CITYPARK is the first stadium in the U.S. to partner with international organization Hidden Disabilities Sunflower, whose program uses discreet wearables, enabling fans with a hidden disability to alert guest services and security staff to help provide special accommodations. CITYPARK guest services and security staff receive training through the Sunflower on supporting fans with understanding and compassion. The Sunflower is currently in use in airports across the world and in English Premier League stadiums.
"We are thrilled St. Louis CITY SC joined the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program. Our values and goals are aligned with CITY in the belief sports stadiums should be accessible for everyone. Thanks to CITY's dedication to accessibility and training their staff to recognize the Sunflower, soccer fans with non-visible disabilities will now have access to help, patience and understanding so they too can enjoy attending matches,”
said Paul White, CEO, Hidden Disabilities Sunflower.
According to the State of Missouri, approximately 14% of Missourians have a disability, and 15% in the City of St. Louis. Many of those disabilities are not immediately visible to others, including autism spectrum and sensory processing disorders, PTSD, hard of hearing, seizure disorders, asthma, traumatic brain injuries and many more.
St. Louis CITY SC believes an incredible match day experience at CITYPARK should be accessible to everyone, including fans with disabilities. To help St. Louis’ Major League Soccer team create one of the most inclusive experiences in major league sports, St. Louis CITY introduced accessibility programs and guest accommodations to provide fans with visible and non-visible disabilities the support they need to enjoy home matches.
Barbra Silva, St. Louis CITY SC Director, Community Relations, said:
“Soccer is the world’s most popular sport. Many soccer fans have disabilities – both seen and unseen -- that can at times make attending a sporting event difficult to navigate, especially with CITYPARK’s overwhelmingly loud and sensory-rich environment. We want to make sure when they and their families come out to a match, we do everything possible to make our stadium a welcoming place. While I know St. Louis has rallied around ‘All for CITY’ we also want everyone to feel welcome and comfortable in CITYPARK, and we truly want to be ‘CITY for All’ as well.”
Link to full Press Release:
https://www.stlcitysc.com/news/city-for-all-st-louis-city-sc-makes-citypark-accessible
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 Sunflower training and assistance to help businesses to better recognize and support individuals with non-visible disabilities.
Join an impressive network of organizations so our Sunflower wearers can find you as they plan their days out:
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- demonstrate how accessible you are
- tell your story through articles
- and even reveal your Sunflower-friendly events
Become a member of the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower network.