WindReach is launching its annual awareness campaign in recognition of the United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

The charity, which offers educational and therapeutic programmes to those with support needs, will run the campaign from today until December 6, with various opportunities for members of the public to get involved.

A spokeswoman for WindReach said: “Difficult conversations are often the most important ones we never have.

“Whether it’s discussing mental health, disability or inclusion, many people struggle to find the right words or the right moment to begin.

“WindReach has created an innovative solution to break down these barriers — a collection of conversation-starting pins that transform silence into dialogue and awareness into action.”

There are 14 different pins that form part of the campaign, each designed as a tool for social exchange, intended to spark meaningful discussions about disability and inclusion.

The spokeswoman said: “Each pin serves as a visible invitation for conversation, creating opportunities for people to connect, share experiences and learn from one another.

“The beauty of this approach lies in its simplicity — a small pin can open doors to understanding that might otherwise remain closed.

“This year marks an exciting expansion of the initiative as WindReach introduces its fourteenth pin, coinciding with the launch of its Clinical Mental Health Programme.

“This addition acknowledges the crucial intersection between diverse support needs and mental health, recognising that true inclusion must address the whole person.

“Mental health conversations remain stigmatised in many communities, making this new pin particularly significant in normalising these essential discussions.”

She said the pins can help to facilitate conversations between family members over dinner, between friends during a coffee, colleagues in the workplace or even strangers in a shopping line.

“By wearing a pin, individuals signal their openness to dialogue and their commitment to inclusion,” the spokeswoman noted.

“This simple act can empower both the wearer and those around them to engage with topics that matter.”

The #WindReachCares buttons will be available, for a small donation, at booths on December 2 at locations throughout the island.

Retailers have agreed to have the pins available at their businesses.

WindReach said that schools are hosting #WindReachCares grub days in celebration and observance of the UN’s awareness day.

The spokeswoman added: “Corporate participation represents another powerful dimension of this initiative.

“When organisations donate and encourage their employees to wear these pins on December 3, they make a public statement about their values.

“They demonstrate that inclusion isn't confined to policy documents but is woven into their organisational culture.

“This collective action amplifies the message and normalises conversations about disability in professional settings where they’re often overlooked.

“The progression from awareness to action is deliberate and essential. Awareness without action is merely acknowledgement.

“By facilitating conversations through these pins, they create awareness.

“That awareness empowers people to take action, whether through advocacy, policy changes or personal commitments.

“These actions, when sustained, create the inclusive and equitable societies we all deserve.

“Every conversation matters. Every pin worn is a statement of solidarity.

“Every person empowered to discuss disability and inclusion brings us closer to a Bermuda where these conversations aren’t difficult any more, they’re simply natural.”

• For more information on the campaign, visit www.windreach.bm or follow the charity on social media @windreachbermuda