November was an exciting month for Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Netherlands & Belgium as on 14 November, we officially launched the Sunflower at the House of Representatives of the Netherlands (Tweede Kamer). Together with eight Sunflower wearers and their families, we were invited to attend The Hague for the official ceremony, hosted by the speaker Vera Bergkamp. Some of the Sunflower wearers got the opportunity to explain the challenges that they face with an invisible disability. We are very grateful to Liane den Haan from the Goud Nederland political party, who made this all possible.
At the beginning of November, we delivered three presentations about the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower. The first one was in Utrecht, where we spoke to a group of BHV members of the Dutch Belastingdienst Toeslagen. One of the issues that the BHV members needed help with, was how to conduct an evacuation in a way that would best help Sunflower wearers.
During the second presentation our focus was on “How to implement the Sunflower in a big city” as we spoke to the council of the City of Leiden.
The final presentation focussed on how the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower can assist people with invisible disabilities in the travel sector. During the Reisprof event, that took place in The Hague, we had the opportunity to meet new travel agents who were interested in making travel more accessible.
ABC Opleidingen
ABC Opleidingen, a private training institute for adult education, conducted an interview with us that forms part of a training module for taxi drivers, bus drivers and drivers of students with a disability. This means that Sunflower wearers should receive recognition and support when being driven by one of these drivers.
HDS Netherlands & Belgium
Our new team member, Nora, who studies at the Hogeschool of Amsterdam, Creative Business continues to run the social media for HDS Netherlands & Belgium. A part of her role is to produce the Dutch podcasts and we are excited to announce that the first is available here
Bbrain
Bbrain, a company producing tools that makes life easier for people with Alzheimer's or Autism, has become a member of the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Netherlands & Belgium. It's very interesting to see what they do. You can find them at: www.bbrain.eu
KLM
The airline, KLM continue to make good progress implementing the Sunflower. The Hidden Disabilities programme is now mentioned on the KLM website and also included in the internal staff manuals. We remain in contact with KLM to establish where we can collaborate in the future.