<div>The  Sunflower Lanyard Program</div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;font-size:11pt"><br></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;font-size:11pt">The Port Authority of NY & NJ (PANY/NJ) has launched a program that will be of  interest to all  traveling from t Newark Airport (EWR),  John F. Kennedy (JFK) and LaGuardia Airports (LGA).</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><br></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">(From Attached Flier)</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><br></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Assisting adults and children with hidden disabilities</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><br></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Not all disabilities are visible - some are not immediately obvious, such as autism, chronic pain, dementia, anxiety, visual or hearing impairment. Living with a hidden disability can make daily life
 more challenging for many people, but it can also be difficult for others to recognize, acknowledge or understand the challenges those with hidden disabilities face.</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><br></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Hidden Disabilities Lanyard makes one with a disability visible </span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><br></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Wearing the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower discreetly indicates to airport and airline staff that those wearing the lanyard may need additional support, help or a little more time.</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><br></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">How can wearing the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower at the Airport benefit people with disabilities? </span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><br></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Airline and security staff as well as staff in airport shops and restaurants may offer those wearing a lanyard additional support as they travel through the airport. </span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><br></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Persons with disabilities can use the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower lanyard to start a conversation with airport staff about the additional help that is needed. </span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><br></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This new program  will improve the experience for passengers traveling with disabilities that are considered hidden or not immediately obvious to others. Navigating  airports can be overwhelming and
 providing reasonable accommodations for persons with a hidden disability and their families is an important part of ensuring a world-class experience  for the PANY/NJ. </span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><br></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Airports throughout the world have adopted similar programs, and have increased both the airport employee and passenger’s awareness of persons with a hidden disability. This approach will facilitate
 a more positive interaction between passengers, employees, and persons with the hidden disability, and enhance the overall customer experience.</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><br></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Airport employees will not know a passenger’s specific disability unless a passenger self-declares it, and no additional verification of a specific disability is required. </span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;font-size:11pt"><br></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;font-size:11pt">Sunflower Lanyards are available to customers at each terminal’s Welcome Center at no cost.   More information on the program can be found on each airport’s website. (</span><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http*3A*2F*2Fwww.newarkairport.com*2F&data=04*7C01*7Clbellafiore*40panynj.gov*7C7890fa294b144f5c6ae008d9d1f3c987*7Cc4484a25d0d84ad0916aa889b6aa7a02*7C0*7C0*7C637771667264766170*7CUnknown*7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0*3D*7C3000&sdata=DeeS8*2B7MehMTAONt7U1cObjWBJFlQaOgBTKxily7*2Bwo*3D&reserved=0__;JSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJQ!!J30X0ZrnC1oQtbA!IbAUInGTDc-bcGWaV6UA0V_F7WwEmsrLQvqc6dCTsckeczods4VaOWKi5eLcnjckWYcp87cm_PoSeE-sYY-KGqby_Tve4zc$" target="_blank" style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;font-size:11pt">www.NewarkAirport.com</a><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;font-size:11pt"> 
</span><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http*3A*2F*2Fwww.laguardiaairport.com*2F&data=04*7C01*7Clbellafiore*40panynj.gov*7C7890fa294b144f5c6ae008d9d1f3c987*7Cc4484a25d0d84ad0916aa889b6aa7a02*7C0*7C0*7C637771667264776125*7CUnknown*7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0*3D*7C3000&sdata=rllcM4*2Bd0Q1Mk2pv69MB98yhrKkxkiXgGtM1d5PGRbQ*3D&reserved=0__;JSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUl!!J30X0ZrnC1oQtbA!IbAUInGTDc-bcGWaV6UA0V_F7WwEmsrLQvqc6dCTsckeczods4VaOWKi5eLcnjckWYcp87cm_PoSeE-sYY-KGqbyW-Mbvo8$" target="_blank" style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;font-size:11pt">www.LaGuardiaAirport.com</a><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;font-size:11pt"> 
</span><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http*3A*2F*2Fwww.jfkairport.com*2F&data=04*7C01*7Clbellafiore*40panynj.gov*7C7890fa294b144f5c6ae008d9d1f3c987*7Cc4484a25d0d84ad0916aa889b6aa7a02*7C0*7C0*7C637771667264776125*7CUnknown*7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0*3D*7C3000&sdata=zNHRTiKi0apDtpgqnfvvtlY11CpIlWLPdQH3ccUaTl8*3D&reserved=0__;JSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSU!!J30X0ZrnC1oQtbA!IbAUInGTDc-bcGWaV6UA0V_F7WwEmsrLQvqc6dCTsckeczods4VaOWKi5eLcnjckWYcp87cm_PoSeE-sYY-KGqbynSCCSBY$" target="_blank" style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;font-size:11pt">www.JFKAirport.com</a><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;font-size:11pt">)</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><br></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The program is voluntary for anyone who self-identifies as having a hidden disability or is traveling with someone who has a hidden disability.  Please note that wearing a lanyard DOES NOT guarantee fast-tracking through security or any preferential treatment.
 Passengers that need that additional levels of assistance (i.e. wheelchair and escort) are required to make that arrangement with their airlines.</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><br></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The PANY/NJ has asked our assistance with spreading the word about this program.   Please share the attached flyer with your consumers, contacts and anyone  that you feel would benefit from knowing about this program.   </span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><br></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Photo of a green lanyard, with yellow sunflowers. It has a plastic I.D. holder clipped on the end.</span></div><div dir="auto"><br></div>-- <br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><br>Warmly, <br>Linda Melendez, President<br>National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey<br>732-421-7063<br><a href="mailto:president@nfbnj.org">president@nfbnj.org</a><br><a href="http://www.nfbnj.org">www.nfbnj.org</a><br>Facebook: <a href="https://m.facebook.com/NFB-NJ-353099574776238">https://m.facebook.com/NFB-NJ-353099574776238</a><br></div>