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Local businesses are being invited to join training webinars which hope to "battle misconceptions around hidden disabilities and provide an opportunity to talk about them".
The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower scheme allows people with a type of disability that may not be immediately apparent to discreetly indicate that they may need additional support or time to do things, by wearing a lanyard with a sunflower on a green background.
Wearers also have the option of disclosing their disability on the lanyard.
Training webinars – presented by the Disabilities awareness group – are being offered to staff of any business in Jersey, discussing what a disability is and how to help someone wearing the sunflower lanyard.
Pictured: The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower scheme aims to help those whose disability may not be immediately apparent.
The first sessions are set to be held on 6 September between 18:00 and 19:00, and 7 September between 15:00 and 16:00, with additional dates expected to be confirmed in due course.
Around 1.3 billion people globally live with a disability.
Government of Jersey Disability & Inclusion Officer Anthony Lewis said: "We are hoping that these webinars will help both staff to feel more confident about knowing how to help their customers, but also, customers to have more confidence going into shops knowing that the staff are able to support them if needed.
"To celebrate that business have undertaken this training and hopefully adapted their service for customers, we are holding event days on 22 and 23 September with the focus being on King and Queen Street. We will have a focal point at Charing Cross where there will be activities and a chance to ask questions and get further information."
Pictured: The sunflower lanyard allows people with a type of disability that may not be immediately apparent to discreetly indicate that they may need additional support or time to do things.
He continued: "We have organised an art competition, shop window competition, scavenger hunt and will be asking various restaurants/bakeries to put on a sunflower special; this could be a sunflower decorated cake or any treat which includes a sunflower ingredient.
"Our main target for this campaign is to battle misconceptions around disabilities and provide an opportunity to talk about them."
HSBC, Ports of Jersey, the Town Hall, and the Co-op are partners of the scheme.
Hidden Disability Training Webinar: 6 September 2023 at 18:00
Hidden Disability Training Webinar: 7 September 2023 at 15:00
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