Sunflower Stories: Casting Call for Hidden Disabilities
Seeking talent nationwide (United Kingdom)
Filming Location: London
Date: 3rd and 4th July
Roles paying up to £100 plus expenses
£100 to include 2-3 hour interview and rights buyout
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Casting “Hidden Disability Sunflower” Educational video Synopsis:
Do you, or someone you know, have a disability, condition or chronic illness that is not immediately obvious to others? You may have used the Hidden Disability Sunflower to indicate that you need additional support, understanding or more time in shops, at work, on transport, or in public spaces.
Without a visual cue, it can be difficult for some people to understand how someone with a non-visible disability genuinely needs support. This can lead to discrimination and a lack of support when critically needed. Challenges and barriers faced can range from communicating your needs and expectations to navigating busy environments and dealing with unexpected changes.
Education plays a crucial role in creating accessible environments where every individual with a non-visible disability, condition or chronic illness is confident to take part, knowing they will be supported where needed.
The more we listen to people with non-visible disabilities and learn from their experiences, the better we can dispel misunderstandings, eradicate stigma, and dismantle barriers they face in day-to-day life. That is why we are expanding our Sunflower training suite available to businesses and organisations that join the Sunflower network so they can train their employees to recognise the Sunflower, be aware and understand non-visible disabilities, have confidence in approaching someone using the Sunflower, and, importantly, ask Sunflower wearers for guidance on how best to support them.
This is a casting call for individuals with non-visible disabilities who face these challenges and barriers and have benefited from the Sunflower.
What We're Looking For
We are seeking individuals with non-visible disabilities, conditions or chronic illnesses to share their personal experiences. Specifically, we want to understand:
The unique challenges you face when you shop, travel, work or visit public spaces
If you use the Sunflower, how it has supported you
The advice you have for the businesses you visit to support you
How to participate
If you are interested in taking part, here’s how you can get involved:
1. Submit your story: Send us a 30-second video summary of your experiences focusing on the challenges/or barriers you face in daily life (alternatively record a voice not or provide a written message)
Record the video face to camera, in a quiet, well-lit environment to ensure good audio and visual quality.
Use any device with a camera, such as a smartphone, tablet, or webcam.
The preferred file formats are MP4 or MOV.
2. Add your contact information: Include your name and contact details (email, telephone number and address). Please make us aware of any additional needs you may have so we can ensure your comfort and safety throughout this process.
3. Send your submission:
Email your video, voice note or written message to marketing@hdsunflower.com
For videos:
Save the video file and upload the video to a secure file-sharing service (e.g., Google Drive, Dropbox) and generate a shareable link and ensure that the sharing settings allow anyone with the link to view the video.
Why participate?
Raise awareness: Communicating on a wider platform directly to businesses and organisations that you visit raises awareness of, and fosters a deeper understanding of, non-visible disabilities and the barriers faced.
Advise businesses and organisations how to support you: Sharing your experiences can help Sunflower Business members understand the barriers and challenges you face when you visit them so they can support and respect diverse needs and expectations better.
About the Sunflower
The Sunflower is a discreet way for you to indicate you have a non-visible disability, condition or chronic illness. It acts as a visible sign to employees and colleagues in businesses and organisations that are members of the global Sunflower network that you may need additional support, help, or a little more time in your day-to-day life.
What is a non-visible disability?
While some of us experience a disability, condition or chronic illness that is visible, many of us have one that is not immediately apparent to others. Some of us can experience a combination of non-visible and visible disabilities, conditions, or chronic illnesses and some are only visible in certain circumstances or settings – for instance a nut allergy.
Non-visible disabilities can be, but are not limited to:
neurodevelopmental – including neurodiversity such as ADHD, autism, Tourette Syndrome
mental health conditions – for example anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
physical - such as arthritis, Ehler-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), chronic pain (for example, fibromyalgia)
cognitive – such as dementia
respiratory – such as COPD, asthma, emphysema
sensory – including visual, auditory and sensory processing disorder
neurological - such as Parkinson’s, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) and brain aneurisms
and include rare diseases and illness & recovery – a hip replacement or an ankle injury.
As diverse as these conditions are, so are your individual access needs and the barriers you can face in your daily life.
Deadline for Submissions
Please submit your story by 10th June. Selected participants will be notified by 20th June.
We look forward to hearing from you. Inclusion is about more than simply acknowledging diversity. It's about actively creating a community where everyone feels heard, seen, and appreciated for who they are. We firmly believe that the creation of an environment of understanding, acceptance, and respect is a shared responsibility that binds us all.
For more information, visit our website www.hdsunflower.com or contact us at marketing@hdsunflower.com.
Thank you for your participation and for helping us create a more accessible world.
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