Logan City Council has joined the Hidden Disability Sunflower Network ahead of Disability Action Week (running until this Sunday) and International Day of People with Disability (Tuesday, December 3)
The global initiative, which started in 2016, promotes inclusivity for people with hidden disabilities such as autism spectrum disorder, dementia, brain injuries, mental health and chronic illnesses.
People with hidden disabilities can discreetly signal they may need assistance by wearing a green sunflower lanyard, badge, or wristband, if they choose.
Council staff are preparing for a public roll-out of the initiative in the new year.
Mayor Jon Raven said Council was pleased to become part of the Sunflower Network as it worked towards completing 84 actions identified in the City of Logan Disability Action Plan 2023-25.
“It helps us understand the best ways to support our community, especially when it comes to accessing local services and facilities,” Cr Raven said.
One in five Australians and New Zealanders have a disability and up to 85 per cent of these disabilities are not obvious.
More than 22,000 people in the City of Logan need daily assistance with core activities due to a severe or profound disability and more than 31,000 people provide unpaid help to someone with disability, Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows.
Council has also partnered with the City of Logan based BEST Disability Support’s Weekly News Team, made up of young adults living with disability, to create a video series about the role of Council in the community.
This will help break down the stigma of people with disability.
Members of the Weekly News Team interviewed Mayor Jon Raven, Cr Tony Hall, Cr Teresa Lane and Cr Mindy Russell about Council’s parks, libraries, leisure centres and city safety and liveability.
The videos produced will be able to be viewed in the coming weeks via lccqld.com/BEST-YouTube
Cr Raven said he enjoyed working with the BEST crew to produce the video.
“They asked me some great questions and we had a lot of fun during the shoot.”
Logan Libraries are also embracing International Day of People with Disability with a number of free events including Play and Learn, Sensory story times and activities and craft for all abilities.
Author Eileen O’Hely will discuss her picture book Aisling and Amelia at the December 3 Kids Club at Logan North Library. The book tells the story of whether two very different girls can become friends.
The Queensland Writers Centre event is also hosting an event for adults at Logan North Library on December 7 where writer Josephine Moon will discuss How to write neurodivergent characters.
