As part of Disability History Month, we are re-introducing the Sunflower.
You may have spotted the imagery of the sunflower around uni, maybe you've seen another student sporting a sunflower badge and wondered what it means. This sunflower is actually the globally recognised hidden disability symbol.
Hidden disabilities can include autism, chronic pain, and learning difficulties as well as mental health conditions, mobility, speech impairments, and sensory loss such as speech, sight loss, hearing loss, or deafness and many more conditions.
The sunflower symbol acts as a reminder that although you may not be able to see these invisible impairments and conditions, they are still there. It’s a discrete identifier that the person wearing the sunflower may need support, help, or just a little more time in shops, using transport or in public spaces.
Owen Marques, Vice President (Welfare) says:
Many people choose to wear their heart on their sleeve or in this case, their sunflower, but what does it mean?
The sunflower is a way of an individual showcasing their individuality through a disability. To get to the root of this we have to understand firstly that not all disabilities are visible, and we shouldn't treat anyone less than human.
So let this message blossom and not wilt by misrepresenting its meaning. Not all disabilities are visible.
If you would like a sunflower badge, visit infopoint within the Union Quarter