It is a lesser-known fact that invisible disabilities exist. People often only consider disabilities that are visible to the eyes without knowing that accessible parking is not only for people with wheelchairs.
There are many other disabilities that cannot be seen or identified as easily, but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist. They can also challenge a person’s ability to work and learn. People with invisible disabilities deserve as many facilities as others, but because others are not aware of their condition, they often go unnoticed.
Common invisible disabilities include autoimmune disorders, chronic fatigue, vision or hearing impairment, depression, cognitive dysfunction, diabetes, trauma, etc. Disability support services in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) include many services related to invisible disabilities. Here are some things about invisible disabilities you should know to be more thoughtful about people around you.
They Are Not Rare
Due to a lack of awareness among people, it is often believed that invisible disabilities are rare, but they are more common than you expect. Millions of Australians have invisible disabilities, but they’re not easy to spot since they are invisible.
Conditions like autism, ADHD, brain injuries, mental illness, epilepsy, etc., are all included in invisible disabilities. Some of these might become more evident as the condition worsens. But for starters, it is difficult to identify unless the person decides to reveal it.
More Understanding Is Needed
You need to be patient and understanding of everyone who’s facing challenges in their life. However, it is even more important for people with invisible disabilities. People with intellectual disabilities have an even more challenging time getting along with other people than others. Dealing with a person who has a visible disability might be very different from dealing with someone with an intellectual disability. You will need to be more patient and clear with your actions.
It Can Be Acquired At Any Age
Just like any physical disability, people of any age can acquire an invisible disability. It means that both a child and an adult can obtain this disability at any point in their lives. It is often believed that children are most likely to develop a disability, but there are countless adults who face challenges in their daily lives and participate in disability support services to get access to the necessary support.
They Might Need To Use Accessible Toilets
Accessible toilets are not only made for people with physical disabilities. While it is easier to spot a disability when you can see with your eyes, people with invisible disabilities shouldn’t be dealing with judging eyes either. They might have a condition that makes balancing hard, or they may have inflammatory bowel disease, which makes it harder to hold on. You shouldn’t be judging someone using the accessible toilet just because their disability cannot be seen.
It Affects The Person’s Functionality
Not everything can be seen with the eyes, and just because the problem isn’t visible, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t affect the person’s daily life. Many invisible disabilities have a significant impact on people’s functionality. For example, Dyslexia is a disability that makes interpretation of printed letters and words hard for people, which makes studying and working extremely hard for them. There are many other disabilities like that, and they affect day-to-day life in many different ways.
Final Thoughts
We know it is difficult to differentiate between people with and without disabilities when they have invisible impairments. But a little knowledge and being kind to others can be a great help. You need to be mindful of the challenges that people with invisible disabilities also face so you don’t judge them in public.
If you’re looking for high-quality disability support services, reach out to Complete Connect. They are registered providers and have experienced support workers who will provide you and your loved ones with the best disability support.
