Mastercard is championing disability inclusion in Singapore with the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower and its #AcceptanceMatters campaign.
#AcceptanceMatters
#AcceptanceMatters is a collaboration with Mastercard, St. Andrew's Autism Centre, HSBC Singapore, Frasers Property Singapore and Hidden Disabilities Sunflower to raise awareness of invisible disabilities in Singapore with an added focus on autism acceptance.
Globally, 1 in 6 people live with a disability, with up to 80% having a non-visible disability. These can be temporary, situational or permanent. They can be neurological, cognitive and neurodevelopmental, physical, visual, and auditory, including sensory and processing difficulties. They also include respiratory, rare diseases and chronic conditions such as asthma and diabetes.
Autism in Singapore
In Singapore, approximately 26,000 people are autistic. Despite its growing prevalence, with more than 1 in 100 children being diagnosed at 18 months, misinformation and lack of education about autism persist, making life challenging for them and their caregivers.
To address this, and as part of Mastercard's commitment to driving disability inclusion, the payments technology company has spearheaded an awareness campaign to spotlight autism acceptance in Singapore.
The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower is recognised globally and is seen as a unifying symbol of accessibility and acceptance. St. Andrew's Autism Centre has used its experience to promote the #AcceptanceMatters campaign by providing training and awareness of the barriers and challenges that autistic people and their families face. Using real-life stories and addressing the existing gap in empathy and understanding, the centre is driving acceptance to facilitate a more supportive community.
By wearing the Sunflower, individuals signal that they might need extra help, understanding, or more time. In Singapore, Mastercard will sponsor and support the distribution of Hidden Disabilities Sunflower wearables through St. Andrew's Autism Centre. HSBC Singapore has also become a member of Hidden Disabilities Sunflower. In the coming months, it will train its customer-facing staff at branches with the Sunflower training and distribute Sunflower wearables at branches and offices.
Julie Nestor, Executive Vice President, Marketing & Communications, Asia Pacific, Mastercard.
"The beauty of the #AcceptanceMatters campaign is its collective effort, as Mastercard has brought together a strong coalition of like-minded organisations. This collaboration allows us to make a bigger impact, normalising conversations around disability and inclusion, while driving greater empathy and allyship, crucial ingredients for an inclusive culture. Through this campaign, Mastercard aims to demonstrate that a world where everyone is accepted is truly priceless."
Film description: The film below features Matt Soliven being given a Hidden Disabilities Sunflower lanyard to wear. He then goes on a day out with his caregiver. He is licking his speaker, which plays music. A passerby initially stares, and then she joins Matt for a dance. Everyone is smiling.
Paul White, CEO of Hidden Disabilities Sunflower, said:
"Many individuals with hidden disabilities face challenges in their everyday life, such as sensory sensitivities, communication barriers, and navigating public spaces, all of which significantly impact their daily lives and place additional strain on them, their caregivers and families. As such, the globally recognised Hidden Disabilities Sunflower is the perfect symbol to support this campaign, which seeks to normalise the conversations around disabilities and driving inclusion, is both timely and important."
As part of HSBC's ongoing efforts to promote financial inclusion and accessibility, the bank is progressively rolling out the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower programme across its branches and offices in Singapore. This initiative is designed to support customers and employees with non-visible disabilities.
Ashmita Acharya, Head of Wealth and Personal Banking at HSBC Singapore.
"We are dedicated to ensuring that individuals with non-visible disabilities feel supported and respected. By training our colleagues to recognise the Sunflower symbol and providing physical wearables such as lanyards, bracelets, and pins, we're giving people the tools to discreetly indicate when they need assistance. Our aim is to foster a more inclusive and welcoming environment for everyone."
Community partner St. Andrew's Autism Centre has provided valuable expertise in shaping and conceptualising the campaign, offering insights into the needs of the neurodivergent community and their caregivers.
Bernard Chew, CEO of St. Andrew's Autism Centre, said:
"It takes courage for the caregivers of persons with autism to agree for the stories of their children to be shared so authentically and vulnerably. Through authentic storytelling, we hope to directly influence the community's perception of autism to create a more supportive atmosphere by normalising candid conversations around disability and inclusion, and inviting the public to be allies to autistic individuals and their caregivers."
Please visit the St Andrew's Autism Centre campaign page to capture the perspective of autistic people. The film uses special effects and sound design to animate the heightened sensorial world that autistic people often experience: St Andrew's Autism Centre #AcceptenceMatters
Film description: Shazlinda Bte. Hizam, aged 11, is in a taxi wearing a Hidden Disabilities Sunflower lanyard. She is gazing out of the window, becoming overwhelmed by the sounds and buildings that she is passing by. She begins to stim. The Taxi driver recognises the Sunflower and smiles at her. She puts on her ear defenders and begins to relax.