A hidden disability, otherwise known as an invisible or non-visible disability, is defined as a disability that is not immediately apparrent. This includes disabilities such as autism, epilepsy, diabetes, alzheimers, tourettes, and that is only scratching the surface. It is estimated that 80% of disabled people have an invisible disability. And yet, if you asked any average person to immediately imagine a disabled person, they'd likely imagine someone in a wheelchair.

The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower is a program founded in the UK, with the aim of increasing awareness, acceptance and accessibility to those with hidden disabilities. When a business becomes a member of the program, they receive sunflower lanyards to provide at no cost to those who request them, as well as full training materials to certify their staff on recognizing and understanding the sunflower and hidden disabilities, and how to support those with them.

I believe in the importance of this program for Bethel Park, and for those with hidden disabilities as a whole, because making what is invisible, visible, can help make simply living life so much more accessible. Those trained to recognize the Sunflower will provide those wearing it with extra patience, support and understanding. The lanyards also have ID cards where the user can provide additional information, such as the specific disability they have, an emergency contact, and life-saving info like medications, allergies, and support needs. This information can be crucial in securing the safety of a disabled person who may be unable to respond or advocate for themselves in an emergency medical situation, or police encounters where their behavior may be otherwise mistaken as "non-compliance" or "resisting" if the sunflower wearer is non-verbal or confused.

The Sunflower began as a way to bring accessibility to travel in the UK, and has expanded to many airports in the US, as well as our Pittsburgh International Airport, but the disabled are affected by their disabilities every single day. We can bring accessibility to Bethel Park by encouraging public places such as the local library, police department, and community center to become members of the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower. Learn more about the program from their official website.