The HDS x CACIC COLLABORATIVE Sunflower Lanyard
A Statement of Visibility, Empowerment, Accessibility, and Inclusion
Accessibility Without Fear
Fear of judgment or being misunderstood often leads autistic individuals and their families to avoid social settings. We have heard first-hand from many Chinese families about the discrimination they face every day in public places e.g., on buses, in shops and in restaurants.
Cultural expectations often place immense pressure on families to conform, making it difficult for autistic individuals to advocate for themselves, and as such, many autistic individuals and their families struggle with communicating their needs, especially in public spaces where autism is not widely acknowledged; this is made even more difficult with language barriers. Many struggle to explain their situation, leaving them feeling ashamed and further isolated.
We want to empower Chinese families to be able to access public spaces safely and confidently without fear of discrimination or judgement, and without having to make explanations or apologize for their non-visible disability knowing that their needs are acknowledged and respected.
The Stigma of Autism in Chinese Communities
In Chinese culture, autism remains heavily stigmatised. The Mandarin term for autism, “gūdúzhèng” (孤独症), translates literally to “loneliness disease,” reinforcing the harmful perception that autism is inherently negative, and even contagious! This harmful misconception often leads to shame, isolation, and social exclusion for neurodivergent individuals and their whole families.
Furthermore, when combined with systemic barriers such as unstable immigration status and English as an Additional Language, many Chinese families face multiple layers of discrimination. This, in turn, erodes their confidence and limits their ability to seek social and financial support.
Why did we choose HDS?
The Sunflower Scheme is a globally recognised initiative that invites individuals with non-visible disabilities to wear a sunflower lanyard to make public spaces more accessible to them. It is already widely used in airports, on public transport, in workplaces, and in retail environments.
However, awareness of this remains extremely limited within the UK Chinese community, and we passionately felt that this needed to change.
Introducing the sunflower lanyard to Chinese neurodivergents and their families as a symbol of empowerment and positivity will allow them to navigate public spaces with greater confidence and without fear, feeling assured that others recognise their needs and are ready to offer extra assistance, patience, or understanding when it matters most.
Our Collaboration with Hidden Disabilities Sunflower (HDS)
Together, we’ve created a bilingual HDS x CACIC Sunflower Lanyard, tailored specifically for the Chinese-speaking autistic community. It serves as a bridge between cultural understanding and global accessibility, reinforcing that autism is something to be accepted, not hidden.
At CACIC, we are committed to breaking down barriers and advocating for a world where neurodivergent people can thrive without fear, exclusion, or judgment. By introducing the Sunflower Lanyard, we are challenging deep-rooted misconceptions and fostering a culture where autism is recognised with dignity and acceptance regardless of cultural background or language.
This initiative not only helps to raise awareness for the general public, but also encourages businesses, transport hubs, and institutions to actively support autistic individuals, helping create a more inclusive society where accessibility is the norm, not an afterthought.
Donate to support this initiative, receive your lanyard and make a difference.
Driving Change and Empowering Lives
We believe that no one should feel isolated due to cultural misconceptions. Our collaboration with HDS is a testament to our mission to advocate, educate, and empower. The new Sunflower Lanyard initiative is a crucial step toward dismantling stigma, promoting accessibility, and fostering well-being.
By using the lanyard, we hope individuals with non-visible disabilities can navigate public spaces with greater confidence and ease, even when facing language barriers or feelings of shame about being neurodivergent, knowing that others recognise their needs and are ready to offer support.
How can you get involved?
This collaboration is a crucial step towards increasing accessibility and changing the cultural perception of autism. We are committed to fostering a truly inclusive society that embraces neurodiversity and ensures that everyone has access to opportunities to participate fully in their communities – but we really need your help!
Donate – head to our Local Giving page, where you can donate to help us support families in need, and/or purchase an exclusive HDS x CACIC lanyard! Any amount you can give is so greatly appreciated and will help to make such a difference to many people’s lives.
