Airports are often hard to navigate is you have an invisible disability which is why various countries have developed lanyards, badges etc to let airport staff know they may need a little more help or extra time to make their way through the airport and boarding processes. Many countries have adopted the sunflower symbol but in Spanish airports run by AENA they have developed their own Invisible Disabilities Badge.
Aena manages 46 airports and 2 heliports in Spain and have Aena has created a badge so that airport personnel can identify the people carrying it and improve their experience in the airports. Their Invisible Disabilities Badge is aimed at people with reduced mobility or a disability in order to try and reduce the stress and anxiety some people may suffer during the departures and arrivals processes. It helps them avoid barriers like sensory overload, lack of understanding or negative attitudes to their behaviour and shows that the person may need support, help, or simply understanding, and a little more time for any activity at the airport.
Showing this badge allows access to the airport’s security checkpoint that is specifically for families and persons with reduced mobility (PRMs) . Where the airport you are travelling from does not have a specific security checkpoint for families and PRMs, as far as possible, access to the general security checkpoint is made easier.
Aena also has silent lounges in some airports for anyone who needs a quieter environment due to particular sensitivity to sensory stimulation in the surroundings, like noise. Click here for more details
For Assistance service Barrier Free, Guide service, Travelling with animals, or a special app aimed at improving children’s travel experience – called At your SiDe click here for more details.