Sunflower Initiative

Excited to share that the Sunflower Initiative is being introduced at our university! This program is all about raising awareness and offering support for students and staff with hidden disabilities.

The sunflower is an internationally recognized symbol for non-visible conditions such as autism, chronic illness, or mental health conditions. When you see someone wearing or displaying a sunflower, it’s a gentle way of saying: I may need a bit of extra understanding or support.

What’s the goal of this initiative?

We want to help colleagues:

• understand what the sunflower stands for
• learn about the many types of hidden disabilities
• know how to respond when someone may need extra assistance
• become Sunflower ambassadors across our University

Training and recognition

Everyone who completes the awareness training will receive:

• a certificate
• a sunflower supporter lanyard
• a sunflower sticker for your office door or desk to show your support

What this means for our community

• students and staff can choose to wear or display a sunflower if they would like to discreetly share their needs
• sunflower symbols in offices or service points will represent supportive spaces
• awareness training and resources will be available to help us all respond appropriately to individuals who may need assistance

This initiative is part of our ongoing commitment to making our campus more inclusive and supportive for everyone.