Hidden disabilities or ignored disabilities?
I wanted to talk about the term “hidden disabilities” or “invisible disabilities” because for me, I don’t really find the term accurate even though I recognise it’s helpful for public awareness.
“Are our disabilities hidden or are people making assumptions based on what they observe?”
Hidden disabilities or invisible disabilities is a term to refer to disabilities that are not visible or obvious. Some common hidden disabilities are Autism, ADHD and dyslexia, as well as physical disabilities like IBS, EDS, RA, POTS or Celiacs.
Here’s the thing.
I feel like “hidden disabilities” puts the onus on the disabled individual as if we are hiding our disabilities. I feel like the term “hidden disabilities” generalises certain disabilities.
There are plenty of people who are visibly Autistic or visibly ADHD — there’s nothing hidden about us and for those who are perhaps less visible, it’s because they’ve been taught to mask for safety and survival.
As someone with EDS, IBS and Rheumatoid Arthritis, even these are considered hidden disabilities but they really aren’t hidden or invisible.
I’m sure people notice when I’m escaping to the bathroom for the tenth time or I’m trying to get my shoulder back in after it slipped out of the place again. I’m sure people notice when I say no to particular foods when I’m invited to dinner and I’m sure people notice when I have to stay home for five days after a big weekend out. I’ve no doubt people notice when I’m wincing with every step and bend. They simply don’t associate these things with disability because my disability doesn’t look a certain way.
I use mobility aids on occasion and I’ve been offered priority lanes, I’ve been offered a seat while I wait, I’ve been seen as a disabled person. While this has its disadvantages when it comes to discrimination and more, there are also some upsides like having my disability acknowledged. When I don’t use my mobility aids, I’m taken less seriously as a disabled person — people make assumptions about me and overlook my needs. I think this shows that many people have this idea of what a disability looks like so when they don’t see their idea of a disabled person, they make assumptions.
It isn’t because our disabilities are hidden or invisible.
It isn’t even because people aren’t paying attention because they are.
If people weren’t paying attention, they wouldn’t tease or bully us, they wouldn’t question us or tell us to act more normal or to get over it or to stim less or to pay attention.
If people weren’t paying attention, they wouldn’t point out our differences or point out when we’re running late or why we’re limping or why we’re leaving early or why we’re saying no.
Oh yes, people are paying attention but most of the time, they associate these things with personal failings or flaws rather than a part of our disability.
Our disabilities are not hidden or invisible.
Our disabilities are misunderstood, denied and ignored by society.
I feel like instead of using hidden disabilities to create more visibility and awareness, we should be educating society on what it means to be disabled and challenging people’s assumptions around disabilities.
Are our disabilities hidden or are people ignoring our needs and challenges?
Are our disabilities hidden or are people making assumptions based on what they observe?
Are our disabilities hidden or do people have a lack of understanding of disabilities?
Our disabilities aren’t hiding.
Our disabilities are quite visible to us.
Our disabilities are quite visible to the people around us if they just listen to us.