Letting people know you may need help (including the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower scheme)

If you have special educational needs or a disability it may not always be obvious to people that you may need help with some things. This can make it very hard when you are finding a situation hard, such as when you are shopping or when using public transport.

There are a number of ways that you can help those around you know that you may need help, or that you might find some situations challenges.

The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower scheme is a way of letting people know that you have special educational needs or disabilities. It is recognised in a lot of places across the UK, the video below helps to explain how it works.

You can buy a lanyard and a plastic ID card from their website (opens a new page) where you can write what special needs or disabilities you have and what help you might need.

You can also just wear a lanyard which can help to let people know that you may need help.

Hidden Disabilities Sunflower scheme

If you do not want to use the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower scheme, you can use the template below to create a card you can show to people to let them know that you might need some help.

You can write what special educational needs and disabilities you have and then what you find hard. When you are in a situation where you can't explain about your special educational needs or disabilities, you can show people this card.

Just print out the image below, cut it out and fold in half to make a handy card.

If you do not want to use the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower scheme, you can use the template below to create a card you can show to people to let them know that you might need some help.

You can write what special educational needs and disabilities you have and then what you find hard. When you are in a situation where you can't explain about your special educational needs or disabilities, you can show people this card.

Just print out this page, cut out the card and fold in half to make a handy card.

Hidden Disabilities Sunflower scheme

Useful links

Hidden Disabilities