![]() ![]() Society has made some investments into detectable disabilities, but due to the hidden nature of many disabilities, individuals are further isolated and marginalized." Michelle McDonald, Executive Director of Brain Injury Canada reacts: "While many people with hidden disabilities face suspicion and accusations of malingering, others face very serious marginalization issues of unemployment, poverty, homelessness, and criminalization." "The hidden disability community is recognized by the United Nations as being larger than the detectable disability community, and is growing due to the long-term effects of public health issues such as COVID-19 and Lyme Disease." Brydges also explains that, despite its size, there is not much research into the experiences and needs of the hidden disability community as a whole. But this really is just a small portion of the disability community."Īccording to this 16-year member of and proponent for the hidden disability community, Brydges adds: "Generally, we think about disabilities we can see and hear, such as blindness, and mobility and communication-related conditions. "Since hidden disabilities, such as low vision, heart conditions, mental illness, and chronic pain are not readily apparent, they often get forgotten," explains Laura Brydges, Co-Founder of the HDSC movement. ![]() This movement has petitioned the Government of Canada to adopt and promote a national Hidden Disability Symbol, and is asking Canadians to sign an open letter with the same request. Hidden Disability Symbol Canada (HDSC) is urgently encouraging everyone to participate in a federal Disability Inclusion Action Plan survey before it closes on August 31, and to give the hidden disability community the voice and recognition it needs and deserves. Together these issues translate into a world where members of the hidden disability community are, at best, criticized and excluded from places, events and situations and, at worst, face disproportionate levels of unemployment, poverty, and homelessness. But members of the hidden disability community need additional types of inclusion measures such as quieter places, controlled lighting, fewer distractions, and more flexible deadlines, to name just a few. Ramps, closed captioning, and automatic door openers are effective and necessary accessibility measures. These factors are often not considered to be disability-related barriers, and go unaddressed - making jobs difficult to get, and keeping the hidden disability community socially and financially marginalized. These symptoms are often triggered by tasks and environments that are too complex, too intense, or too long in duration. Hidden disabilities often result in pain, physical and cognitive fatigue, memory and learning issues, sensory processing difficulties, lack of focus, and lethargy. Resultingly, there is also no incentive to do research or develop best practices to address the needs of the hidden disability community. ![]() Yet there is no research or statistical category to gather information about hidden disabilities collectively. There are more people with hidden disabilities than there are people with apparent, or detectable, disabilities. Yet, although we are all aware of these individual conditions, there is much to be learned about the shared needs and experiences of the hidden disability community as the unique group that it is. There are hundreds of conditions, illnesses and injuries that can result in a hidden disability - anemias, brain injuries and strokes, allergies, epilepsy, heart diseases, lung conditions, mental illnesses, and chronic pain are just a few examples. No white cane, no cough, no limp or wheelchair, no hearing aids. This means that in a typical conversation or interaction you would not see or hear anything that would tell you that they have a disability. This is a diverse group of individuals who live with one or more disabling conditions that are not readily apparent. Hidden Disability Symbol: Canada Movementīefore you do the survey, we encourage you to test your own awareness of one disability group - the hidden, or invisible, disability community. ![]()
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