There are many types of disability in the world – some are more substantial than others. Many people spend their lives physically impaired in some way, with obvious and noticeable aids and support. However, what happens to the people who don’t have those types of obvious indicators? What do we do for people who have invisible disabilities?
For many, it seems to be an overarching issue that plagues them throughout their lives. Because they don’t have physical disabilities, it’s very difficult for them to be able to receive the same support and recognition that people with visible disabilities receive all the time.
Invisible disabilities can take many different forms. For some people, a disability that can’t be seen is something like a mental health condition, but for others, it could be arthritis. There are lots of health conditions that don’t have obvious physical consequences, so it’s very difficult to see them in the same way we would somebody who requires a wheelchair to move around.
Unfortunately, these are people who are not treated with the same respect as those who have much more visible disabilities. People openly doubt that these individuals have disabilities because there are no obvious signs that they struggle with them every day. It makes it very difficult for these types of people to get the support they need, which only strengthens feelings of isolation.
As disability support providers Gold Coast, we do have a lot of experience with working with people who have invisible disabilities. Unfortunately, the things that they deal with on a regular basis are very upsetting. They often struggle to get the same support from the local government or even recognition within the wider community because people say that if you can’t see your disability, it doesn’t exist.
Obviously, this is sincerely untrue, but it is simply indicative of a wider problem that the disability world is facing with regard to public attitudes. There are still many people who regard disability as nothing more than a joke, and will openly challenge anybody who has a disability, even if that person has a very visible issue like requiring a wheelchair.
We would go so far as to say it’s almost a form of discrimination against people who have invisible disabilities. These are just ordinary people who don’t deserve the treatment that they receive.
Obviously, we definitely need a radical overhaul of the way we look at disabilities. People are entitled to get proper support, and it’s important that we take everybody’s needs into consideration. Invisible disabilities are just as valid as any other type of disability, so dismissing them is incredibly offensive. Hopefully, we can change the way people look at this type of thing, and make a positive difference that will continue for years to come. If nothing else, we owe it to disabled people to make these changes and to give them the support they deserve.