International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney), managed by ASM Global, has joined forces with Hidden Disabilities Sunflower – an organisation dedicated to supporting people living with non-visible disabilities in their communities by raising awareness to help create a more inclusive society.
ICC Sydney’s CEO and group director – convention centres, ASM Global (APAC), Geoff Donaghy, said the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) partnership between ICC Sydney and Hidden Disabilities Sunflower will enrich the venue management team’s well-being and elevate its services for visitors.
“We strive to make a difference in our community and leave a positive legacy considering the ways we can foster accessible events and better support community engagement.
“Reflecting trending delegate expectations for accessible events as identified in our RESPECT: Shaping Events for Success report and building on the development of our inaugural Disability Inclusion Action Plan, our latest partnership highlighted through our Legacy Program is another critical service provided to attendees helping them to experience the most inclusive events possible,” Donaghy said.
Director of Hidden Disabilities Sunflower ANZ, Justin Bruce said one in five Australians live with a disability and of those approximately 80 to 85 per cent are not immediately obvious to other people.
“Living with a Hidden Disability can make daily life more demanding for many people and it can be difficult for others to recognise, acknowledge or understand the challenges faced. Wearing the Sunflower discreetly indicates to staff that the wearer (or support person with them) has a hidden disability and may need additional help or simply more time.”
ICC Sydney director of event services, Malu Barrios, added: “Our partnership provides an invaluable platform for our team to strengthen their knowledge and skills in welcoming and supporting people with hidden disabilities. We’ve already implemented training on how to best communicate and support a visitor who opts to wear the sunflower lanyard while attending events at ICC Sydney.”
Hidden Disabilities Sunflower has identified a range of non-visible conditions from ADHD, Autism, Crohn’s Disease to Epilepsy and many more. Visitors to ICC Sydney are able to bring in their own Sunflower lanyard to identify that they may require adjustments to support their experience.
