Hidden Disabilities Sunflower is proud to announce its new partnership with The Snowball app, known as ‘the Trip Advisor for the disabled community’. Together, they aim to improve accessibility and visibility for individuals with non-visible disabilities, ensuring no one feels left behind.

With over 11 million people in the UK—approximately 80% of the disabled population—living with non-visible disabilities, the barriers they face in accessing public spaces often go unnoticed. Hidden Disabilities Sunflower and Snowball share a vision to create a more inclusive, supportive society. .

Through this collaboration, Snowball will incorporate the widely recognised Sunflower icon into its app. This new feature will enable users to easily identify Sunflower-friendly locations, . The Sunflower is a simple tool for individuals to voluntarily share that they have a disability or condition that may not be immediately apparent – and that they may need a helping hand, understanding, or more time in shops, at work, on transport, or in public spaces. Each Member of the global Sunflower network trains its employees to understand the purpose of the Sunflower, increase their awareness of non-visible disabilities and how to offer to individuals wearing the Sunflower.

Simon Sansome, CEO of Snowball, says: 

"Collaborating with Hidden Disabilities Sunflower aligns perfectly with our mission to foster an inclusive community. We’re excited to bring this new feature to our users and help them find the best accessible venues with confidence."

Paul White, CEO of Hidden Disabilities Sunflower, also emphasised the impact of the partnership: 

"The partnership with Snowball represents a significant step towards creating a more inclusive environment for everyone. We believe that by making it easier to find accessible locations, we can help individuals with non-visible disabilities participate more fully in their communities."

A Partnership that matters

Accessible spaces do more than just comply with regulations—they transform lives. By integrating Hidden Disabilities Sunflower’s trusted icon into Snowball reviews, users will have a clear, effective way to identify inclusive venues at a glance.

With this new partnership, the combined efforts of Snowball and Hidden Disabilities Sunflower will help millions of people with non-visible disabilities lead fuller, more independent lives, contributing to a more inclusive society for all.

Empowering Communities, Driving Inclusion

Snowball is not just a commercial enterprise but a movement driven by the desire to make a real impact on the lives of disabled individuals. With endorsements from key disability advocates, Paralympians like Hannah Cockroft and Aaron Phipps and ongoing discussions with government officials, the app is set to change the landscape of accessibility across the UK. As Deborah Meaden said after hearing the pitch, “Where have you been all my life?" Snowball is poised to create lasting change, making the world more accessible for everyone.

This new partnership with Hidden Disabilities Sunflower strengthens that vision, enabling millions to take part in their communities with dignity, independence, and confidence.

About Snowball 

Founded by wheelchair user Simon Sansome, Snowball is a mobile app dedicated to improving accessibility for disabled individuals.

With over 84,000 user reviews and a built-in satnav for navigating accessible spaces, the app also introduced a national disability rating system, similar to a food hygiene rating, where Snowball assessors evaluate businesses for accessibility, including accommodations for dyslexia, neurodivergence, and dementia.

This groundbreaking service not only provides businesses with an opportunity to improve their accessibility, but also offers a membership option for £250, allowing them to be rated and listed on the app. Businesses can request an assessment here: https://www.snowballassessment.com/request-an-assessment

How Snowball Works 

The Snowball app is a free review platform that helps people with disabilities find accessible businesses. It features: 

  • Reviews: Users can rate and review businesses based on their accessibility. 
  • Search: Users can search for places to make sure they are accessible before visiting. 
  • Sharing: Users can share information with other users. 
  • Accessibility: The app is fully accessible, using specific colors and fonts to create an easier experience for users with disabilities such as visual impairment. 

The Snowball app is available for free on Apple and Android.

Snowball Awards

The app’s innovative approach has garnered national and international acclaim, including 12 prestigious awards across regional, national, and international stages.
Snowball’s success has also extended beyond the UK, securing backing from the Santander Global initiative, reaching 11 countries, and helping over 5,000 businesses improve their accessibility. In recognition of the company’s impact, it ranked 9th in the influential Power 100 list, solidifying its position as a leader in the disability sector.

About Simon Sansome

Following a life-changing injury at the age of 32 in 2014, which resulted in partial paralysis from the waist down, Simon Sansome took early retirement due to ill health and returned to university to study journalism, pursuing a passion for writing.

In 2016, Simon launched a Facebook page called Ability Access, now called the Snowball Community, which has grown into the most-read disability page in the world. It can reach over 30 million people a month and has amassed over 100,000 social media followers.

In 2022, Simon launched the Snowball Community App, a TripAdvisor-like platform for the disabled community. It allows users to review and rate places for accessibility, with thousands of reviews already submitted.

Watch Simon’s Amazon documentary, Access All Areas, which follows his and his wife’s journey, from the onset of disability to where they are today. The film has won 16 major awards and is available on Amazon Prime, Google Play, YouTube Films, and Apple.

Simon also serves as co-chair, alongside Jordan Jarrett Bryan (C4, TalkSPORT), of the Disability and Journalism Forum (DJF) UK.