“Imagine being constantly and unfairly judged, labeled as lazy or anti-social, because people, including your family and friends, do not believe or know that you have a disability.”
The Invisible Disabilities® Association (IDA) is an organization dedicated to raising worldwide awareness and providing support and resources to people living with invisible disabilities. According to IDA founder Wayne Connell, “People living with invisible disabilities may not appear to have any challenges, but sometimes this makes their battles even harder to fight.”
Chronic pain, difficulty breathing, trouble concentrating, and extreme fatigue are just a few examples of invisible symptoms that can substantially impact an individual’s ability to perform normal every day activities. These limitations can place strain on relationships, especially when others don’t understand a person’s biological, mental, or physiological disability.
As Connell says, “No one would get angry or upset with someone with a broken leg for turning down an invitation to go hiking. But people with invisible disabilities often have to deal with negative reactions from people who don’t understand their illnesses.”
An invisible disability is any physical, mental, or neurological condition that limits an individual’s mobility, senses, or faculties in a way that is not visually apparent to onlookers. Common invisible disabilities include:
- Heart Disease
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Lyme Disease
- Arthritis
- Lupus
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
It has been estimated that 1 out of every 10 people struggles with a medical condition that impacts or impairs the daily activities in some way.
IDA and Allsup, the nation’s premier provider of disability benefits representation, recently announced the launch of their new video, “I Am Invisible No More.” The video features personal testimonies of people with invisible disabilities.
Manager of Strategic Alliances at Allsup, Tai Prohaska, says, “By sharing their stories, people living with invisible disabilities can help their family, friends and the public become more mindful of how they treat others, and also learn how to offer critical support if they know someone living with an invisible disability.”
Do you have more questions about invisible disabilities? We can help. At the Dabdoub Law Firm, our team helps clients who have suffered TBI obtain disability benefits from insurance companies. Let us put our skills to work for you today. Contact our disability attorneys for your free consultation.
