Examples Of Invisible Disabilities

Over 19.9% of our population has some type of a disability. An estimated 48.9 million people have a disability, and 24.1 million of those people live with a severe disability. We need to have a better understanding of those with disabilities, whether it be a visible or invisible disability, they way that they have been viewed in the past, or the everyday barriers that they come upon.

Throughout history the treatment of the disabled has been rather cruel. According to an article from the Paul Burtner College of Dentistry, it stated “Institutions were built by state and local administrative agencies to house people with developmental disabilities. These institutions were usually built on the outskirts of town. Societal attitudes fostered

An invisible disability can be defined as a disability that is not immediately apparent only by looking at someone. In an article from a website titled Disabled World, it stated “It is estimated that 10% of people in the U.S. have a medical condition which could be considered a type of invisible disability...Invisible disabilities can include chronic illnesses such as renal failure, diabetes, and sleep disorders if those diseases significantly impair normal activities of daily living.” A visible disability is one that someone noticeably has based upon looking at them. On the Invisible Disabilities Association website, it states “Often people think the term disability only refers to people who use a wheelchair or walker. On the contrary, the 1994-1995 Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) found that 26 million Americans (almost 1 in 10) were considered to have a severe disability, while only 1.8 million used a wheelchair and 5.2 million used a cane, crutches or walker (Americans with Disabilities 94-95). In other words, 74 percent of Americans who live with a severe disability do not use such devices.” Based on this, one must conclude that visible disabilities can come in different forms, and people do not always need to have a walker or wheelchair. It is possible that some people may also have a visible invisible disability. For instance, on the Invisible Disabilities Association website, it says “‘My friend Matt Barrett is a real example of someone living with visible invisible disabilities. Matt is 46-years-old and has battled 11 types of cancer since the age of two, including basal cell nevus syndrome, a genetic form of cancer passed down through his family for six generations. He has had over 1,700 surgeries and has lived with unbearable pain and