02/12/2022
Today we're raising awareness around invisible disabilities, for International Day of People with Disability. 🥰
It can be hard to know if someone is living with a disability, because 90% of disabilities in Australia can't be seen.
A disability is a condition of the body or mind that makes it harder for a person to do certain activities and interact with the world around them. They can be visible, hidden, permanent or episodic.
Disabilities that may not be visible include 👇
➡️ mental health conditions – for example, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anxiety and depression
➡️ autism and sensory processing issues
➡️ cognitive impairment, such as dementia, brain injury and intellectual disabilities
➡️ physical health conditions, such as chronic pain, chronic fatigue, diabetes and incontinence
➡️ deaf or hard of hearing
➡️ blind or low vision.
People living with disability are a diverse group of people with a wide range of needs. Disability can affect everyone in different ways.
By raising awareness of disabilities that can't be seen, we can help build more supportive, understanding communities.
ℹ️ Source:
APSC (2021). Disability myths and stereotypes.
Central Coast NSW gov (2022). Improve inclusivity and think outside the chair.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2020). Disability and Health Overview.