Defining invisible disabilities: Is that possible? Isn’t that term an oxymoron? Can’t you always tell who is disabled? Someone in a wheelchair or walking with a cane? Blind? Deaf? They’re the disabled ones, right? Can you really recognize a deaf or blind person? What about severe heart conditions? Arthritis? Disabilities don’t always show.
A personal story
I have lived forty-plus years with unpredictable, progressive neuromuscular disorders. People can’t see the fatigability. Nor how my muscles can simply stop working. They can only see I sit a lot. I lean against a wall, chair, whatever, whenever possible. I miss meetings. However, this is not the fatigue of overwork or disease or laziness. Neither exercise, diet, nor supplements reverse it. Believe me, I tried – repeatedly. I am one of millions with invisible disabilities. I use these challenges to reach out to the world to seek to encourage others like me and to educate typically healthy people about us.
So, disabilities can be unseen. What does that mean in our lives?
Some statistics
In 2010, the article, “Americans with Disabilities: 2010,” showed 38.3 million severely disabled people. 15.2 million of them used wheelchairs, canes, or walkers. That left 23.1 million severely disabled persons whose disabilities are not easily discerned.
Invisible disabilities explained
Disability – the visible kind
First, what constitutes a disability? The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) says, “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.” Another source, the Invisible Disabilities Association (IDA), adds, “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.”
Disabilities unseen
Did you notice, “Walking, climbing stairs, lifting, carrying?” Can you see what causes these difficulties? Not likely.
Wikipedia says, “Invisible disabilities are disabilities that are not immediately apparent. …chronic illnesses and conditions that significantly impair normal activities of daily living.”
IDA names just some of many specific symptoms of invisible disabilities: “debilitating pain, fatigue, dizziness, cognitive dysfunctions, brain injuries, learning differences and mental health disorders, as well as hearing and vision impairments.” These often can’t be observed, although their consequences can be. Severity ranges from mildly affecting a person’s day to severely limiting what an individual can do.
So now what?
What will you do? Will you notice people around you? Maybe that coworker who always rests isn’t just lazy. Possibly the person who ignores you just can’t hear you. Maybe your friend missing church is exhausted.
Can you help?
- Befriend someone.
- Give practical help.
- Organize a group to help with bigger needs.
One action to take
Sharing the Load Ministries brings you this website. As of now, we are a tiny group of people. We agree to encourage someone who is having a tough time in life. Check out this page for more information. Now, click on the button below to join. There is no obligation except to brighten someone else’s day in some way.
Your Input
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Want more info?
See even more posts.
And check out entries on the Invisible Disabilities tab on the Observers page.
Look at IDA – a group providing information about and advocating for people with invisible disabilities.
For an in-depth look, see the 50-page thesis by Megan Shaw.
There are a lot of factors affecting a person’s health, even if you don’t look ill. Care givers also have a lot to deal with, especially family members, may we all find His peace and healing, until then we have grace.
Caregivers do have a tough time. They have their caregiving jobs, but they still have a life of their own. Sometimes a hard balance.
“23.1 million severely disabled persons whose disabilities are not easily discerned” – that undefined category concerns me because so many people fall through the gaps because they don’t fit certain criteria or don’t perhaps even have a diagnosis. I wonder how the stats would look today, ten years after those ones were estimated?
You’ve done a great job at giving an easy-to-digest overview of hidden, unseen conditions. The more awareness the better!
xx
I’d really liked to have found more up-to-date stats but they are really hard to find! I definitely think people without diagnoses yet should definitely still fall under the umbrella of invisible disabilities as diagnosing can be so difficult.