Sunflower Partners
Our Name:
The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Project was launched at London Gatwick International Airport in 2016 to provide a way to discretely recognize travelers with hidden disabilities. Since then, the hidden disability sunflower symbol has been adopted globally to recognize individuals with hidden disabilities who may not wish to ask for assistance. We chose the name “Sunflower Partners” to honor this global movement, to help grow the Sunflower Network, and to brand our workforce.
Our Story:
Sunflower Partners was launched in August of 2025 by a Special Olympics coach in Charlottesville, Virginia. Coach Kelly recognized that no group of individuals is more eager to work, more under-employed, and has more to offer a community than adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). So, after 35 years building and designing houses, neighborhoods, and communities, Coach Kelly bought a pickup truck and a dump trailer and hired our first crew of workers.
Our Path:
Long-established perceptions in our society provide roadblocks to our success.
People mostly define us by our disabilities. We launched Sunflower Partners to showcase our abilities and to provide services that are needed in our community. Every builder in every community throughout Virginia is searching for reliable labor crews to help them meet their schedules. Partnerships with these builders will lead to new opportunities and ventures for us that are still in the dreamy stage of development.
Our Vision:
Assisted living opportunities in Virginia for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities are available, but these opportunities are over-regulated and limited in scope, services, affordability, accessibility, and location. This is not a local problem. In the United States, approximately 20-30 million adults with IDD live with aging parents and family members who are searching for ways to create a secure and meaningful future for their loved ones.
Contact Us
Have a question or project in mind? Reach out and share a few details, and we’ll be in touch soon. We’re excited to build something together! Every message is a chance to connect, serve, and show what our crew can do.