The City of Waterloo has announced the launch of the Sunflower Lanyard Program, which helps city staff provide prompt help to people with hidden disabilities. The sunflower lanyard is a symbol used by people to voluntarily identify themselves as a person with a hidden disability.

The city launched the program just before the National AccessAbility Week, which began on May 31, becoming the first in the region to do so. This will help the city staff in identifying those with hidden disabilities through their sunflower lanyards and assist them at customer service counters, recreation facilities, libraries, festivals, and events. The program uses an ‘honour system,’ meaning people will not have to explain or show proof of their disability.

The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program started at London Gatwick Airport in 2016 to raise awareness about disabilities that may not be visible to others. The program supports people living with conditions such as brain injuries, chronic pain, hearing or vision loss, autism, mental health challenges, and learning differences. The initiative has grown to more than 300 airports in 70 countries around the world.

Several organizations and municipalities have joined the program in Ontario, including Thunder Bay International Airport and the City of Mississauga, helping create more understanding and accessible spaces for people with hidden disabilities. According to Statistics Canada, “27 per cent of Canadians aged 15 years and older, or eight million people, had one or more disabilities that limited them in their daily activities” in 2022.

For more information on the program, visit the City of Waterloo’s Hidden Disabilities Sunflower webpage.

Source: John Dalusong, CBC