Not All Disabilities Are Visible

The International Day of Persons with Disabilities arrives on December 3rd of each year, bringing renewed themes aimed at raising awareness about people with disabilities. This year's theme, "Not all disabilities are visible," shines a spotlight on invisible disabilities. What are these disabilities, and what are the main challenges associated with them? That is what we will address in this article.

The term "disability" refers to a broad umbrella of health conditions that impair individuals' potential and their psychological, mental, or physical abilities. Usually, visible physical disabilities receive the largest share of attention. However, there are different types of disability known as invisible disabilities. These disabilities are not obvious and cannot be easily identified.

Characteristics of Invisible Disabilities

There is a set of key characteristics of invisible disabilities, the most prominent of which are:

1. They cannot be seen by others.

2. They do not require the use of visible or tangible aids and support tools (such as crutches or a wheelchair).

3. They are chronic.

4. Some symptoms of invisible disabilities can be managed through medication or behavioral rehabilitation sessions.

5. They cause the individual some form of continuous physical or psychological pain.

Most Prominent Types of Invisible Disabilities:

Autism Spectrum Disorder: The proportion of individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder worldwide is 1%. The impact of autism spectrum disorder varies across the lives of affected individuals. In general, these individuals face difficulties in social communication skills and exhibit certain stereotyped and repetitive behaviors. Individuals with autism spectrum disorder may also experience physical or psychological complications due to co-occurring conditions, such as digestive issues, sleep problems, epilepsy, and other psychiatric disorders.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: The symptoms of this disorder appear in the form of varying difficulties in controlling movement, maintaining focus, and regulating impulsivity. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder can affect academic achievement, as well as an individual's ability to adapt to their surrounding environment and adhere to instructions.

Learning Difficulties:These are problems related to an individual's ability to acquire, interpret, and apply new information. Their effects vary according to the type of difficulty the individual faces, as some people with learning difficulties experience difficulty in reading, writing, or math. Some experience difficulty in motor performance, which impairs their ability to finely control their body movements. In addition, some individuals with learning difficulties experience auditory or visual processing impairments that may cause difficulties in interpreting and understanding auditory or visual information.

Psychological Disorders: There is a group of disorders, such as anxiety and depression, that affect an individual's psychological health.

Challenges Related to Invisible Disabilities:

Individuals with invisible disabilities face various challenges, the most prominent of which are explained below:

1. Low awareness of these disabilities and their accompanying challenges. Sometimes, individuals with invisible disabilities are looked at with surprise when using public facilities designated for individuals with disabilities. Regular campaigns must be organized across various channels (television, social media in schools, universities, etc.) to increase awareness of these disabilities and their prevalence.

2. Due to the lack of appropriate screening, diagnosis, and treatment services, individuals with invisible disabilities may not know they have them. Training teachers and healthcare practitioners in methods for detecting and addressing such disabilities is important to reduce the impact of these disabilities on these individuals, their families, and society.

The number of individuals with invisible disabilities is increasing noticeably around the world alongside the rapid development of screening and diagnostic tools. Hence, this year's International Day of Persons with Disabilities came to shed light on this form of disability. Share this article with anyone you think might be interested.

References

Cochrane Eliza, 2020. Not Every Disability Is Visible’: What Are the Most Common ‘Invisible’ Disabilities?, Psychreg.

.https://www.psychreg.org/invisible-disabilities/

Center on Disability Studies, 2008. Hidden / Invisible Disabilities, SDDL Project, University of Hawai‘i.

.http://www.ist.hawaii.edu/training/hiddendisabilities/05_hidden_disabilities.php

Originally published in Arabic. This English version was produced with AI-assisted translation; the Arabic original remains the reference.