The Sunflower Conversations
Welcome to the Sunflower Conversations, the podcast where we explore the experiences of disabled people with non-visible disabilities through the lens of the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower.
This is a space to hear authentic stories from disabled people navigating life with non-visible disabilities such as chronic illness, mental health conditions, neurodivergence, and more. While most episodes focus on lived experience, we also feature occasional insights from experts in healthcare, accessibility, and inclusion.
Whether you or someone you care about wears the Sunflower, our conversations aim to raise awareness, build understanding, and help create a more inclusive and compassionate world.
Empowering voices. Raising awareness. Challenging assumptions - one conversation at a time.
Episodes
161 episodes
ADHD, Epilepsy, PTSD and Autism with Mark Charlesworth
ADHD, Epilepsy, PTSD and Autism with Mark CharlesworthMark Charlesworth has a multitude of health conditions including, autism, ADHD, epilepsy and PTSD that were diagnosed later in life. In this conversation we hear how M...
Dyspraxia, ADHD, Dyscalculia and Damp with Bailey
Dyspraxia, ADHD, Dyscalculia and Damp with BaileyBailey is in a mainstream secondary school and has the following health conditions, dyspraxia, attention deficit disorder, dyscalculia and DAMP which means Deficits in Attention, Mo...
The Brighton COVID NHS Mass Vaccination Centre
The Brighton COVID NHS Mass Vaccination Centre, Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust With up to 3,000 vaccines administered a day, The Brighton Vaccination Centre is the largest hub in Sussex. Staff have received the Hidden ...
Autistic Spectrum Disorder family support with Sarah Hughes
How does the Sunflower help families with autisitc spectrum disorder? with Sarah HughesIn her final dissertation for a Master of Science in Psychology, Sarah Hughes researched the experiences of eight families with autistic membe...
The Autism Employment Gap
Not every autistic person is the same, everyone is different, as are the variety of occupations available to all of us. So, we ask “why is the employment gap for autistic people so vast?”In this podcast we are joined by Mike Adams of Pur...
Autism and comordities with Maria Cook
Autism and comordities with Maria CookMaria Cook is very candid about the multitude of hidden disabilities that her son, Ryan, has. They include autism, development delay, significant learning disabilities, sensory processing disorde...
Understanding, acceptance, and empowerment with Mark Isherwood Elected Regional Member of the Senedd
Mark Isherwood, Elected Regional Member of the Senedd, (Welsh Parliament), explains how the pandemic has affected people of all ages, in particular people from disadvantaged groups. Reduced accessibility to support, education and even shopping ...
FASD with Mick Jewell
Nurtured children with hidden pasts and FASD with Mick JewellMick Jewell shares his personal journey of changing career to become a foster parent with his wife Sian, to children with emotional and behavioural challenges. Through his ...
The events industry and the pandemic
There is no doubt that the pandemic has had a significant impact on the events industry. With Covid Rangers at markets to marshalling at testing centres, Sam Birtwell, from Phoenix Events East, an events company that would normally cover securi...