Sunflower brings hidden disabilities into focus

If you see staff and students around campus wearing a badge or a lanyard decorated with sunflowers, they are signalling an important message about themselves.

The sunflower logo means they are part of a project, called Hidden Disabilities Sunflower, designed to raise awareness and encourage support in the community for people with physical or psychological disabilities that are invisible.

Wayne Samways, WITT’s Accessibility Coordinator, says WITT is joining the global movement by launching the scheme next week. He believes it will help those who live with a disability to feel more connected, accepted, and able to ask for help.

Hidden disabilities, conditions, and chronic illnesses – physical and psychological – include Autism, asthma, diabetes, and dyslexia to FASD (Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder), epilepsy, Multiple Sclerosis, stuttering, Parkinson’s and more. The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower site has a list of more than 30 conditions.

These conditions may impact a person’s ability to move, communicate, learn, or participate in ways that non-disabled people don’t comprehend. The idea of the sunflower symbol is to convey the wearer has a disability and might need help, understanding or more time in their daily interactions.

“The Sunflower Project is about embracing who we are, wearing a badge with pride and feeling confident and comfortable to be real,” says Wayne.

Being accepted

Wayne has seen firsthand how acceptance can support better outcomes in all aspects of life after his own challenges and a career supporting people with disabilities and different learning needs.

“Acceptance is the first step in acknowledging our differences as people and embracing them,” he says.

He knows kaimahi and ākonga at WITT who have had similar experiences of being misunderstood because of a disability.  That’s why he’s hopeful the project will be a great initiative for the campus as it encourages inclusivity, acceptance and understanding.

About the project

Since its launch in 2016, businesses from every sector have been joining the global Sunflower network - ranging from retail, travel and tourism, transport including over 300 airports - as well as railway networks, coach and bus services and ferries, education (universities, schools and colleges), healthcare, central and local government agencies to football teams, theme parks, theatres and financial institutions.  

He says WITT aligns with the project’s concerns regarding educational barriers for people with disabilities; “In every country, children and young adults with disabilities are less likely than non-disabled children and young adults to leave the education system with qualifications. The academic outcomes for students with disabilities can undoubtedly be improved by working together to strengthen disability inclusion in education.”

As the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower website explains; “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’.”

Why the sunflower?

Without a visual cue, it can be difficult for others to identify, acknowledge, or understand the daily barriers faced by people living with an invisible disability.

Creators of the project say: “We searched for a discreet sign that is clearly visible from a distance as well as being distinctive, joyful, and dynamic. We chose a sunflower as it suggests happiness, positivity, strength as well as growth and confidence and is universally known.” 

Hear Wayne talk about the project next Wednesday lunchtime (30 July at 12.30) at the Te Kāuta mezzanine. You can ask questions and pick up a lanyard or badge if you’re someone with a hidden disability. Everyone welcome.