a positive solution to this issue. To promote clarity, increase social inclusion and improve the enforcement of these laws, changes must be made to make the definition of disability more universally applicable.19 III.
Case Study: ‘Invisible’ Disabilities
As has been outlined above, a disability is any condition of the body or mind that impacts or reduces the ability of a person to carry out tasks or functions that a non-disabled person would be able to do. However, such a definition is not all-encompassing, and it will be demonstrated that the realm of disability rights in Ireland extends beyond the ‘traditional’ notion of disability often enshrined legislatively. ‘Invisible’ vs ‘Visible’ Disabilities An ‘invisible’ disability, often described as a ‘hidden’ disability, is when a condition or illness is less apparent, internal or invisible, such that others cannot see the disability as it is happening inside one’s body with little outward symptoms.20 The term ‘invisible disability’ has come to be used as an umbrella term, with such hidden disabilities being capable of classification, as with ‘visible’ disabilities, on a spectrum from moderate to severe. So-called invisible disabilities are exceedingly common, with awareness of their existence much lower than that of visible disabilities. One in seven Irish citizens has some form of disability according to the 2016 Irish census.21 With 80% of disabilities having hidden impairments, there are approximately 400,000 Irish citizens with a form of invisible disability.22
for-equality/a-strategy-for-equality-report-of-the-commission-on-the-status-of-people-with-disabilities/legalstatus-of-people-with-disabilities/,> accessed 17 November 2021. 19 Legal Status of Individuals with Disabilities' (National Disability Authority) <https://nda.ie/disabilityoverview/key-policy-documents/report-of-the-commission-on-the-status-of-people-with-disabilities/a-strategyfor-equality/a-strategy-for-equality-report-of-the-commission-on-the-status-of-people-with-disabilities/legalstatus-of-people-with-disabilities/,> accessed 17 November 2021. 20 Invisible Disability Ireland, <https://www.invisibledisabilityireland.com/> accessed 16/11/2021. 21 A O’ Duffy, ‘A Guide to the Law in Ireland in Relation to Disability’ (2018) Independent Living Movement Ireland, 7. 22 Invisible Disability Ireland, <https://www.invisibledisabilityireland.com/> accessed 16/11/2021.
Page | 21
