King’s is a member of the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower network. The scheme helps members of our community who have a hidden disability to access the support they need.
Wearing the Sunflower lets people know that you have a hidden disability and might need extra help, understanding or time. Whether or not you choose to wear the Sunflower is completely up to you.
The aim of the scheme is to raise awareness of hidden disabilities, helping to ensure our community is inclusive and welcoming.
Where can I learn more about hidden disabilities and the Sunflower scheme?
Everyone has a part to play in making King’s a safe place for those with hidden disabilities.
You can help by taking our Hidden Disability Sunflower Awareness Training. You’ll get a certificate once you complete the course.
The course explains:
- What a hidden disability is
- What the Hidden Disability Sunflower is
- What to do if you see someone wearing a Sunflower at King's
Important to know: You’ll be asked to give your name at the start of the training. This helps us to keep track of how many people have completed it.
Where can I get a Sunflower?
Sunflower lanyards are free and available to all King's students via our main reception desks and Disability Support & Inclusion drop-ins.
If you ask for one, the member of staff on duty should hand you one with no further questions.
Please visit the following locations to collect your Sunflower lanyard:
- Denmark Hill Campus: WEC & IoPPN receptions
- Strand Campus: Bush House SE Wing & Strand Building receptions
- St Thomas' Campus: Gate 3 Security
- Guy's Campus: Hodgkin's Building reception
- Waterloo Campus: Franklin Wilkins Building
I'd prefer to collect a Sunflower lanyard in private, which Disabilty Support & Inclusion drop-ins offer them?
Our Assistant Disabilty Advisors offer 15-minute drop-in appointments during term time. You can use these meetings to ask for Sunflower lanyard and discuss any other concerns or queries you may have.
For information about when and where the drop-ins take place, please read our article How can I contact the Disability Support & Inclusion team?
What should I do if I see someone wearing a Sunflower Lanyard?
In addition to completing the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Training, you may find the following tips helpful.
Do:
- Recontextualise someone's needs or behaviours once you're aware of their hidden disability or condition
- Be friendly and respectful
- Be prepared to offer assistance, compassion and extra time if needed
- Keep an eye out if the person looks like they may need assistance
- Check how you can help rather than assuming a person's needs, for example by asking, ‘Is there anything I can do to help?’
Do not:
- Loudly call out to people or make a big fuss
- Interrupt wearers to check in on them when they are clearly getting on with something
- Speak to the wearer's assistant rather than to them
- Expect all wearers to have the same needs
- Invade someone's personal space
- Make a big fuss in public places
- Reduce your expectations of someone's ability to achieve
- Ask invasive questions about someone's condition
- Assume that all students with hidden disabilities will choose to wear a lanyard
Can I wear the Sunflower Lanyard instead of my King’s lanyard?
You should always wear your red King's lanyard when you're on campus. However, you can wear your Sunflower lanyard as well at any time.
We’ve decided to keep these as two separate lanyards so that it’s easy for wearers to choose when they want to wear their Sunflower lanyard.
Can I use my Sunflower lanyard outside King’s?
The lanyards are recognised in many spaces outside of King's so please use them whenever is most helpful to you.
You can discover Sunflower friendly locations near to you at the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower website.
Can I have an individualised card to put in my lanyard?
You can purchase an individualised card from the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower shop.