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Sunflowers

Professor Precise-a-bug

You don’t need to be a genius to understand that someone using a wheelchair has a a mobility problem. But when it comes to the Big A there are no visible signs. So it seems that us ND sorts have adopted the sunflower as a visible sign of our differences to the other lot. You can get a sunflower lanyard if you need to wear a pass or similar at work. (I have to say, I don’t like them. To me they are very in your face). But for everyone else who doesn’t wear a lanyard at work the question is how help NTs recognise  us for ourselves.

My girlfriend, who BTW is the person responsible for helping me on this journey of self discovery, had a brilliant idea. She got me a bag of very pretty sunflower pins. They are only about 3/8” across and quite subtle but still visible. I wear one on my tops and fleeces Etc. So far a few people have enquired. I am still trying to work out how to explain that I am not rude. I just say it as it is.

Got to work on that one

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  • I have a Sunflower pin badge, lanyard and also a wristband - but wear them at different times for different reasons.

    Pin Badge - constantly on my handbag strap, so if I want to show it, I can, but if not then I can just switch it around (so the back of the badge is showing) or pop it into my bag if I want to hide it entirely.

    Lanyard/Card - I use this if I am going to either the hospital, train journeys or airports - this is especially useful at airports as I know that there are airports around the world that recognise it and when I went to and from Toronto last year, as soon as staff saw it, me and my parents were going straight through the 'special access' route - I didn't wear it for that purpose, but it was good that staff recognised it and knew what to do.

    Silicone Wristband - Initially, I got this in January for when I go swimming etc. but now I have started to wear it next to my watch strap that has my Medical Alert band on it - so if, as and when I do pass out or am unwell, people can see (or should look) the green band and my medical alert is literally above it.

    As someone else said (Bunny - I think), the Sunflower emblem isn't just for autism, but for lots of other hidden medical needs as well. I've got a rare genetic Liver condition which does cause me to be in pain, tired and nauseous every day, but if I have a major flare up (like last weekend), I have to either go to A&E or have oral morphine at home. I was only diagnosed with this condition in October and initially hid it from people until I could understand the condition properly myself. Now, after last weekends shenanigans, I've decided that more people need to be aware of my condition, how it affects me normally, but also understand that when I do have a flare up - it can be serious xx

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  • I have a Sunflower pin badge, lanyard and also a wristband - but wear them at different times for different reasons.

    Pin Badge - constantly on my handbag strap, so if I want to show it, I can, but if not then I can just switch it around (so the back of the badge is showing) or pop it into my bag if I want to hide it entirely.

    Lanyard/Card - I use this if I am going to either the hospital, train journeys or airports - this is especially useful at airports as I know that there are airports around the world that recognise it and when I went to and from Toronto last year, as soon as staff saw it, me and my parents were going straight through the 'special access' route - I didn't wear it for that purpose, but it was good that staff recognised it and knew what to do.

    Silicone Wristband - Initially, I got this in January for when I go swimming etc. but now I have started to wear it next to my watch strap that has my Medical Alert band on it - so if, as and when I do pass out or am unwell, people can see (or should look) the green band and my medical alert is literally above it.

    As someone else said (Bunny - I think), the Sunflower emblem isn't just for autism, but for lots of other hidden medical needs as well. I've got a rare genetic Liver condition which does cause me to be in pain, tired and nauseous every day, but if I have a major flare up (like last weekend), I have to either go to A&E or have oral morphine at home. I was only diagnosed with this condition in October and initially hid it from people until I could understand the condition properly myself. Now, after last weekends shenanigans, I've decided that more people need to be aware of my condition, how it affects me normally, but also understand that when I do have a flare up - it can be serious xx

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