Sunflower Seeds
Team members: Sarah Castle, Ana Corson, Grayson Dorr, Cindi May, Kyra Morris, Mikell Richards, Chris Richardson, Holly Whitfield
People with disabilities are the largest minority in the United States, and, globally, one in seven people have a disability. Sometimes, we can identify disabilities easily like when noticing someone who may be visually impaired, be using a wheelchair, or have Down Syndrome. However, there are many disabilities we cannot easily identify without getting to know a person, including autism, hearing impairment, PTSD, Alzheimer’s disease, and others – these are considered hidden disabilities.
Our team chose to focus on building awareness for and driving impact to support people with disabilities in the Lowcountry. After conducting research, our team became aware of the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program. This program is designed to support individuals who have hidden disabilities and might benefit from additional support, patience, and understanding in navigating their environment. Originally implemented in airports, this program is now recognized across the globe and in a wide range of sectors, including retail, universities, theme parks, supermarkets, theaters, and healthcare. It is a low-cost, simple program that is straightforward in its execution. With this program individuals with hidden disabilities can opt to wear a distinctive lanyard or bracelet, available at all participating organizations, so that employees can offer them extra time, patience, and support. Employees go through a short video training that helps them understand the details of the program and the ‘why’ behind it.
After learning about the Sunflower Program, our team chose to be a catalyst for the expansion of this program in the Charleston region. We started by collecting data and learnings from airports across the US that had recently implemented the program. We determined there was an opportunity to create a guide to support organizations in preparing for, executing, and sustaining the launch of the program. We distilled the collective learnings we gathered into a playbook that answers frequently asked questions and offers step-by-step guidelines for launching the Sunflower Program.
Our initial plan was to pitch the program to the Charleston International Airport and partner on the execution. We were fortunate to learn that the Charleston Airport, along with the airports in Columbia, Myrtle Beach, and Greenville, were already considering the program. We decided to broaden our impact and, using the playbook, we connected with local organizations including museums, hotels, sports and tourist venues. Our focus was organizations that had high traffic and were likely tourist destinations. If those organizations launched the Sunflower Program, we could expect a ripple effect of adoption across Charleston and the wider region! To date, we have commitments from three organizations to launch the program in Q1 2023 and we will continue to promote the program beyond the duration of the Diversity Leaders Initiative.
We believe the Sunflower Program will differentiate organizations (and our region) by making them a great place for all people to visit, and we are excited to see it take root in the Charleston region and beyond. If you are interested in learning more, go to the Hidden Disabilities US website: https://hiddendisabilitiesstore.com/us/.