Globally, 1 in 7 of us live with some form of disability. That’s more than 1 billion people with disabilities and they are the world’s largest minority group.
While some experience a disability that is visible, for many it is not visible. These can be physical, visual and auditory as well as cognitive, learning and neurological such as autism, Asperger syndrome, dementia and mental health conditions. They also include visual and auditory disabilities as well respiratory and chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes, chronic pain and sleep disorders when these significantly impact day-to-day life. And often, many people experience a combination of both visible and non-visible disabilities.
So although you may not be able to see them, they’re still there. They affect each person in different ways but because they are not immediately apparent, these disabilities are often overlooked and misunderstood. People living with them often face barriers in their daily lives which means they are denied the opportunity to live their lives to the full.
Making the invisible, visible
The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower helps to highlight the issues and barriers that people face whose disability is not visible. It acts as an awareness tool – someone can choose to wear it to discreetly identify they have a non-visible disability and that they may need support, help, or just a little more time wherever they may travel, work, shop or be entertained
Businesses that join the Sunflower network raise awareness of non-visible disabilities across their workplace. They train all their colleagues to recognise the Sunflower and offer support to those who choose to wear a Sunflower lanyard, badge or wristband. This could simply mean giving Sunflower wearers more time to prepare or process information or using clear verbal language.
We want to see how far Sunflower wearers travel as they explore the world, visit family and friends or carry out business trips. If you wear the Sunflower, add your travel destinations onto our Sunflower map here and share your travel experience on your return on TikTok and Instagram.
The Sunflower in the air
It’s often a misconception that many people living with a disability don’t want to or can’t travel and enjoy tourism. They do and they can.
The Sunflower is now recognised in 156 airports around the world and British Airways and Air New Zealand have joined the Sunflower-friendly network this year. Our aim is for people with non-visible disabilities to be confident to travel independently knowing that they will receive a consistent level of support, care and understanding that they need, at every stage of their journey. From the terminal to boarding the flight, on the flight and arriving at their destination!
And so this year, as the world opens up, we want to see how far Sunflower wearers travel as they explore the world, visit family and friends or carry out business trips. If you wear the Sunflower, add your travel destinations onto our Sunflower map here and share your travel experience on your return on TikTok and Instagram. Don’t forget to tag Hidden Disabilities Sunflower as well as the airlines and airports you used.
The Sunflower is here every day of the year to support those living with invisible disabilities in their communities by raising awareness, expanding the Sunflower-friendly network and sharing stories to help create a more inclusive, understanding society for people with non-visible disabilities
Hdsunflower.com
TikTok: @sunflowerlanyard
Instagram: @sunflowerlanyardscheme
Facebook: @hiddendisabilitiessunflower
Twitter: @sunflwrlanyards
