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Shedding Light on Hidden Disabilities: The Sunflower Movement

Living with a hidden disability can be an isolating experience. Many people face daily challenges that are not immediately visible to others, making it difficult to receive the understanding and support they need. The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower scheme, launched in 2016, has become a lifeline for individuals with non-visible disabilities. The sunflower lanyard, now recognized globally, offers a simple yet powerful way for people to signal their need for assistance in public spaces.

At CHANGE, we have seen first-hand the positive impact of the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower scheme. Our members, many of whom live with hidden disabilities, have shared stories of how the sunflower lanyard has made their lives easier and more comfortable. It has opened doors to empathy and understanding, allowing them to navigate the world with greater confidence.

What the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower says

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 is why we created the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower - to encourage inclusivity, acceptance and understanding.

It is a simple tool for you to share that you have a hidden disability voluntarily. Simply by wearing the Sunflower, you’re just letting everyone know that you might need extra help, understanding, or just more time.

CHANGE’s perspective on the Sunflower movement

We believe that the Sunflower Movement is a crucial step towards creating a more inclusive society. By raising awareness and fostering understanding, the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower charity helps break down barriers and build a community where everyone feels supported. At CHANGE, we are proud to support this initiative promote the visibility and acceptance of hidden disabilities. In honour of the Sunflower Movement and with their permission, CHANGE has created three new designs that are available in our annual Easy Read Image Bank subscription and are also free to download.

Hear personal stories from our team:

To bring the Sunflower Movement to life, two of our own team members, Heather and Cheryl, share their deeply personal experiences. Their stories offer a powerful testament to the difference the Sunflower lanyard makes in fostering understanding and enabling greater independence in everyday situations:

• Embracing the Yellow Sunflower: Cheryl's Journey with the Hidden Disability Scheme and Autism

• Hidden Disabilities: Heather's Experience Using a Sunflower Lanyard

CHANGE’s view of hidden disabilities and representation

Visually representing people with hidden disabilities can be challenging, CHANGE strives to provide representation of all people within its imagery. Our image bank includes a range of people with different ethnicities, religions, ages, and disabilities. We hope that everyone feels that they are represented and include within our images.

CHANGE’s Image Bank

If you would like to create your own Easy Read information that portrays a diverse range of people with professionally designed images, subscribe to our Image Bank. You get access to a template, guide, video tutorials, and over 2000 hand-drawn high quality images showcasing a diverse and inclusive range of people, enabling you to create your own high quality easy read content.