Sunflower Launch (Post-Event Reflection)

Last week, I had the privilege of speaking at the launch of the UTS Hidden Disabilities Sunflower initiative.
I shared my own experience of travelling through the airport with a sunflower lanyard, and how every single success I had that day happened because staff were trained to recognise it and respond with care. It’s proof that visibility and education can change someone’s entire experience.
At UTS, this initiative is a huge step towards that same kind of understanding on campus. Every attendee learned more about what the Sunflower represents before hearing from Professor Kylie Readman, Dr Scott Avery, fellow student Lucia Mai, and me.

The feedback has been overwhelming in the best possible way. I’ve had countless heartfelt conversations since the event, and each one has been a reminder of why sharing lived experience matters. When someone tells you, “I’ve felt that too” or “I’ll think differently because of what you said,” it’s both humbling and incredibly motivating.

Especially knowing that around 80% of Australians with a disability have an invisible disability (Wikipedia), and that 12.7% of domestic undergraduate students in Australia identify as having a disability (ACSES 2024). Initiatives like this matter — they give visibility to experiences that often go unseen, and they equip our communities to respond with empathy.

Here’s to building a future where inclusion isn’t an exception, it’s the norm.