Invisible disabilities. Isn’t that 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.
Disability – the visible kind
So what is 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 some 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 are. Severity ranges from mildly affecting a person’s day to severely limiting what an individual can do.
A few statistics
In 2010, the Census Bureau reported 19% of Americans have a disability, half of whom are severely disabled (about 30,000,000). Cornucopia of Disability Information estimates there are about 1,000,000 wheelchair users. Another 5,000,000 use a cane (IDA). That leaves 24,000,000 with severe disabilities that are “invisible” to most. Wikipedia says that about 10% of people with chronic medical conditions experience disabling symptoms. So, millions of Americans have an invisible disability. Who do you know that has one?
A personal story
I have lived nearly forty years with unpredictable, changeable neuromuscular disorders. People can’t see the fatigability or how my muscles will simply stop working. They can only see I sit a lot; I lean whenever possible; I miss meetings. This is not the fatigue of overwork or disease or laziness. Neither exercise, diet, nor supplements reverse it. Believe me, I tried – repeatedly. So, I am one of the millions with invisible disabilities.
So … what now?
With this information, what will you do? Will you notice people around you? Maybe that coworker that always rests isn’t just lazy. Possibly the person who ignores you just can’t hear you. Maybe your friend missing church is exhausted.
If you are the dweller, should you try and help people understand you? If they don’t get it, can you find an encourager?
Will you leave a comment sharing your story? Know someone who has an invisible disability? About yourself, how can others encourage you?
PS: Stay tuned for happier posts!
