Sunflower program could support those with hidden disabilities in Nanaimo

Stuart (pictured) said if the City starts to incorporate the sunflower symbol at its own facilities, it may encourage other local businesses or organizations to join as well. (Lauryn Mackenzie / CHLY 101.7FM)

Local non-profits are encouraging the City of Nanaimo to join an internationally recognized program to support people with hidden disabilities. 

The Hidden Disability Sunflower Network first launched at Gatwick Airport in London, England in 2016. Created by the airport and other local charities, the program allows people with non-apparent, or “hidden,” disabilities to wear a green lanyard with bright yellow sunflowers to show that they may need extra support or care when in the airport.

The program was quickly picked up by other organizations and airports around the world, who hand out the sunflower lanyards and train staff on how to support those with disabilities.

In 2022, the Nanaimo Airport joined the network of those using the sunflower lanyard.

Now two local organizations that support people with developmental disabilities are encouraging the City of Nanaimo to join the network and adopt the Sunflower symbol at City-owned facilities.

“I read recently that the City of Squamish, in their tourism offices, have adopted the symbol as well, and have adopted the programme, and it made me think that different cities and different types of businesses could also adopt the programme,” said Alexandria Stuart, Executive Director at Clay Tree Society.

Stuart said she and her family know the Sunflower program very well.

Her son has a hidden disability and wears the sunflower in airports when traveling. She said it leads to extra support when getting around, such as assistance in security and more time and understanding from airline staff.

She describes a hidden disability.

“A hidden disability can be any number of things. It can be neurological or developmental disability, intellectual disabilities, also traumatic brain injuries, and things like dyslexia, other types of cognitive disabilities,” Stuart said. “Anything that isn't necessarily apparent when you look at a person, but still requires support, and can still benefit from supports of different types.”

Knowing how it could benefit people throughout Nanaimo, Clay Tree Society teamed up with Nanaimo Association for Community Living to write a letter to the City’s Advisory Committee on Accessibility and Inclusiveness earlier this month. The letter encouraged the City of Nanaimo to consider joining the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Network and adopting the Sunflower symbol at City-owned facilities.

“I wrote a letter to the City of Nanaimo to see if they would consider adopting the symbol in city-owned facilities, including tourism,” she said. “That would signal to people that Nanaimo is a city where it is safe and safe to come, welcoming for people with invisible disabilities, and really, it's about increasing accessibility across the board.”

She said they would like to see the program adopted in facilities like the Nanaimo Aquatic Centre, Beban Park, and Oliver Woods Community Centre where staff would be trained to recognize that anyone wearing a lanyard may need extra support or time.

Stuart said if the City starts to incorporate the sunflower symbol at its own facilities, it may encourage other local businesses or organizations to join as well.

“It's like a ripple in the pond. So right now we're seeing the lanyard adopted mostly in transportation, such as airports, but extending that into city facilities and possibly extending that into different retail facilities,” she said. “Ultimately it could become a very widely recognized symbol that would just improve accessibility and inclusiveness for everyone across the town.”

From being with her son, Stuart said she knows what it could be like for someone with a hidden disability to enter into stores.

“When I'm in community with an individual who has different types of support needs and and their disability isn't necessarily visible, when you, for instance, go into a store and if you're with a person who maybe wears a ball cap and sunglasses inside because they have a sensory sensitivity, sometimes the way that people present outwardly would cause suspicion,” she said. “Especially in a town that's grappling with social disorder, the way that Nanaimo is at times, unfortunately, you do get suspicion sometimes going into businesses and retail shops.”

She said something like the sunflower symbol could help shopkeepers, retail clerks, and security to recognise that someone has a hidden disability.

Sean Enns is the Integrated Services Manager for Nanaimo Association for Community Living.

He is very supportive of the Sunflower lanyards and understands how they can be beneficial for many people in Nanaimo.

“So rather than wearing a label that says ‘I'm a person with a disability,’ which comes with its own stigma because we do still stigmatize disability in a lot of ways and treat people differently,” Enns said. “The sunflower just sort of identifies that you are a person who may need support from time to time.”

Enns said adopting this program throughout Nanaimo would encourage people to take some accountability in making sure everyone feels supported.

“Whether you're a business or a recreation facility, or a city-owned space, whatever you are, we are all part of a community. We all live here together,” he said. “I think within our neighbourhoods, we all want to be of support, not just to our families, but to the people around us, to our friends, our neighbours, and this is a system that sort of lends itself well to that.”

He said if different organizations or businesses were to adopt the Sunflower program, the Hidden Disability Sunflower Network offers online training so staff are knowledgeable and comfortable helping someone who may need extra support.

“What I would love, ultimately, is that if someone whom we support is out in the world and maybe on their own and feeling distressed, if they've got this sunflower, that they're not alone,” he said. “That someone will see it. Someone will know what to do and step in and help them.”

Enns said if the City and other businesses were to join the network and display support for the sunflower lanyard, it would start conversations around how not all disabilities look the same and how to be supportive of everyone in their community.

“One in four people experience disability on some level. Many of those are hidden or seem invisible,” Enns said. “It doesn't mean people don't have challenges and barriers that they need support from time to time. Certainly not everyone does, but I think just raising awareness, I believe this will go a long way.”

In an email to CHLY, the City of Nanaimo said  the letter from Clay Tree Society and NACL has been received by Nanaimo city council and “It will be up to Council to decide next steps once the report is prepared and brought forward to them after the research is done and there are more answers provided.” 

Those seeking more information about the Sunflower program can find it at hdsunflower.com/ca/.

Funding Note: This story was produced with funding support from the Local Journalism Initiative, administered by the Community Radio Fund of Canada.

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