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A subtle display of sunflowers is helping to make transportation a more inclusive experience in Durham Region.
The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program allows riders to signal to drivers that they may need extra support by wearing a special lanyard or pin with sunflowers printed on it.
The program helps those living with non-visual disabilities, ranging from permanent to temporary or situational conditions that aren’t as easily detectable from the outside.
Kamika Walfall is an ambassador for Durham Region Transit (DRT) and helped launch the program at the DRT in the spring.
“I felt it was very important for our Durham Region transit staff and riders to feel inclusivity,” Walfall told CBC News.
The Sunflower program originated at London Gatwick Airport in the United Kingdom and has since expanded to over 300 airports across 70 countries.
Transit riders can request a lanyard or pin with sunflowers on them to indicate that they are in need of more patience, time or extra help from transit drivers. (Durham Region Transit )
Walfall said 98 per cent of DRT staff are trained to recognize riders wearing sunflower lanyards or pins.
“If there’s a question that needs to be asked, drivers will ask them, will treat them with respect, will be kind, considerate and will not judge them,” she said.
‘A tremendous need’: program user
Getting DRT staff fully trained to understand hidden disabilities is critical for those who rely on the service, according to one user of the program.
Linda Lowery first used the sunflower program when travelling through Toronto Pearson Airport last year after suffering from a concussion.
But the Oshawa resident said her experience wasn’t ideal.
“People didn’t seem to be aware that I did need extra assistance,” Lowery said.
“There was only one occasion during the whole process where I was moved into a shorter line to get processed through the terminal. The rest of the time, it didn’t seem to make a difference.”
Pearson Airport implemented the program in 2020 but Lowery’s airline, WestJet, hadn’t done the same until this year.
She doesn’t blame the airport or airline for the discrepancy, but said it was an example of why more awareness is needed for those with hidden disabilities.
“There’s a tremendous need,” Lowery said. “I don’t think people realize how many of us there are.”
Several DRT buses now display advertisements for the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program to raise awareness of its implementation. (Durham Region Transit )
Lowery chairs the volunteer group known as Heads Up! Durham, which advocates for those with hidden disabilities and brain-related injuries.
She believes that the lanyards will help take the pressure off anxious transit riders who are worried about having a difficult experience.
“I’m really glad to see this starting to take off,” she said.
National recognition
Last month, the DRT was recognized by the Canadian Urban Transportation Association, alongside MiWay in Mississauga, for launching the program.
The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program was also implemented throughout the rest of the Region of Durham. The Town of Ajax was the first municipality to implement it in the region.
Marilyn Crawford (left) and Kamika Walfall (right) both advocated to bring the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program to Durham Region and the Town of Ajax. (Christian D’Avino/CBC News)
It was especially important to do so for regional councillor Marilyn Crawford, whose daughter is prone to seizures stemming from her epilepsy.
“When the lanyards came out, I immediately went to her and gave her one,” Crawford said. “That makes me feel safe.”
Crawford said she hopes the program will be adopted by public institutions, such as schools and post-secondary institutions, as well as private corporations and retail stores in the near future.
“The more we talk about it, the more people go, I get it,” she said.
DRT offers the sunflower program free of charge.
Those who wish to apply for a lanyard or pin can do so online or by calling the region to request it.
