The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower: building awareness, accessibility, and inclusion for all

For a long time now, people with non-apparent or ‘hidden’ disability have not been well understood due to the absence of obvious visual cues.

Some people may even question whether a person has a disability because “you don’t look like you have a disability” – a statement many people with disability have encountered.

While a great deal of work needs to be done to improve conditions for all people with disability, we hope that by highlighting challenges and discussing ways to support people with non-apparent disability we can raise awareness for the need to improve access and inclusion for all.

What are hidden disabilities?

Of the 4.4 million Australians with disability, there are roughly:

• 30,000 Deaf Aslan language users
• 357,000 people who are blind or have low vision
• 700,000 people who live with a brain injury
• 880,000 people who have a mental or behavioural disorder as their primary disability
• 6 million people who are living with chronic pain.

There are hundreds of types of non-apparent disabilities, such as dementia, mental health conditions, diabetes, Tourette syndrome, cognitive or learning disability, multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, and many others. We currently list over 900 on our website.

Living with a non-apparent disability can add unique challenges to daily life, particularly when others fail to recognise, acknowledge or understand the challenges faced.

The more we are aware of the wide range of non-apparent disabilities, chronic illnesses and health conditions, the more we understand that everyone’s experiences are unique. And because everyone’s experiences are individual to them, the barriers they face, and their access needs are also unique.

There are many barriers for people with non-apparent disabilities. Some are physical, some are related to communication, and some are social, such as discrimination, stigma or a lack of understanding.

So how can we support everyone’s unique needs and navigate these barriers while enabling access and, most importantly, genuine inclusion? The answer is to ensure that people with non-visible disabilities are seen, heard and valued. To start conversations and ensure they lead to inclusive actions, such as needed adjustments (or as we like to call them “improvements”). And finally, to build allies and ally networks.

What is the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program?

The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program was started in 2016 by a few passionate advocates at Gatwick Airport UK who wanted to better support travellers with disability. Eight years later, the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower is now a globally recognised symbol, just like the wheelchair icon, for accessibility.

Wearing the sunflower icon allows people to voluntarily let others know they might need extra help, understanding or just more time. It cuts through the barrier of invisibility and promotes awareness, inclusion and understanding and shifts the focus from disability to requirements.

Meanwhile, Hidden Disabilities Sunflower’s training program enables customer-facing staff across the country to recognise the sunflower icon and provide support in a way that is both respectful and inclusive. It also normalises conversations around access and support in the workplace, raises awareness of the variety of non-apparent disabilities, and builds an understanding of the accessibility challenges that many people face.

Our goal at Hidden Disabilities Sunflower is to enable people with non-apparent disabilities to fully participate in society and receive a consistent level of support and understanding at every stage of their day – whether that’s in the workplace, travelling, shopping, accessing services, exercising or during leisure activities. Together, we can create spaces where everyone feels seen, valued, and empowered to participate fully in all aspects of life.