Punta Cana Airport Adopts Sunflower Lanyard for Invisible Disabilities
Travelers passing through Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) now have access to a discreet way to signal that they may need additional support during their journey. The airport has officially joined the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program, a worldwide initiative that helps staff identify and assist passengers living with non-visible conditions, according to Dominican Today.
What the Sunflower Lanyard Means
The green lanyard, printed with yellow sunflowers, has become a recognized symbol at hundreds of airports, train stations, and venues across the globe. Wearing it does not require disclosing a specific diagnosis. Instead, it quietly lets airport personnel know the wearer may benefit from a slower pace, clearer instructions, more patience at security checkpoints, or extra help navigating the terminal.
Conditions covered by the program include autism, ADHD, dementia, anxiety disorders, chronic pain, hearing or vision impairments, and many other conditions that are not immediately apparent to others.
Why It Matters for Travelers
Punta Cana is the busiest gateway to the Dominican Republic, handling millions of international arrivals each year, so the move has meaningful reach. For families traveling with neurodivergent children, older relatives with cognitive challenges, or anyone managing an invisible health condition, the initiative can turn a stressful transit experience into a smoother one.
The airport's participation also aligns Punta Cana with major hubs in North America, Europe, and Latin America that already recognize the Sunflower symbol, meaning a lanyard picked up elsewhere will be understood by PUJ staff, and vice versa.
How to Get a Lanyard
Passengers who want to use the program at Punta Cana can typically request a lanyard at designated information points inside the terminal at no charge. Travelers who prefer to arrive prepared can also order one in advance through the official Hidden Disabilities Sunflower website or pick one up at a participating airport before departure. There is no medical documentation required to wear it.
The rollout reinforces the Dominican Republic's broader push toward more inclusive tourism infrastructure, giving visitors with hidden disabilities one more reason to feel welcome on arrival.