Miami International Airport launches two new accessibility initiatives

Credit: Miami International Airport

The fall season is bringing springtime sunflowers to Miami International Airport (MIA), as the airport has become one of 10 U.S. and 34 worldwide airports providing sunflower lanyards free of charge to travellers with hidden disabilities.

The lanyards, which act as a discreet indicator to airport employees that those passengers may need some extra time during the travel process, were unveiled during a ribbon cutting ceremony on 12 November 2020 with community partners for MIA’s second multi-sensory room.

The new area in MIA’s South Terminal near Gate J3 provides young passengers with cognitive and developmental disabilities a calming place to relax during the travel experience. MIA’s other multi-sensory room is in its North Terminal, near Gate D31. The two new initiatives are part of the airport’s overall MyMIAccess programme of services for travellers with disabilities.

Director and CEO Miami International Airport, Lester Sola, said: “Our highest priority at MIA continues to be making the joy of air travel easily and safely accessible for all our passengers. We are proud to now be one of a growing number of airports worldwide providing sunflower lanyards, and to add another multi-sensory room to our terminal. We look forward to continue working closely with our local advocacy partners, to make MIA even more accessible for all.”

The goal of the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Lanyard global initiative is to raise awareness that some disabilities – such as autism, hearing loss and PTSD – are not visible. In October 2020, MIA employees received customer service training about the lanyards and best practices for serving travellers with hidden disabilities.