It’s used all over the world and has been for over 50 years. The International Symbol of Access is the universal symbol found in spaces designated for disabled people. 🙋 Remember that different people need disabled spaces Not sure what you should and shouldn’t say to someone with a hidden disability or illness? Check out our blog post, 5 things not to say to people with invisible illnesses. If they don’t seem comfortable talking about it, apologize and respect their privacy. Ask thoughtful questions, like “What’s it like having/living with ?”. If you know the other person well, you might want to show that you’re open to having a conversation about it. 💡 If someone does share their invisible disability with you, reply without judgment with something like, “Oh, I didn’t know that.
The solution? Being mindful about what we do and say to everyone. That way you’ll be inclusive to those you might not realize could benefit from it, too. Comments that get frustrating or are downright rude generate a discomfort that some would rather just avoid. People have reported feeling stigmatized by strangers, colleagues, friends and family when they’ve disclosed their condition. 🙅♂️ Don’t expect people to disclose or prove their invisible illness or disabilityĮveryone is entitled to choose whether or not to disclose their disability or chronic illness. Here are our top tips for being inclusive to people with invisible disabilities - whether you know they have one or not. So how can we all be more mindful of those with invisible illnesses? There isn’t a foolproof way to target your inclusion to people with invisible illnesses because you can never know who has one. ‘Not every disability is visible’ graphic via Medium. Depending on where you live, mental health conditions like depression and OCD can be covered under the same rights as disabilities if they have a substantial and long-term effect on the individual.Ĭhronic illnesses like diabetes and Crohn’s disease can also count as invisible disabilities because of their detrimental, long-term effects. What is an invisible disability?Īccording to the Invisible Disabilities® Association, any “physical, mental or neurological condition that is not visible from the outside, yet can limit or challenge a person’s movements, senses, or activities” is considered an invisible disability.Įxamples of invisible disabilities include Deafness, blindness, epilepsy and autism.
It’s hard or impossible to tell who has or hasn’t got an invisible illness just by looking at them.
Part of the issue is that invisible disabilities are exactly that - invisible. But while so many of us have an invisible disability or illness, there are still plenty of assumptions made over what disability looks like. It’s thought that invisible disabilities, also known as hidden, unseen or non-visible disabilities, account for 96% of chronic medical conditions. 7 ways to be more inclusive of people with invisible disabilities
0 kommentar(er)
