A non-visible disability is a disability or health condition that is not immediately obvious. It can defy stereotypes of what people might think disabled people look like.
This can make it difficult for people with non-visible disabilities to access what they need. The impact of living with a non-visible disability can be slight, or can have a huge effect on someone’s life.
Daily life can look different for people with non-visible disabilities. Non-visible disabilities include a wide range of disabilities. These are not limited to, but may include:
mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, personality disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder
autism and Asperger’s syndrome
visual impairments or restricted vision
hearing loss
sensory and processing difficulties
cognitive impairment, including dementia, traumatic brain injury, or learning disabilities
non-visible health conditions, including diabetes, chronic pain or fatigue, respiratory conditions, incontinence
Many disabled people self-identify in different ways. There are several ways of talking about non-visible disabilities.
Some people with disabilities that are not obvious prefer the phrase ‘non-visible’. This is because the word ‘invisible’ can erase the legitimacy of the disability, or imply the disability does not exist.
‘Hidden’ disability can imply a person is hiding their disability on purpose. ‘Less-visible’ disability does not encompass those whose condition is completely non-visible.
With non-visible disabilities it is important to emphasise that even though the disability cannot be seen, it does not mean it does not exist.
Some ‘non-visible’ conditions are visible or obvious sometimes. Also, they can be 'seen' by some people who might have a better understanding of the condition. But they are not usually visible to others.
A non-visible disability is a disability or health condition that is not immediately obvious. It can defy stereotypes of what people might think disabled people look like.
This can make it difficult for people with non-visible disabilities to access what they need. The impact of living with a non-visible disability can be slight, or can have a huge effect on someone’s life.
Daily life can look different for people with non-visible disabilities. Non-visible disabilities include a wide range of disabilities. These are not limited to, but may include:
mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, personality disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder
autism and Asperger’s syndrome
visual impairments or restricted vision
hearing loss
sensory and processing difficulties
cognitive impairment, including dementia, traumatic brain injury, or learning disabilities
non-visible health conditions, including diabetes, chronic pain or fatigue, respiratory conditions, incontinence
Many disabled people self-identify in different ways. There are several ways of talking about non-visible disabilities.
Some people with disabilities that are not obvious prefer the phrase ‘non-visible’. This is because the word ‘invisible’ can erase the legitimacy of the disability, or imply the disability does not exist.
‘Hidden’ disability can imply a person is hiding their disability on purpose. ‘Less-visible’ disability does not encompass those whose condition is completely non-visible.
With non-visible disabilities it is important to emphasise that even though the disability cannot be seen, it does not mean it does not exist.
Some ‘non-visible’ conditions are visible or obvious sometimes. Also, they can be 'seen' by some people who might have a better understanding of the condition. But they are not usually visible to others.
