Hidden Disabilities Sunflower

British scheme and company

The scheme uses the sunflower as a symbol for disability

Hidden Disabilities Sunflower is operated by Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Scheme Limited, a private company based in the UK. The company was created in 2016 to help people with hidden disabilities navigate and find help in public places, by providing sunflower lanyards to provide for people with hidden disabilities to signal their need for extra help in public.[1]

## History

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The scheme was created in 2016 by Gatwick Airport and various charities.[2] In April 2019, London North Eastern Railway became the first railway company to recognize the scheme. By July 2020, all British railway companies had adopted the sunflower lanyard scheme as a means for passengers to let staff members know they may need more assistance.[3]

## List of non-visible disabilities

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Hidden disabilities currently lists 912 disabilities, and is open to expanding the list.[4][5]

## Distribution

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Sunflower lanyards and badges can be obtained for free at participating venues or purchased directly from the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower company website.

## Usage

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Sunflower necklace worn with colorful infinity symbol and puzzle necklaces

The sunflower lanyards are intended to let staff members know that the wearer has a hidden disability and as a result may take longer or need extra assistance. Staff members are trained to spot the lanyards and help the wearer.[6]

### Abuse of lanyards

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Hidden Disabilities Sunflower have criticized the resale of their products at inflated costs, and the sale of counterfeit products on websites including Amazon and eBay.[7]

While some with hidden disabilities may be medically exempt from wearing a face covering.[8], there were concerns raised during the COVID-19 pandemic that the lanyards were being abused by non-disabled people solely for the purposes of avoiding wearing a face covering. Such usage has been criticized by Hidden Disabilities Sunflower, who have stated that only people who consider themselves to have a hidden disability (whether diagnosed or not) should wear the lanyard.[9]

## International adoption

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The scheme is being adopted internationally not only by airports, railways, hotels and other transport related organizations, but also by other organizations including, for example, universities, sports clubs, sports stadiums, financial organizations, and more.[10] Hidden Disabilities also offer an interactive route planner on their website.[11]

The list is constantly expanding It has now been adopted by airports in Australia, Bahamas, Belgium, Canada, Caribbean, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, India, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, New Zealand, Peru, Poland, Singapore, Sweden, Turkey, The Netherlands, UAE and the USA, as well as in the UK.[12]

In 2024, Lego announced that they have partnered with Hidden Disabilities Sunflower to produce minifigures with the sunflower lanyard.[13]

Following are just a few examples of scheme participants.

### New Zealand

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In April 2025, Nelson Airport in New Zealand officially joined the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower programme, offering sunflower lanyards to passengers who wish to discreetly indicate they have a hidden disability. More information is available on https://www.nelsonairport.co.nz/hidden-disabilities-sunflower.

### Asia

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In Hong Kong, it has been adopted by Hong Kong International Airport[14] as well as by HSBC Bank.[15]

### North America

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Airports in the United States that have adopted the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower include Tulsa International Airport[16] and Central Illinois Regional Airport.[17]

In Canada, airports that have adopted the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower include Montréal-Trudeau International Airport[18] and Vancouver International Airport.[19]

### South America

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In July 2023, Brazil sanctioned Law No. 14,624, which recognizes the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower as the national symbol for hidden disabilities.[20] This law amends the Brazilian Law for the Inclusion (disability rights) (13.146/15) to provide for the use of the Sunflower lanyard by people with hidden disabilities.[21][22]

### Europe

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In Switzerland, the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower has been introduced on a trial basis by the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) since May 2025 to offer additional support for passengers with invisible disabilities.[23] The initiative is gradually gaining wider social recognition as well, with private organizations offering benefits or supportive services to Sunflower cardholders—for example, discounted cinema entry or educational support services.[24]

## References

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1. ^ "What is the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower?". Hidden Disabilities Sunflower. Archived from the original on 2025-03-22. Retrieved 2025-04-05.
2. ^ O'Donoghue, Sarinah (2021-04-08). "Sunflower lanyards - what are they for?". BBC The Social. Archived from the original on 2025-03-17. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
3. ^ "Our history: Hidden Disabilities Sunflower is a global symbol for non-visible disabilities that you might have seen on a lanyard. A lot of people are familiar with it, but how did it get started?". Hidden Disabilities Sunflower. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
4. ^ "Non-visible disabilities If you cannot find the non-visible disability, condition or chronic illness in the index below, submit it to the list linked here to be added to the index. ". Hidden Disabilities Sunflower. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
5. ^ "How many non-visible disabilities are there? More than you'd think. Let's tell the world about it.". Hidden Disabilities Sunflower. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
6. ^ "Hidden disabilities lanyard scheme launched at Guernsey Airport". ITV News. 2017-12-02. Retrieved 2025-04-05.
7. ^ "Beware of the Sunflower counterfeits". Hidden Disabilities Sunflower. 2021-01-26. Archived from the original on 2021-06-30. Retrieved 2021-06-28.
8. ^ "All of Britain's rail companies to adopt Sunflower lanyard scheme". Rail Technology Magazine. 2020-07-28. Retrieved 2021-06-28.
9. ^ Evans, Paul (2021-01-25). "Concerns over misuse of hidden disabilities 'sunflower lanyard'". Tenby Observer. Archived from the original on 2022-10-12. Retrieved 2021-06-28.
10. ^ "> Insights > News & media". Hidden Disabilities Sunflower. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
11. ^ "Discover Sunflower-friendly places: Search for places that support people with invisible disabilities. This is a space for you to plan days out to shop, travel or be entertained with the Sunflower by your side.". Hidden Disabilities Sunflower. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
12. ^ "Discover Sunflower-friendly places: Search for places that support people with invisible disabilities. This is a space for you to plan days out to shop, travel or be entertained with the Sunflower by your side.". Hidden Disabilities Sunflower. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
13. ^ Wood, Zoe (2024-12-03). "New Lego characters aim to represent hidden disabilities such as autism". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
14. ^ "Special Needs Access: Accessibility for All;;". Hong Kong International Airport. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
15. ^ "Banking with mental health struggles and financial stress > Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Lanyard". HSBC. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
16. ^ "Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Lanyard Program Adopted at Tulsa International Airport". Aviation Pros. 2020-12-16. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
17. ^ Skaggs, Robyn Gautschy (2021-06-18). "Central Illinois Regional Airport has a new way to help people with hidden disabilities". The Pantagraph. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
18. ^ "Montréal-Trudeau International Airport launches the Sunflower". Hidden Disabilities Sunflower. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
19. ^ "Montréal-Trudeau International Airport launches the Sunflower". Vancouver International Airport. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
20. ^ "Norma que institui identificação para pessoas com deficiência oculta completa um ano" [Rule establishing identification for people with hidden disabilities completes one year]. Justiça Eleitoral (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2025-02-21. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
21. ^ Zavarizzi, Gabriella (2024-09-20). "Entenda a relação entre o cordão de girassol e as deficiências ocultas - Portal Drauzio Varella" [Understand the relationship between the sunflower cord and hidden deficiencies - Portal Drauzio Varella]. drauziovarella.uol.com.br (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-12-27.
22. ^ "Cordão de girassóis: saiba o que significa acessório para pessoas com deficiências ocultas". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2023-12-04. Retrieved 2024-12-27.
23. ^ "Autismus und Reisen: Warum das Sunflower Lanyard auch in Zürich nötig ist". mathe-helden.ch. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
24. ^ "Sunflower Lanyard Rabatt - 10% auf Nachhilfe für Menschen mit unsichtbaren Behinderungen | Mathehelden". mathe-helden.ch. Retrieved 2025-06-18.

## External links

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* Official website