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Sunflowers seem to be all the rage nowadays. You may have seen them on clothing, accessories and, indeed, lanyards. They crop up more frequently in public spaces, such as airports, hospitals, supermarkets, train stations and workplaces. But what is all the fuss about? Or perhaps more pertinently, what exactly is the Sunflower lanyard’s meaning?
While you may have noticed the green and yellow motif only recently, the symbol has been around since 2016, when Hidden Disabilities launched the Sunflower Lanyard Scheme to help members of the public. An initiative backed by the UK government, the Sunflower lanyard discreetly but visibly indicates that the wearer has a hidden disability and, as such, may require some extra help and support whilst out and about.
This guide covers…
- What the Sunflower Lanyards
- Which Organisations Acknowledge the Sunflower Lanyard
- Important Caveats
- How to Get a Sunflower Lanyard
- The Future
- Conclusion
What is the Sunflower Lanyard?
What do the Sunflower lanyard s mean? Put short and sweet, the sunflower is a globally recognised symbol designed to discreetly signal that the wearer has a hidden disability. This signals to public-facing staff and the general populace that the person in question may need extra support, understanding, accommodations or simply extra time – common examples being direct communication for autistic wearers or navigational support for blind people.
How to Identify Them
The lanyard itself is green with a colourful printed sunflower design, intended to be easily identifiable yet discreet. Its creators, Hidden Disabilities, scoured the world for a sign that could be clearly seen from a distance, as well as being “distinctive, joyful, and dynamic”. They say they settled on the sunflower because “it suggests happiness, positivity, strength, as well as growth and confidence”.
These lanyards are also designed with an attachment or clip to hold ID cards or badges. While these aren’t necessary, having a short sentence describing your own or your colleague's or loved one’s needs can aid communication.
The Sunflower Lanyard’s Meaning
The beauty of the sunflower symbol is that it is many things at once: universally known, gender neutral, and suggestive of resilience and vitality. This means that disabled people can disclose their hidden disability with dignity, without having to share the intimate details of their condition or diagnosis.
Sunflower lanyards also carry a meaning of solidarity, allowing allies to provide support to the wearer, rather than the disabled person putting themself into a potentially vulnerable situation or being forced to answer unwanted, invasive questions. In many workplaces, it’s a powerful symbol of allyship that allows colleagues to share in a sense of solidarity.
Who Can Wear One?
Anyone with a hidden disability, illness, or chronic condition can acquire and wear a Sunflower Lanyard. In fact, according to a 2023 research briefing in parliament, 70-80% of disabilities are invisible in the UK.
Such conditions that bear no obvious physical signs include, but are not limited to:
- Hearing impairments
- Visual impairments
- Autism
- Mental health issues
- Chronic or energy-limiting conditions like PoTs or Long COVID
- Diabetes
- Lung conditions
- Ostomies
- And many, many more, which you can view on the Hidden Disabilities site
An essential thing to point out here is that you do not have to prove your disability to get one. The Sunflower Lanyards system works on both a voluntary and self-identification basis.
What Do Sunflower Lanyards Help With?
We already mentioned that the Sunflower Lanyard’s meaning pertains to hidden disabilities and the discreet communication of additional needs – but what does that look like in practice? Here are just a handful of scenarios to put this helpful tool into context.
Self-Advocacy
As well as serving as a subtle signal that the wearer might need assistance, the sunflower is, by nature, empowering. It encourages proactive support from staff and members of the public, and reduces the need for the wearer to constantly explain their disability, thereby saving them time and precious energy or ‘spoons’ across each interaction.
Since the sunflower symbol takes the form of a lanyard, rather than, say, a card, it’s much simpler and more versatile to use. One of the many benefits of lanyards is that they are safe; most are fitted with a breakaway system, so when pressure is applied, the lanyard releases from the accessory, reducing choking risk when worn around the neck. Likewise, you can attach it to a belt or bag, making it much easier for those with limited mobility or sensory issues.
Support and Understanding
Another role of this unique type of lanyard is that it can help staff understand that the wearer may need more time, help with social distancing, or other forms of support. Take this example from disabled Content Creator and Illustrator, Ella Willis:
Thanks to the Sunflower Lanyard, they were able to receive the support they needed in the busy, often overstimulating environment of Newcastle Airport.
Increased Awareness
The Sunflower Lanyard Scheme has done so much over the last decade to raise awareness of hidden disabilities and promote accessibility and inclusion.
Since its launch in 2016, huge organisations have become members of the scheme, from the UK’s rail network to NHS trusts and airports around the world. With the world’s growing understanding of long-term illnesses and disabilities following the COVID-19 pandemic, their recognition has only exploded.
This increased awareness has helped foster a more inclusive environment where people with non-visible conditions are less likely to experience judgment and discrimination.
Where are They Acknowledged?
UK airports were the first to introduce the scheme, and after it proved hugely successful, other transport providers followed suit. It was so popular that Manchester Airport now has its own Sunflower room – a space for disabled and chronically ill travellers who require quiet and space away from the hubbub of the main airport.
Most retailers are now either part of the scheme or acknowledge the Sunflower lanyard. If you are in doubt, please ring the store you are visiting ahead of time to double-check their policy. Other environments where the Sunflower Lanyard is typically used include:
- Major supermarkets and shopping centres
- Hospitals and GPs
- Cinemas and visitor attractions
- Banks
- Sports venues and arenas
Important Caveats
Despite the above, it’s important to specify that wearing the lanyard doesn't guarantee any specific service. That said, it can make it easier to ask for what you need. Similarly, the lanyard doesn't identify your specific disability or how to help, so you may need to fill the staff member in during your conversation. Finally, while the sunflower lanyard is recognised in many countries across various sectors, including travel, healthcare, and retail, not every environment will have a comprehensive understanding of the scheme.
How to Get A Sunflower Lanyard
The sunflower lanyard can be found, free of charge, at the customer service desk of the big four supermarkets, Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury's and Tesco. They can also be found at some larger retailers such as Marks and Spencer.
If you are due to fly, they are available from most airport assistance desks, or you can contact the airport before you travel to confirm they are indeed part of the scheme.
If you prefer to support the Hidden Disabilities charity directly, are self-isolating, or would just rather have one delivered to your home, you can find lanyards for purchase from the Hidden Disabilities website. Please be aware that the sunflower lanyards are only for sale by the charities that are members of the Hidden Disabilities scheme. They should be freely available at other stores.
The Future of the Sunflower Lanyards Scheme
The future of sunflower lanyards is looking bright. As more and more UK organisations and global entities pledge to the scheme, the greater the access, inclusion and support disabled people can achieve.
One recent indicator of this positive change came from an unexpected source, Lego. Just last year, the toy company released a line of characters who wear the sunflower lanyard to celebrate its new membership in the scheme, joining a list of hundreds of airports and businesses both large and small.
Recapping On the Sunflower Lanyard’s Meaning + Next Steps
So, what do the sunflower lanyards mean? At their core, these bright green and yellow lanyards represent understanding, compassion and inclusion for people with hidden disabilities. They serve as a simple yet powerful signal that the wearer may need extra time, support or patience.
If you’d like to learn more about lanyards and their uses, explore the Only Lanyards blog for more helpful guides and insights. And if you or someone you know could benefit from wearing one, you can order an official Sunflower Lanyard directly from the Hidden Disabilities website to show your participation in this important scheme. By understanding and recognising the sunflower symbol, we can all help society take a step closer to being truly equitable and inclusive.