Some disabilities, conditions or chronic illnesses are not immediately obvious to others.
For some people, this can make it hard to understand and believe that someone, with a “non-visible” condition genuinely needs support. Some people question whether you have a disability because you don’t “look like you have a disability”.
That’s why the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower programme was created – to encourage inclusivity, acceptance and understanding.
At Otago Polytechnic, we believe in creating a welcoming space for everyone.
That’s why we’ve joined the Sunflower programme and are training our staff to be able to provide official Sunflower support.
Globally 1 in 6 of us live with a disability. That’s approximately 1.3 billion people.
And only 17% of people with a disability were born with their disability.
But while some of us experience a disability that is visible, many have a non-visible condition or experience a combination of both visible and non-visible conditions.
These disabilities can be temporary, situational or permanent. They can be neurological, cognitive and neurodevelopmental as well as physical, visual, auditory and include sensory and processing difficulties. They can also be respiratory as well as chronic health conditions such as arthritis and diabetes, chronic pain and sleep disorders.
The Sunflower programme is all about making these invisible conditions visible.
As diverse as these conditions are, so are each individual’s access needs, and the barriers faced in daily life.
So, someone experiencing a hidden disability can opt to wear the Sunflower to discreetly be seen in shops, at work, on transport, or in public spaces.
The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower programme is a globally-recognised scheme, where people can wear a sunflower lanyard, badge or wristband to discretely signal that they may need additional understanding, time and support.
It is a simple and widely recognised tool for you to share that you have a hidden disability and are happy for people to know that.
Since its launch in 2016, businesses from every sector have been joining the global Sunflower network. The Sunflower has now been launched in Australia, Brazil, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Ireland, Latin America, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the UK, the UAE and the USA.
You can find Sunflower-friendly places near you using this Sunflower Map.
Check out the video below for more info about the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower programme.
You don’t need to share what your disability is to get a Sunflower lanyard.
There is no qualifying list of invisible disabilities – you simply choose to wear the Sunflower to indicate that you may need additional support, help or simply a little more time.
No, it’s up to you to choose when to wear the Sunflower.
Hidden disabilities can be situational e.g. a nut allergy. Some may be temporary e.g. a broken ankle. And some are permanent but do not present all the time e.g. migraines or Crohn’s disease.
You can carry the Sunflower with you so you can decide when you want to wear it to show that you need additional support, understanding or time.
To collect your green-branded Sunflower lanyard, head to the Student Support desk in The Hub. You can also collect a Sunflower lanyard from our Māori Support Centre, Te Pūnaka Ōwheo, also in The Hub, or from Te Pā Tauira, our Student Village.
If you need support with this or want to ask any questions first, please email studentsuccessdn@op.ac.nz
Please note: The Sunflower lanyards are currently very popular so we may need to take your name and contact details if we’re run out of stock and get this to you when we get a new delivery.
No, you can get a Sunflower lanyard for free from Otago Polytechnic as we’re a Sunflower Member.
If you want additional items, or want your Sunflower items delivered to you, you can check out the official Sunflower shop.
We know you might want to chat to someone about whether the Sunflower programme is right for you.
Please reach out to our Student Support team.
Email: studentsuccessdn@op.ac.nz
Phone: 0800 762 786 (and ask to speak to the Student Support team).
