaptations to meet your needs. Many shops, airports, transport companies, hospitals and other venues and now trained to spot wearers of Sunflower Lanyards and meeting the needs of those with hidden disabilities.

I find wearing a Sunflower Lanyard helps to highlight that I have hidden disabilities beyond what is visible when I’m visibly sat in a wheelchair.

You can also buy cards to attach to your lanyard such as explainer cards about your hidden disability or cards for carers.

I’d also recommend buying Sunflower Lanyards directly from the official organisation as there are unfortunately fraudulent ones being sold elsewhere that look similar to the official Sunflower Lanyard.

Access Cards

Access Cards are a credit card sized card that identifies the wearer as well as outlining the wearers access needs. This could be difficulty queuing, needing one or more carers in with them, step free access, accessible toilet facilities, that the holder of the card has an assistance dog among other access requirements. The holder of this card can use this card when booking tickets so the venue are aware of the person’s needs in advance or they could use the card to obtain a free carers entry pass as the Access Card is a verified document of the holders needs.

I find my Access Card helps to better communicate my access needs as it’s clear and easy to understand what my access requirements are. They also provide me an easier and more discreet way to explain my access needs too as all I have to do is present my card. The cards you do have to buy and they are valid for a few years.

The main downside to Access Cards is that they’re only officially recognised at certain venues and other places so they can’t be used universally and generically to communicate and get your access needs met. I do hope in time that they are more widely accepted the more recognition they are given.

Radar Keys

Radar keys give the holder access to over 9,000 toilet facilities around the UK, these include disabled toilets and Changing Places. 

You are best buying official Radar keys as then they are most likely to work and be good quality.

CEA cards

For a small annual fee CEA Cards give the holder the admittance of a person into the cinema with them, this could be a carer or family member etc. to provide assistance to the card holder. Most but not all cinemas participate in the CEA Card scheme.

Though I don’t go to the cinema anymore when I used to be able to go to the cinema it was helpful to be able to take someone in with me in return knowing that they were also there to support me and care for me should I become unwell or need help.

Can’t Wait Card

This is just one of a few ‘Can’t wait cards’ that you can get for free. If you have a medical condition which means that you urgently need to use the toilet for whatever reason this card can help give you access to a toilet when shown.

I find my ‘Can’t wait’ card really helpful, at times it’s given me access to staff toilets when there’s been no toilets available to the public. It’s also allowed me to use the customer toilets in shops or cafés when I’ve not been a customer. It’s also allowed me to discretely explain why I can’t queue for the toilets or when I’ve needed to get past the queue to get to the disabled toilets/Changing Places.