EDI Series #5 - The misunderstanding of invisible disability and what can you do about It

15 September 2023

by Faridah Hanim Jaffri
Monash University Malaysia

Have you ever heard about the term “invisible disability”? When the topic of disability arises, it seems that most of us possess some awareness. Nevertheless, the concept of an "Invisible Disability" appears to be considerably less familiar to many individuals. Consequently, there is a widespread lack of understanding surrounding individuals with such hidden disabilities. Low awareness could lead to stigmatisation against individuals with real invisible disabilities and a biased view that these individuals might be pretending for the sake of attention or personal gain.

You may recall a recent incident in the news that a woman who was caught driving in the opposite direction claimed that she was disabled or a Person with a Disability (PWD: or in Malay, we called it “OKU”), a lot of people mocked her and said she used it to get away with the crime. There might be a possibility that she actually used her disability card to get away with it, but there was also a possibility that she was a disabled person; it is just that her disability was not apparent to the eye. Before anyone jumps in and challenges my view, I need to declare that the purpose of this article is not to discuss whether she was a PWD or not but more on the reaction of the public when the news came up and how the public accepted the news of her having “invisible disability”. What if the result of her reckless driving was really due to her disability? For example, did something happen to her vision or comprehension at that time it was happening? So, are we ready to accept that people can suffer from a disability that isn’t apparent to the eye?

The real question now is, what is really an ‘invisible disability’? If you look it up online, you can find a variety of definitions. Basically, in simple terms, an ‘invisible disability’ is a disability that is unseen, hidden, concealed or not apparent by anyone. It can be in the form of bipolar disorder, depression, learning disabilities, as well as a long history of chronic illness and conditions such as diabetes, insomnia, and weak heart conditions that may directly cause someone to be unable to perform their daily routine or task.

Due to the nature of invisibility, many people misunderstand these individuals because, through the naked eye, the person suffering from these disabilities might look “normal” or “healthy”. Not to mention, some of these PWDs even hide their disabilities or do not know that they can be considered PWD, causing more misunderstanding toward the invisible disabilities.

You might be wondering why these people conceal or hide their disabilities. Well, if you look at the public's reaction to the example I have given above, you will understand why some PWDs would rather hide their disabilities than share them with others. They don’t want to be seen as someone who is lying and looking for attention. Others may be due to a lack of awareness that their medical condition can be considered “Invisible Disabilities”.

Now comes to the next question, “What can you do if you meet someone with invisible disabilities or know of their disabled conditions?”. There are a few things that you can do. First, NEVER EVER judge someone based on their appearance. Your friends, co-workers, managers, and neighbours might be suffering from invisible disabilities, and your judgmental opinion won’t help. Since it is invisible, a person may appear healthy but actually suffer from a disability. Secondly, ask them if they need help or require certain assistance with their chores, tasks or jobs. Thirdly, never say to them, “GET UP AND STOP ACTING LIKE A BABY!!” or anything that asks them to toughen up and deal with the disability or pain. Fourthly and most importantly, educate yourself.

It's essential to recognise that hidden disabilities are genuine and can affect individuals' daily experiences. Let go of the tendency to stigmatise. The fact that the disability isn't immediately visible doesn't make it any less valid.