Spread the word – Tell people you know about what we are doing and encourage them to tell others too! Raising awareness is just as valuable and important as raising donations.
Follow us on social media – we have platforms on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn, where you can get the latest updates and exciting news as soon as we release it!
Sign up to our periodic newsletter – You can keep up to date with exciting news as soon as we release it!
Partner with us – If you’re part of a community group or organisation, we’d love to hear from you about potential future collaborations!
Volunteer with us – if you are someone who is passionate and full of ideas about how you can help, we would love to hear from you!
Get in touch – to learn more about this collaboration and how you can play a part e.g. if you are a business looking to increase awareness and make your space more accessible for autistic people and their families, get in touch with us at hello@chineseautism.org.uk
Frequently asked questions
What is a ‘Hidden Disability’?
Some disabilities, conditions or chronic illnesses are not immediately obvious or apparent to others. For some people, this can make it hard to understand and believe that someone, with a ‘non-visible’ condition genuinely needs support. Some people question whether you have a disability because you don’t look ‘like you have a disability”, which can lead to misunderstandings, false perceptions, and judgments.
A hidden disability is a physical, mental, or neurological condition that is not always visible from the outside, yet can limit or challenge a person’s movements, senses, or activities. These can be temporary, situational, or permanent. They can be neurological, cognitive and neurodevelopmental as well as physical, visual, auditory and including sensory and processing difficulties. They also include respiratory, rare diseases and chronic conditions.
Some examples of non-visible disabilities can be found here: https://hdsunflower.com/uk/insights/category/invisible-disabilities
What is the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower?
It is a simple tool for you to share that you have a hidden disability voluntarily. Simply by wearing the Sunflower, you’re just letting everyone know that you might need extra help, understanding, or just more time. It was created to encourage inclusivity, acceptance and understanding.
What is the significance of a sunflower?
This discreet yet impactful sign is clearly visible from a distance, as well as being distinctive, joyful, and dynamic. A sunflower suggests happiness, positivity, strength as well as growth and confidence, and is universally known. Without a visual cue, it can be difficult for others to identify, acknowledge, or understand the daily barriers faced by people living with an invisible disability.
Where can I use it?
Since its launch in 2016, businesses from every sector have been joining the global Sunflower network – ranging from retail, travel and tourism, transport including over 200 airports – as well as railway networks, coach and bus services and ferries, education (universities, schools and colleges), healthcare, central and local government agencies to football teams, theme parks, theatres and financial institutions.
The Sunflower has now been launched locally in Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Ireland, Latin America, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the UK, the UAE and the USA. Find out where it is known near you using the Sunflower map
Do I need to explain why I am wearing the sunflower lanyard to get support?
No. The Sunflower symbol simply triggers a simple question ‘how can I help you?’ to focus on the support or understanding you need. Simply by wearing the Sunflower, you’re letting everyone know that you might need extra help, understanding, or just more time.
Do I have to wear the Sunflower lanyard all the time?
No, there is no pressure to wear a lanyard. Hidden disabilities can be situational (e.g., nut allergy); some are temporary (e.g., a hip operation) or an injury (e.g., broken ankle); some are ‘dynamic’ (e.g. Fibromyalgia – sometimes this may require a mobility aid, but other times it might not be needed); some are permanent but do not present all the time (e.g., migraines or Crohn’s disease). Carry it with you so you can decide when you want to wear it to show that you need additional support, understanding or time.
What if my child refuses to wear a lanyard?
That’s totally ok, they don’t have to wear one. Even if just one parent/person/carer wears it when accessing a public space with your child, it will still be just as effective.
Do I have to share what my disability is to justify the support I need when I wear Sunflower lanyard?
No – you don’t have to share anything with anyone if you are not feeling comfortable to. There is no qualifying list of invisible disabilities – you simply choose to wear the Sunflower to indicate that you may need additional support, help or simply a little more time.
Donate To support this initiative, receive your lanyard and make a difference.
Make a donation
If you would like to help Chinese Autism, you can make a donation by following the link below. Thank you !