Invisible Disability Awareness Month

“I am multiply-disabled, and I have both visible and invisible disabilities. My disabilities are dynamic (fluctuating) and I have learned that on my good days when I am not using a mobility aid, a lot of people don’t know I’m disabled. People often see I use a rollator and wheelchair and I explain I have a connective tissue disorder called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. People will often easily accommodate my needs when they can see my disability. However, you can’t tell just by looking at me that I am neurodivergent or have a heart condition. People tend to just label me as awkward, forgetful, and lazy not realizing I suffer from invisible disabilities too. I wish more people understood that you can’t tell just by looking at a person if they are disabled or not. I think we need to have less assumptions and more conversations.”