Coauthored by Kate Copeland and Kathleen Bogart, Ph.D.
Imagine waking up every day knowing that you’ll have to convince people that what you’re struggling with is real.
Not because you want sympathy from others, special treatment, or attention. Because your disability isn’t something others can see at first glance. There’s no cast, wheelchair, or visible marker to “prove” that anything is “wrong.”
Invisible disabilities like chronic pain, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, chronic fatigue, autoimmune disorders, traumatic brain injuries, or neurodevelopmental differences affect millions of people.
These disabilities don’t come with obvious signs and are often met with skepticism, disbelief, or even accusations of exaggeration or faking. This disbelief can sometimes be more damaging than the symptoms themselves.
This post explores why invisible disabilities remain misunderstood, what the public needs to know, and how small shifts toward flexibility can dramatically improve the lives of those who live with them every day.
What Is an Invisible Disability?
Globally, one in six people lives with a disability. The Americans with Disabilities Act defines disability as an impairment that substantially limits major life activities. Disabilities vary in how observable or visible they are, with some conditions being very visible, like those involving facial differences or wheelchair use, while others may be invisible, like chronic pain, neurological disorders, learning disabilities, and mental health conditions. Disabilities can be temporary, fluctuating, or permanent, and people may experience a combination of visible and nonvisible symptoms, meaning their visibility can change over time and across situations.
According to the Invisible Disabilities Association, an invisible disability is any physical, mental, or neurological condition that isn’t immediately noticeable from the outside but significantly affects a person’s daily life. Conditions can limit someone’s movement, energy, sensory processing, or ability to engage in everyday activities, even if they “look fine.” Invisibility often leads to misunderstandings, false assumptions, and snap judgments.
Many disabilities don’t have obvious signs, like wheelchairs, canes, or visible cues. As the Invisible Disabilities Association notes, about 74 percent of Americans living with a severe disability do not use mobility aids. A disability can’t be identified simply by one’s appearance.
The Invisible Disabilities Association recognizes experiences of those with invisible disabilities as diverse and focuses on awareness, education, and support. What matters most isn’t a diagnosis but acknowledging the reality of millions whose challenges aren’t immediately seen but felt. Despite how widespread invisible disabilities are, those living with them often face skepticism, dismissal, and pressure to “prove” their needs.
Why Invisible Disabilities Are Misunderstood
Research shows people quickly judge whether someone is “disabled enough” to deserve accommodations or compassion. A recent behavioral study demonstrated that people are less willing to help individuals when the disability isn’t visually apparent, revealing that society relies on appearance when deciding who is legitimate, truthful, or entitled to support.
Biases aren’t random and reflect broader cultural norms surrounding performance, productivity, and eligibility. Many feel forced to “cover” aspects of their disability to be socially accepted, or “uncover” only when necessary to justify accommodations. This tension mirrors patterns in disability studies about “un/covering,” the negotiation of how much one’s disability identity is necessary to reveal to be believed, supported, or considered safe.
An example of how people can “uncover” their invisible disability in public spaces is the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower. You may see it on a lanyard, wristband, or badge, a small green-and-yellow sunflower that quietly communicates an important message: “Just because you can’t see my disability doesn’t mean it isn’t there.”
The Sunflower symbol is a voluntary and globally recognized tool to aid people with invisible or nonobservable disabilities to signal that they may need more time and flexibility. Invisible disabilities require invisible labor, having to anticipate needs, navigate misunderstandings, conserve energy, or decide when/whether to disclose one’s disability. The Sunflower reduces the pressure of repeatedly justifying or explaining a disability. Each person’s needs are unique, and the Sunflower doesn’t identify what disability someone has. Instead, it conveys a universal request: Approach with patience and understanding. It is also a way to increase disability representation and show connection with the disability community.
Chronic Pain Essential Reads
The Consequences of Not Being Believed
When a disability is invisible, and when people expect visible proof of a disability, the effects aren’t just inconvenient. They can be deeply harmful. People in this community feel pressured to “act” healthy. If symptoms aren’t obvious, others may expect them to push through pain or offer extensive explanations to be taken seriously. They may be denied needed accommodations in the workplace and education. These forms of ableism can worsen symptoms. Ablesim may lead to feelings of anxiety, shame, and/or chronic stress from disbelief, which can intensify both physical and psychological symptoms.
Due to invisible disabilities not being easily observed, healthcare providers may overlook diagnoses or assume symptoms are exaggerated if they cannot be objectively measured, making access to care much harder. If providers overlook symptoms, individuals may choose not to disclose their disability at all or lose trust in the healthcare system, leading to fewer supports, connections, and increased mental health strain.
Making Society Accessible: What We Can Do
Supporting people with hidden disabilities does not require knowing anyone’s diagnosis. But it does require shifting how we think about disability itself. Here’s what we can do:
- Believe people the first time. If someone says they need help, rest, time, or accommodation, visible proof isn’t required.
- Recognize that extra processing time, quiet environments, alternative formats, or rest breaks benefit many people, not just those who “look” disabled.
- Normalize flexible supports and accommodations.
Small moments of empathy can change someone’s entire day or outlook toward their disability and help to build a world where invisible disabilities are met not with suspicion but, instead, with understanding.
Kate Copeland is an undergraduate student in the School of Psychological Science at Oregon State University and an alumna of Dr. Bogart’s Psychology of Disability class.
