Liverpool John Lennon Airport working with Disability Groups

Guide Dogs.org – Have assisted Liverpool Airport with our Assistance Dog Policy and in 2014 we worked together with Guide Dog training taking place at the airport in conjunction with Flybe.

Up, Pup and Away - guide dogs in training prepare to take to the sky Two guide dogs in training visited the Airport as part of an exercise designed to ensure that they will be

suitable to be matched up with their future owners. Golden retriever Woody and Labrador Helena spent 20

months learning what it takes to become life-changing guide dogs before being provisionally matched with

their future owners, frequent fliers. It is vital that the dogs are happy and comfortable with airport procedures

and the aircraft environment.

Penny Williams Engagement Officer for the charity Guide Dogs said: “At Guide Dogs we want everyone who

experiences sight loss to have the freedom to live life the way they choose. Liverpool John Lennon Airport are

helping us do this by allowing our dogs to be trained in a way which will let them help their owners travel the world

on their own terms. There are almost two million people in the UK living with sight loss, by 2050 this will have

doubled, it is therefore so important that we’re able to work together with companies like Liverpool John

Lennon and Flybe to enable people with sight loss to confidently explore air travel”. Irene O’Neilly, 65 from St Helens soon to become guide dog owner of Woody said: “The work that Liverpool John Lennon and Flybe are doing with Guide Dogs is absolutely incredible. By allowing Woody, my future guide

dog, to have this experience before he takes a flight with me will be such a crucial element to his training. I

spend a lot of time abroad, and knowing that I can just go, as and when I like, is simply amazing. It’s truly

ground breaking”.

The charity Guide Dogs has been working with Liverpool John Lennon Airport and Flybe to set up this rather

extraordinary training opportunity for Woody and Helena which will ensure that the dogs are ready for take

off once matched with their future guide dog owners. Paul Simmons, Flybe’s Chief Commercial Officer says:

“We are naturally delighted to have been asked to play this small part in Woody and Helena’s training and to

welcome them on board. We appreciate the life-enhancing role that these wonderful guide dogs play in the

lives of their blind or partially sighted owners, allowing them

the valuable freedom and

independence that

most of us take for

granted. This includes

enjoying the many benefits

associated with the wider

travel most of available

through air travel.”

We continue to work with Guide Dogs to provide the latest information for users and airport colleagues

to make the airport experience to run as smoothly as possible and are happy to offer help and advice via

our website, social media or traditional channels.

We are proud to be an Autism Friendly Airport

Working with Autism Together we are signed up to the Autism Charter and committed to assisting travel and

working at our airport. We have an ongoing programme training our teams in autism awareness provided by

Autism Together and offer assistance to passengers who require assistance or wish to travel independently

with our Butterfly scheme ( information can be found on our website at

https://www.liverpoolairport.com/help-advice/special-assistance/.

Every contact and enquiry is provided with a personal response in recognition that everyone with Autism is an

individual.

As founder members of signed up to the Autism Charter in our region, we joined the Chamber of Commerce,

Andy Burnham and members of the Business community in Liverpool on the 1st

April ( the day before World

Autism Day ) to support the launch event for the City of Liverpool to become an Autism Friendly City

http://www.autismtogether.co.uk/could-liverpool-become-the-worlds-first-truly-autism-friendly-city/

Our Autism Vouchers are issued with your personal information and we promise to try

to make your journey through the airport as smooth and enjoyable as we can

Our Autism Butterfly pictured above provides a visual aid to our airport colleagues to offer additional

options and time to passengers in possession of a voucher. For those who prefer a discreet business card

type card, our PRM provider provides an alternative.

We are embracing our Autism Awareness journey and inviting our users for tips and feedback.

The Brain Charity

We have recently joined up with the team to raise awareness of hidden disabilities:

We are supporting Dementia Friendly Transport working with the

in 2014 and continuing in 2016. Merseytravel, Virgin

Trains and local bus and taxi companies meet to discuss ways that we can provide like for

like access to different types of transport.

Spinal Injury Assistance - The Southport & Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust reviewed our facilities to be able to

share their recommendations with patients and medical personnel. Visits will continue from time to time with

participants who are recuperating from treatment.

Lourdes Pilgrimage Flights operate from Liverpool annually with 2015 peaking with up to 5 departures on one day. Support from Friends of Liverpool Airport (FoLA) , a team of volunteers make this possible:

Stomawise UK Assisting Ostomy users with their passenger journey at JLA

JLA linked up with Stomawise UK recently to look at air travel for Ostomy users.

Many Ostomy users ( those with Ileostomy and Colostomy bags ) don’t fly because of the difficulties they will have.

Myths include ‘not being able to pass through security because the ostomy bag may contain more than

100mls of fluid’ and ‘a physical search could dislodge the bag’. Visits to the airport included meeting with the

PRM assistance team, passing through the security screening process and talking to cabin crew in the cabin of

an easyjet aircraft.

The following adjustments will help Ostomy users feel more confident travelling through Liverpool Airport:

A booklet of advice for travellers to include hints & tips based on the processes at Liverpool Airport. To be issued in conjunction with Stomawise.

Our very own Ostobears ( see photo below) will take up residence in the Private search facility at

the CSA. Ostobear has an ostomy bag and JLA logoed t-shirt. Young travellers will feel reassured seeing Ostobear if they are selected for search.

Stomawise and the Security training team have looked at the screening process to understand

an Ostomy user’s perspective. Information will be used in the training and retraining of agents.

Text has been provided to feature on the Stomawise site to provide useful information when travelling through the airport http://www.stomawise.co.uk/lifestyle/holiday-travel-tips to be updated shortly.

We also have several current mentions on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/stomawise

Recent changes and adjustments to our facilities

Include the introduction of Fast Track car parking with covered access to the terminal

with lifts available to all levels on entry to the building.

Accessible toilet facilities

Easily identifiable and designed with a relaxing ambiance in mind.

Warrington BSL Choir

Have performed within the airport terminal on several occasions raising awareness of British Sign Language

through their renditions of popular themes. The choir are one of several groups who visit, some take a guided

tour of our facilities. For example, we recently hosted St Vincent’s School for the Blind from Liverpool and Abbots Lea at Matthew Arnold ( Autism Unit) for a familiarisation visit.