To help make Ogden, Utah a more accessible and positive place for all to explore, Visit Ogden joins the global Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program, empowering people with non-visible disabilities throughout the community.
Participants in the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program display a Sunflower lanyard or other Sunflower product, which serves as a visual cue for trained staff to provide additional kindness, patience, and respect. The program has been adopted by a wide range of organizations, including retail stores, transportation hubs, universities, schools, and colleges, with the goal of creating more inclusive and accessible environments for individuals with hidden disabilities.
Sara Toliver, President and CEO of Visit Ogden said:
“We want all residents and visitors to feel welcome in our community. This is a great opportunity to bring an internationally recognized program into our community to work to ensure that those with Hidden Disabilities feel not only welcome but acknowledged and appreciated.”
The use of the Sunflower lanyard is a way to alert staff that someone may require additional assistance, a vital visual cue that doesn’t bring unneeded stigmatization to individuals. Some common forms of assistance that trained staff may provide include:
1. Allowing extra time for the individual to complete a task or make a decision.
2. Providing clear and simple explanations of products, services, or procedures.
3. Offering support and reassurance in stressful or overwhelming situations.
4. Adapting the environment or procedures to better meet the needs of the individual.
5. Avoiding any actions that may cause discomfort or distress, such as sudden movements or loud noises.
Since its establishment in 2016, The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program has been adopted worldwide by all types of organizations, all to support colleagues and customers.
For more information about Visit Ogden and accessibility, click here
Is your organization a member of the Sunflower network?
Is your place of work Sunflower friendly? If not, why not suggest they look into becoming members of the Sunflower? We provide training and assistance to help businesses recognize the Sunflower to support individuals with non-visible disabilities and become confident in providing them with additional help or assistance.
Join an impressive network of organizations so our Sunflower wearers can find you as they plan their days out:
- add your location to the Sunflower location map
- provide details useful for Sunflower-friendly visits
- demonstrate how accessible you are
- tell your story through articles
- and even reveal your Sunflower-friendly events