Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to support people with hidden disabilities.

People with non-visible disabilities can experience difficulties or be disadvantaged in their ability to access services. Their difficulty can be exacerbated because service provider personnel, and the general public, are unaware of their disability and any different or additional needs they may have. Non-visible disabilities are varied, and can include mental health conditions, learning disabilities or different cognitive functions.

Some individuals prefer to make their non-visible disability known to others by wearing a visible indication of their disability - the Sunflower Lanyard scheme is one such option. During the pandemic, the green Sunflower Lanyard scheme gained popularity to indicate an individual's non-visible disability in relation to mask exemption. The Sunflower Lanyard scheme is recognised by some retailers and transport authorities as an indication that a customer or passenger may need additional help because of a non-visible disability. These measures are intended to increase accessibility to services whilst educating the public about people in their midst, increasing understanding and reducing the stigma of disability and long term health conditions.

However, this is a personal choice and it is not the government's intention to promote any one voluntary scheme nor to suggest that disabled people should feel that they have to make their disability known to others.

The Disability Unit’s general work to improve inclusion in society and improve disabled people’s lives through the Disability Action Plan and the National Disability Strategy is aimed at people with both visible and non-visible disabilities.