It can be easy to assume, particularly when meeting new people, that if someone looks ‘healthy’ and able-bodied, that they are. But this is not always the case and it can be a dangerous and unfair assumption with serious consequences. Invisible disabilities can be physical or mental and include any impairments that limit a person’s everyday life, whether that be through movement, senses, or otherwise, and cannot be recognized simply by looking at someone. There are many invisible disabilities, but examples include cystic fibrosis, multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue, endometriosis, autism, cancer, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Crohn’s disease, brain injuries and asthma.
While there are many reasons why awareness of invisible diseases is important, listed below are just a few to help you understand how and why you can be a better ally to those often suffering in silence.
Invisible Illness is More Common Than You Think
According to the University of Massachusetts, 10 per cent of Americans live with an invisible disability. It’s a significant portion of the population, and it means that more likely than not, you know someone with an invisible disability. By educating yourself on the range of disabilities that fall under this category, and better understanding them, you will be better equipped to support the people in your life. This might mean reading up on different conditions in your spare time, or if you feel very passionately about it, considering study or work options in the area, such as an MA in Mental Health Counseling online and turning this support into a career.
Without a well-rounded understanding of various diseases, it can be easy to make mistakes that negatively impact those living with them. For example, if you’re in a rush while waiting in a long line to use a public restroom, it might be more convenient for you to quickly use the vacant accessible toilet. In reality, you could be getting in the way of someone who desperately needs the accessible space. Someone who uses a colostomy bag, that you can’t see, may need the extra space and running water of the accessible bathroom. Someone living with bowel disease may not have the same ability as you to hold on and wait in line. What seems like a quick and easy option for you, could be of serious detriment to someone else.
The Landscape of Learning & Working Can Look Different
Invisible disabilities can change the way students and workers take in, retain and communicate information. They can also affect focus levels, time management and confidence. For example, someone with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) may find it difficult to focus in class or keep to a schedule, while someone with anxiety may struggle to ask for help when needed.
With a proper understanding of disabilities that impact learning and working, we can make appropriate accommodations and allowances to foster environments conducive to everybody’s needs. This might mean allowing more regular breaks for those who struggle to stay on task for long periods of time, providing more leeway on deadlines and start times, or offering help more regularly to those who don’t ask on their own. These may seem like small changes, but they could be hugely impactful, and even life-changing, for those who need them.
We Can Reduce the Stigma Around Invisible Disabilities
Unfortunately due to a lack of education and understanding, there is still a lot of stigma surrounding many invisible disabilities. While mental health discourse has come a long way, the reality is many people still don’t consider mental health issues as very real or serious. Similarly, the lack of understanding surrounding those with invisible diseases such as chronic pain can lead to negative reactions from some when they see sufferers accessing the services or benefits they are entitled to, such as accessible parking.
The invisibility of many diseases, mental or physical, means that they’re often not discussed, inquired about, or understood by the population that they don’t directly affect. Unfair stigma often means unfair treatment and ignorance, negatively impacting those living with invisible diseases. Information is power and by understanding various diseases, we are all better equipped to support the needs of those around us, ultimately providing them with the accommodations they need to live their everyday lives.
These are only a few reasons as to why it’s important that we better understand invisible disabilities. Ultimately, they all come down to one thing: being better support systems for those who need it. There might be small changes you can make in your everyday life or big conversations you can have with those around you. You might be in a position to introduce new policies or systems at your school or workplace or lead discussions in your communities.
Whatever it is that you can do, it’s incredibly important that we all take steps to build awareness around invisible illnesses and disabilities: what they are, who they affect, and how we can make changes to reduce their impact.
