Let The Sunflower Bloom To Help Those With Hidden Disabilities

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The sunflower symbol is often used for airport tags or lanyards to help those with hidden disabilities.From Jayaprakash Murulitharan
I am writing this article in conjunction with World Rare Disease Day, observed annually on Feb 28. This piece is also dedicated to my son, Arshan, a child diagnosed with William Syndrome, a rare disease which categorises him as a child with special needs.
However, Arshan’s special needs allow him to possess a unique power — an extraordinary charm that touches the hearts of those around him.
When I say “power”, I mean a genuine gift – he greets everyone with a warm “hello”, asks how they are doing, offers spontaneous hugs, and praises people sincerely. His positivity is so infectious that it can uplift even the weariest soul.
Over the years, I have realised that Arshan is not alone in possessing this extraordinary power.
The medical journal Lancet reported that around 300 million people in the world live with rare diseases, often with unique yet invisible challenges. More than 7,000 rare diseases exist worldwide across a broad spectrum of conditions.
Hidden disabilities in Malaysia
Malaysia Airports has introduced its butterfly effect project, with a special lanyard for use by people with hidden disabilities. (MAHB pic)The Malaysian Rare Disease Society estimates that 1% to 3% of the population live with rare diseases. The health ministry has officially recognised nearly 500 rare diseases in the country as of 2023.
However, the statistics department classifies individuals with rare diseases under the broader category of “persons with disabilities” (OKU), which includes visual, hearing, physical, learning, speech, mental, and multiple disabilities.
While some rare diseases are chronic and visibly apparent, many remain hidden and not immediately noticeable. Those afflicted with them often face misunderstandings, false perceptions, and unwarranted judgments from society.
Take Arshan, for example. He may appear perfectly fine to the untrained eye, but his exuberance exceeds the norms of a typical individual.
This raises an important question: who truly has the “disability”? Is it Arshan, with his limitless joy, or is it those who habitually complain and fume over the trivialities of life? Hence, I prefer the term “people with special needs” over “person with disabilities” as the latter often carries a negative connotation.
Inclusivity in services
A practical starting point for raising awareness about hidden disabilities would be the hospitality sector. This includes private businesses, health facilities, airports, restaurants and hotels. Government agencies should not be spared, either.
They must be educated on accommodating persons with non-visible disabilities. Increased awareness would prevent unnecessary conflicts and foster a more inclusive and compassionate society.
The challenge stems from the high turnover of staff in the hospitality sector, the lack of proper training, and the fact that the industry primarily employs foreigners who may not have an adequate understanding of the issue.
Structured training and continuous education for service industry employees are crucial in creating a more inclusive environment.
A well-known ’90s Malaysian artist who now resides in the UK shared a notable example of the challenges faced by individuals with hidden disabilities.
During a visit to Malaysia, he encountered difficulties at a restaurant due to the staff’s lack of awareness regarding his child’s hidden disability. His experience resonated deeply with me, as I, too, have observed similar instances in Malaysian establishments.
The sunflower symbol
The writer’s son Arshan with a sunflower lanyard while on holiday. (Jayaprakash Murulitharan pic)One simple yet impactful initiative Malaysia could adopt is the use of the sunflower symbol, widely recognised in the UK and Europe, for persons with hidden disabilities.
The sunflower tag is a discreet tool that allows those with hidden disabilities to voluntarily signal that they may need additional time, support, or understanding in public spaces.
Malaysia Airports has taken a step in this direction by introducing the butterfly tag, a similar initiative. However, awareness remains limited, even among staff of Malaysia Airports.
I conducted a simple inquiry at KLIA in December about the butterfly tag, asking several key personnel, including an immigration officer, a customs officer, and a baggage assistant. Their lack of awareness highlighted a disconnect in understanding the initiative.
Steps towards implementation
The ministry of women, family and community development, along with the social welfare department, must take the lead in advocating the adoption of the sunflower tag.
This could be executed through:
introducing the sunflower symbol and tag in key sectors such as schools, government agencies, and the transport, hospitality and health sectors;educating the public, businesses, and service providers about hidden disabilities;encouraging businesses and government premises to display the sunflower symbol;holding events to increase visibility and recognition of the sunflower tag at every government function;ensuring that hospitals, hotels, and restaurants adopt and understand the initiative.The simplest and most effective approach would be to either expand Malaysia Airports’ butterfly tag initiative or align with the globally-recognised sunflower tag.
Industries and the government sector should emphasise this voluntary effort as an initiative in line with their environmental, social and governance responsibility.
As a society, we must take proactive steps to ensure that people with hidden disabilities are seen, heard, and accommodated. Empathy should not be a privilege — it should be a fundamental aspect of how we interact with one another.
Let’s make Malaysia a more understanding and inclusive nation, one sunflower tag at a time. - FMT
Jayaprakash Murulitharan is an FMT reader.
The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.

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