Raising awareness of the Sunflower and hidden disabilities means that more people will be aware that some of us live with a hidden disability and can face challenges in our daily lives. Let's make sure everyone knows that the Sunflower is there to indicate that someone who has chosen to wear it may need some additional support, understanding or a little more time and to always be shown kindness. Find out what we're doing here.
Together, let's raise
awareness about the Sunflower
How can you help?
We’re often asked, “How can I help raise awareness of the Sunflower?” However big or small, your help moves us closer to a society where people recognise that someone who has chosen to wear the Sunflower is living with an invisible disability and that an offer of help, understanding and kindness can make a huge difference to their daily experiences.
Our wearers, members and supporters are the voice of Hidden Disabilities Sunflower and we have put together five ways you can get the word out!
1. The digital Sunflower | 2. Things to download and share | 3. Share your Sunflower stories | 4. Post our videos | 5. Wear 'I support the Sunflower'
The digital Sunflower
The pandemic means that we have all had to meet and communicate far more online - whether it is to catch-up with friends and family, for work, or for appointments. How can we make sure this digital world supports Sunflower wearers? When you choose to highlight on an email, your profile or in your online meetings, that you have a hidden disability, or if you want to show your support for the Sunflower, consider using the badges or meeting backgrounds below:
Email and support digital badge (right-click or control-click the image to download)
Meeting backgrounds (right-click or control-click the image to download)
Things to download and share
Download, print and display information about the Sunflower in your window, your community, your workplace.
Awareness posters
A business card to help explain what the Sunflower is for. Print it out and fold it along the dotted line so you can carry it with you!
COVID-19 posters
Share your Sunflower stories
While it’s easy to feel that your story can’t possibly make a meaningful difference, the truth is that it can influence individuals and the wider community. Whether you or someone you care about has a hidden disability and wears the Sunflower, you can empower others living with a hidden disability and encourage people to support them by sharing your experience.
Check out the Sunflower Stories and Conversations and if they have an impact on you, share them with your friends and family.
If you want to share your experience, get in touch with us by emailing us here.
Show you support the Sunflower with our 'I support the Sunflower' range
Wear your ‘I support the Sunflower’ cap with pride so that people know that you support the Sunflower and can ask you about it. If you prefer a car sticker or a keyring to raise awareness, we have those too!
What we're doing
We raise awareness in lots of ways. We help organisations and charities train their colleagues and encourage them to keep training them. We talk about the Sunflower and hidden disabilities ... a LOT. To everyone we know and meet. We publish Sunflower Stories, Sunflower Conversations and build relationships with individuals and groups all across the world.
And we collaborate with organisations and individuals in our campaigns, most recently on International Epilepsy Day 2021 with the Epilepsy Society in the UK to inform about some of the key facts, myth bust and provide some advice on how to help a person having a seizure.
Explore some of our recent campaigns
How much do you know about epilepsy?
We have collaborated with Epilepsy Society to support International Epilepsy Day. Find out some of the key facts, bust some myths and find out how to help a person having a seizure.
Our NHS, Your Sunflower
We are working with the NHS on the vaccine roll-out to support people with hidden disabilities by providing free Hidden Disabilities Sunflower training and products to NHS vaccination centres.
Back to Campus
As students go back to Campus, either as freshers or returning to their studies, we encourage Universities and Colleges to adopt the Sunflower to support those with hidden disabilities.