The National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) is proud to join the Sunflower program!
The National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) is proud to join the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program in support of those with non-visible disabilities within our community. NIDA is dedicated to cultivating a supportive and inclusive environment where our students, staff, and creatives feel valued and understood.
The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower is a program to assist those with disabilities that are not immediately obvious, such as autism, chronic pain, dementia, anxiety, low vision or hearing loss. The program aims to make the invisible visible, by providing a symbol for people to wear that signals their need for additional support, help or a little more time.
NIDA offers a range of services and support systems to ensure that everyone can fully engage in their studies, teaching, and creative practice. Students and faculty can now request complimentary sunflower products to signal that they have a non-obvious disability without having to disclose any personal information.
NIDA’s leadership team is proud to support the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Initiative as part of our ongoing commitment to accessibility, inclusion, and wellbeing in the performing arts.
Andrew Comrie, Director of Learning & Innovation, NIDA says:
Launching the Sunflower Program at NIDA to staff and students in 2025 has been an effective way of raising awareness of hidden disabilities. Already the program is enabling the NIDA community to check in with people wearing the lanyard or pin and it is proving to be a simple but impactful way to progress our culture of care for each other.
Kareena Hodgson, Senior Counsellor, NIDA says:
I am proud to support the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program, which aligns with our core values of inclusion and belonging. This initiative helps foster a culture of understanding, ensuring that students and staff with non-visible disabilities feel seen, supported, and empowered to thrive in their creative and academic pursuits.
Learn more about the Sunflower at NIDA.