Costa Rica Airport Adds Support for Hidden Disabilities

Getting through an airport can be overwhelming for anyone, but for travelers with hidden disabilities like autism, anxiety, chronic pain, or sensory conditions, it can feel impossible.

Costa Rica's main international airport just made that journey a little easier. Juan Santamaría International Airport in San José now offers the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program, giving passengers with non-visible disabilities a discreet way to signal they might need extra support.

The program works through a simple sunflower symbol worn as a lanyard or badge. When airport staff see it, they know the traveler may need more time, clearer instructions, or a calmer interaction. There's no public labeling or uncomfortable explanations required at every checkpoint.

Passengers can pick up the sunflower identifier at the information desk in International Departures by showing their passport and boarding pass. Airport staff received special training to recognize the symbol and respond with appropriate support. New signage throughout the terminal helps everyone understand what the sunflower means.

The timing matters because Juan Santamaría serves as the main entry point for most international visitors to Costa Rica. Crowded security lines, immigration procedures, bright lights, loud announcements, and unexpected delays create extra pressure for people whose disabilities aren't immediately visible.

The Ripple Effect

One in six people globally lives with some form of disability, and many of those disabilities are invisible. What started at London Gatwick Airport in 2016 has now spread to over 340 airports in more than 70 countries. Each new airport that joins helps normalize support for hidden disabilities and reduces the isolation travelers feel.

The sunflower program joins Juan Santamaría's existing accessibility services, which already include wheelchair transfers, adapted bathrooms, accessible parking, and priority immigration lines. But this program fills a gap for travelers whose needs aren't obvious but are just as real.

It doesn't replace formal assistance requests through airlines. Passengers who need specific accommodations should still contact their airline before flying. The sunflower simply adds another layer of understanding in a space where stress builds quickly, especially during high season or early morning departures.

For thousands of travelers moving through Costa Rica each day, this small symbol represents something bigger: recognition that not all challenges are visible, and compassion doesn't require a detailed explanation.