Invisible Disabilities - What You Should Know
A physically visible disability registers to people instantly because they can see it. Whether it be a physical trait or an aide like a wheelchair or cane, people notice it. But what does that mean for people with invisible disabilities?
It often means they can be judged harsher by people. People with an invisible disability can be labelled as lazy, faking it, or told they are over-exaggerating their disability.
Brain injuries, ADHD, mental illnesses, chronic fatigue and pain and many other disabilities aren’t immediately visible. There are not always outward signs that someone has a disability and unless the person who is disabled chooses to disclose their condition with you, you may never know they are in fact disabled.
Stigma
Traversing through stigma and being discriminated against because of having an invisible disability is an issue too often experienced by people who are already dealing with difficulties with a non-visible disability.
Stigma plays a role in the quality of health care, access to social care, adjustments to work to enable a person to perform their role within their abilities. All this is compounding and can have a negative impact of the disabled persons life.
Whilst there are options now for people to wear a lanyard or carry a doctor’s letter with them at all times in the event they feel or are required to disclose their disability, not all people are comfortable with this. Providing at times unnecessary information can further inhibit a person wanting to interact either socially or at work. They do not and should not have to prove their disability unless absolutely required for medical needs.
Unsolicited Advice
Never offer up advice! Just because you think something may help someone with a disability, doesn’t mean you should.
Most of the time whatever you are attempting to offer is something that has already been offered up a thousand times before and is not going to help.
What they do need: Inclusivity
People with any disability need a supportive network. They need people who include them in social gatherings but is mindful of their disability. It might be going out for dinner but choose somewhere not too loud or has disability access.
Inclusive workplaces are also of the utmost importance. If businesses learnt anything from the pandemic, is that most job roles can be done from home, and they can be flexible with work hours. Making someone sit in an office 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday so you can “monitor” them doing their work is absurd. Employers can be much more supportive by allowing someone to work from home and reduce their stress around travel, crowded roads, or public transport and to be in the comfort of their own home.
Unsolicited Advice
Never offer up advice! Just because you think something may help someone with a disability, doesn’t mean you should.
Most of the time whatever you are attempting to offer is something that has already been offered up a thousand times before and is not going to help.
Moving Forward
When people who have an invisible disability make it known to you, believe them, support them, advocate for them! We all need advocates in this world. It’s tough to survive in a world where you don’t feel seen.