Hidden Disabilities – Sunflower Card

by Hannah Adira (24 years old)

I first used my Sunflower Card when I flew on a plane for the first time. Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Cards are used to help individuals with invisible disabilities advocate for themselves. There are two types of cards, the card for the individual with the disability, and a card for their support person. The cards are designed so the individual and their support person do not get separated. The cards are also customizable. This feature was very helpful to me. Each card has a phrase that goes along with it, for instance, on the front of the card it says, “I am Autistic”, and on the back, “Please be patient with me, talk clearly and calmly, and do not touch me to avoid causing me distress”. I was able to add my mom as my emergency contact, and she got her own card as my support person. I added my picture, name, and the symbols that indicated the accommodations I needed. The symbols that Sunflower Card uses refers to the needed accommodations. I chose things like extra space, quiet space, more time, do not touch, and invisible disability. This helped the airport staff help my mother and I navigate our journey.

I have continued to use my sunflower card on other trips. I keep it in my wallet with my medical alert card instead of on the lanyard I used when I was at the airport the first time. Even though the card has come in handy many times, there is a big problem I face when using it. My mom and I have to explain what it is every time. There are airports and other transportation hubs around the world that have training and are certified on Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Card’s website, but there are very few locations in the United States. In addition, due to the current costs of shipping things into the United States through customs, most of their products have become unavailable to people in this country.

This is an amazing resource that I use when traveling. Someone might not understand everything on the card, but they can easily understand that you might need assistance by what is written on it. The Sunflower Card is an affordable option that is accessible for all ages and many disabilities. It is also shipped to so many countries. I have been seeing a lot of people coming out to advocate for this resource, and I think it is a wonderful thing to fight for.

I might get funny looks or be asked a lot at college what the Sunflower Card is, but each person who asked was curious about it. This is something that other companies have tried to create, and I have tried these products. Most were paper or stickers you could write on because that was the cheaper option. The Sunflower Cards are plastic and affordable. Mine even came with a lanyard and a sunflower pin at no extra cost. You could add extra customizations if you pay more. I paid about $15 including shipping. This was before the 2025 custom cost increase. The company that makes Sunflower Cards is always improving and adding new products to their inventory. They even have a way for you to help your communities by bringing Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Cards to them. They also have different memberships and kits.

The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Card is not only for the individual with the invisible disability, their support person, but also our communities as a whole. In these cards lies a simple act of kindness in the form of many words plus a sunflower.