Invisible Disabilities?

Angela Arlington – Community Engagement Coordinator, Writer and Contributor

“Invisible disabilities” refers to invisible symptoms such as debilitating pain, fatigue, dizziness, cognitive dysfunctions, brain injuries, learning differences and mental health disorders, as well as hearing and vision impairments. This includes many well-known disabilities like asthma, epilepsy, anemia, migraines, anxiety, rheumatoid arthritis, attention deficit disorder, autism, depression, allergies, diabetes, cancer, heart disease and color-blindness. On the other end of the list, there are many misunderstood or not talked about diagnosis, including fibromyalgia, Sjogren’s syndrome, lupus, bile acid malabsorption, Ehlers- Danlos syndrome, mass cell activation disorder, narcolepsy, multiple sclerosis, and endometriosis to name a few.

Just because a person has a disability does not make them disabled. There are medications, therapies, alternative ways to learning, modifications to diet and exercise, that can help some people navigate life in spite of their disability. According to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), “An individual with a disability is a person who: ‘Has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities; has a record of such an impairment, or is regarded as having such an impairment (Disability Discrimination).” Furthermore, “A person is considered to have a disability if he or she has difficulty performing certain functions (seeing, hearing, talking, walking, climbing stairs and lifting and carrying), or has difficulty performing activities of daily living, or has difficulty with certain social roles (doing school work for children, working at a job and around the house for adults).”

Find out more about invisible disabilities, conditions and illnesses with the following resources. Educate other people and think about sharing your own journey!

Resources: Invisible Disabilities Association The Invisible Disabilities Association (IDA) defines the term succinctly: “In simple terms, an invisible disability is a physical, mental or neurological condition that is not visible from the outside, yet can limit or challenge a person’s movements, senses, or activities.” Unfortunately, the very fact that these symptoms are invisible can lead to misunderstandings, false perceptions, and judgments. IDA also uses the term in a sentence: “People are parking in an accessible parking space with a placard, but they look fine. I wonder if that driver has an invisible disability.”

Disabled-World.com Disabled-World.com puts it this way: Invisible Disability, or hidden disability, is an umbrella term that captures a whole spectrum of hidden disabilities or challenges that are primarily neurological in nature. Invisible disability, or hidden disability, are defined as disabilities that are not immediately apparent. Some people with visual or auditory disabilities who do not wear glasses or hearing aids, or discreet hearing aids, may not be obviously disabled. Some people who have vision loss may wear contacts. A sitting disability is another category of invisible impairments; sitting problems are usually caused by chronic back pain. Those with joint problems or chronic pain may not use mobility aids on some days, or at all. Although the disability creates a challenge for the person who has it, the reality of the disability can be difficult for others to recognize or acknowledge. Others may not understand the cause of the problem, if they cannot see evidence of it in a visible way.

Supporting people with nonvisible disabilities (U.S.) (hiddendisabilitiesstore.com) What is the Sunflower? The sunflower is a globally recognized symbol for non-visible disabilities, also known as hidden disabilities or invisible disabilities. Not all disabilities are visible – some are not immediately obvious. They include autism, chronic pain, and learning difficulties as well as mental health conditions, mobility, speech impairments, and sensory loss such as speech, sight loss, hearing loss, or deafness. They also include respiratory conditions as well as chronic conditions such as diabetes, chronic pain, and sleep disorders when these significantly impact day-to-day life. Although you may not be able to see these invisible impairments and conditions, they’re still there.

People living with these often face barriers in their daily lives including a lack of understanding and negative attitudes. So some choose to wear the sunflower lanyard to discreetly identify that they may need support, help or just a little more time in shops, transport or public spaces. “Just because you can’t see it, doesn’t mean that it is not there.”

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