Sunflower cord will signal hidden deficiency – 07/25/2023 – Health

Making the invisible visible is one of the missions of the sunflower necklace approved on the 17th as a national identification symbol for people with hidden disabilities. The others are to foster empathy, respect and, above all, education and awareness of differences.

The law establishing the symbol was sanctioned by Vice President Geraldo Alckmin (PSB) and establishes that the use of the cord is optional and its absence does not affect the exercise of rights and guarantees provided for by law.

The text, incorporated into the Statute of Persons with Disabilities, also states that the use of the item does not exempt the presentation of a document that proves the disability in case of request by the attendant or by the competent authority —a fundamental measure to avoid indiscriminate use, according to Flavia Callafange, director of Hidden Disabilities Sunflower in Latin America.

The company represents the cause of hidden disabilities in different countries and is responsible for promoting the symbol, created in 2016 based on a demand from the staff at Gatwick airport, in England.

The employees wanted something that passengers with hidden disabilities could use to signal the need for special attention and, after meetings with entities dedicated to the care of people with autism and Alzheimer’s, they arrived at the model: a green cord with sunflowers that represent confidence, growth and strength, in addition to transmitting happiness and positivity.

“The cord itself does not give you a place in the queue and does not guarantee rights. It serves to ask for empathy, respect and patience”, emphasizes Callafange.

The executive became aware of the potential of the symbol at the end of last year, when traveling by plane with her daughter and receiving a lanyard from the airline. “She has autism, she is very agitated and the passengers ended up complaining. This time, however, they looked at her and smiled, they talked to her.”

After the experience, Callafange wanted to meet HD Sunflower and became a company representative. In recent months, she has been going to Brasilia to publicize the original project and working to close partnerships with airports, airlines and parks.

The proposal is that companies train their employees to serve people with hidden disabilities and deliver the lanyard free of charge to customers with these conditions.

“When I came in, I was looking at my daughter, at autism, but it’s a universe. The others, those who have invisible disabilities, are many.”

On the list are conditions such as ASD (autistic spectrum disorder), cancer, asthma, anxiety disorder, anosmia (loss of smell), bipolar disorder, epilepsy, cystic fibrosis, fibromyalgia and multiple sclerosis.

Schizophrenia, dyspraxia, Crohn’s disease, lupus, Lyme disease and dysautonomia (disorder that affects the autonomic nervous system, affecting heartbeat and breathing) are also part of the relationship.

“I live with dysautonomia and faced discouraging comments from some people due to my condition,” wrote Miss World Chile 2022, Ambar Zenteno, when posting a photo with the string of sunflowers next to Callafange.

Influencer Ivan Baron also used social media to publicize the symbol. “Now we need this information to reach more people, society to learn why this cord is used and thus respect it.”