Halifax airport programs aim to make travel easier for people with disabilities

The Halifax Stanfield International Airport has launched three programs aimed at making the bustling site easier to navigate for people with visual and hearing impairments and hidden disabilities.

The programs are included in the airport authority's 2023-26 accessibility plan and can be found in other Canadian airports, said Leah Batstone, communications manager for the airport authority.

"Services, programs, new technology — all of it helps play a role in enhancing this experience for all of our travellers," she said in an interview.

Sunflower program

The new Sunflower program is intended to support travellers with what are known as invisible disabilities, which can include mental illness, learning disabilities and chronic illnesses that may not be immediately apparent. The program relies on voluntary self-identification.

Individuals can request a sunflower lanyard or pin from a staff member or order it online before their trip. By wearing it, airport employees will know that person requires additional assistance or more time.

Amanda Alexander, executive director of Autism Nova Scotia, said travelling can be especially challenging for autistic people.

"We may have people who are sensory defensive. There's a lot of sounds, there's a lot of light, there's a lot of moving pieces at the airport," she said. 

Alexander said the Sunflower program is in addition to Autism Aviators, a program that lets autistic people and their families tour the Halifax airport to familiarize them with air travel, from checking in to boarding a plane. 

Aira app

The second program is the Aira App, which can be installed on a smartphone and connects travellers to on-demand visual assistance in the airport. 

Designed for people who are blind or partially sighted, the app allows users to video call a professional so they can help read signs, navigate the busy areas of the airport and guide people to their destination. 

Although Aira typically costs money, Batstone said the app can be used for free on site at the airport.

Hearing loops

The third program involves hearing loop technology, which helps eliminate background noise and transmit sound directly to devices including hearing aids or cochlear implants.

"This ensures that when people are travelling, if they're hearing impaired, they can still hear the person, the airline employee or the ground transportation staff that are giving them directions, and they'll be able to hear it more clearly through their hearing aid," said Batstone.

She added that for people whose hearing aids or implants are not compatible with the hearing loop system, there are phones located at the check-in desks and gates with better sound quality.