One of the things David Hingston-Jones, who suffers from frontotemporal dementia, loves most is to pat dogs, like Scruffles. Photo: Vickie Hingston-Jones.
Hidden disabilities are described as conditions that are not immediately apparent to others but still significantly impact a person’s daily life.
Often, hidden disabilities are cognitive and affect the way people think, interact or take in or recollect information.
For Vickie Hingston-Jones and her husband, David, who suffers from frontotemporal dementia, David’s hidden disability isn’t just a factor they need to consider for themselves, but for others they may interact with as well.
For David, and by association, Vickie, even a trip to the supermarket is an all-day affair. Due to David’s dementia, he is unable to fully comprehend where he is or even who he is most of the time.
Often, David will have conversations with people he has never met, as if they were lifelong friends or, in some cases, he will try to talk with kids and babies, often smiling and wanting to meet them.
While there are no ill intentions, his forward nature can be difficult for Vickie to explain to people with whom David has interacted. Because of this, Vickie took to social media to explain her husband’s condition; little did she predict that thousands of people would show their support and understanding.
“I wrote the post to hopefully give people an idea of how people with frontotemporal dementia interact with others,” she said.
“In David’s case, he’s quite friendly with babies and people he’s never met. It’s almost like he’s reverted to being a child.
“Before posting, we had an interaction at a coffee shop, and despite the people he was talking to having no clue who he was, they treated him with so much respect, as if he were a lifelong friend.
“He started beaming with joy. For me, seeing David be able to enjoy something, even as little as having a conversation with somebody else, really means the world to me.”
Vickie’s post explaining what David enjoys and how best to interact with him went viral, with thousands of people liking it and showing their support for him and others with hidden disabilities.
“My heart could burst; it’s just fantastic,” she said.
“People have offered to bring their dogs to meet David so he could have a play with the puppy. It’s been really lovely. I’m just overwhelmed by that support that we’ve got, and I just wish it were for everybody.”
It hasn’t been easy for Vickie, with David’s diagnosis declared in January 2025. Since then, they have seen a sharp decline in his recollection.
“I’ve been married to David for over 40 years, and sometimes he would forget who I am, which is probably the most difficult thing to hear,” she said.
“I’ve had to give up a lot of my volunteer groups that I was a part of to look after David full-time.”
Vickie isn’t the only person in this position either; more than 6000 people in Canberra suffer from dementia, according to the ACT Audit Office. To help others in the community identify David’s condition, he wears a sunflower pin, which signifies that the wearer suffers from a hidden disability.
Vickie said the sunflower pin wasn’t commonplace in Australia, and she would like to see more people and businesses showcase their support for the idea.
“If businesses and shops and clubs and cinemas, anything, would have a little sticker or poster that says we recognise the sunflowers here, I think that would put the question in people’s minds, ‘What is this sunflower thing? What does this actually mean?’,” she said.
“I think that would be a really good start. I know they do that more in other countries, I think. In the UK, you see the sunshine stickers on shops everywhere. I think a lot of people in Australia would really benefit from having that here.”
While Vickie continues to care for David every day, she said the support and understanding from others went a long way.
“If you ever meet someone with dementia who seems a little confused, a little slow, or reaches out unexpectedly — please know that behind that is a whole person who still feels joy, connection, and belonging,” she said.
“You don’t need to do anything special. Just include them. Say hello. Let them pat the dog. It’s enough. It’s more than enough.
“I just want to say thanks, Canberra, you’re doing it right!”
