The following figures are taken from the Workforce Disability Equality Standard (WDES) 2022 Annual Report.

Figure 1 - table showing disability prevalence in % listed by type of disability, taken from the FCDO report Someone may look healthy but be hurting or struggling internally. A disability—invisible or visible— doesn’t automatically exclude someone from fully participating in society or from enjoying normal hobbies and extracurricular activities. It is not all in the person’s head. For people living with depression, anxiety, or chronic pain, some days will be worse than others. Someone can be perfectly healthy and happy one day and have a bad episode the next. Symptoms can come and go and are often unpredictable. Muscular Dystrophy – This is a genetic condition that causes muscle weakness. It’s a progressive condition that gets worse over time, and symptoms can become life-threatening when they affect the heart muscles or the muscles we use for breathing. Goffman E. Stigma: Notes on the management of spoiled identity. New York: Simon and Schuster; 1963.This is a two-in-one accessibility tip. Making shows available online allows anyone who cannot attend in person to enjoy your offering. But you should make the content of these recordings accessible. Captions, for example, are used by many neurodivergent people – such as those with ADHD and sensory processing conditions – as well as d/Deaf people. Linking education and protection services - In emergency contexts the need for effective support through child protection structures can be even more critical. Within World Vision’s Syria response, we have worked with the Jordanian Ministry of Education to support an Early Childhood Development Centre in Azraq camp in Jordan outlined in this article " A glimpse of hope for Syrian children in Jordan’s Azraq Refugee Camp despite prevailing uncertainty". The camp provides access to age- and developmentally appropriate educational and socioemotional learning opportunities for up to 300 children at a time—using participatory curricula which includes art, games, and music activities. Supporting staff who are shielding during COVID-19 - Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust share how they engaged with managers and supported staff that were affected.

For those living with a hidden disability, this flexibility can make a significant impact in your employee's wellness and success. UK Parliament. Approved work: Invisible disabilities - post [Internet]. POST. UK Parliament ; 2021 [cited 2022Dec5]. Available from: https://post.parliament.uk/approved-work-invisible-disabilities Amputations – This is when limbs have been surgically removed, such as an arm or a leg. This makes it difficult for a person to move or complete tasks in the same way as others. Limbs are removed for various reasons, such as an accident that results in trauma to a limb, a limb being deformed and causing issues, or as a result of a severe infection or gangrene. Our key event for Disability History Month 2023 is our virtual Disability Summit taking place on Wednesday 29 and Thursday 30 November 2023.Disabled board member numbers have increased by 30. The proportion has increased by 1.0 percentage points to 4.6 per cent. But not all disabilities are visible, nor are they all physical. So accommodations for a neurodivergent audience shouldn’t only extend to your venue, but your digital offering too. What is a neurodevelopmental condition? People who are invisibly disabled should receive the same considerations and protections as those with other disabilities. Nobody should face discrimination for having a disability — visible or otherwise. Some ‘non-visible’ conditions are visible or obvious sometimes. Also, they can be 'seen' by some people who might have a better understanding of the condition. But they are not usually visible to others.

As top employers strengthen their commitments to nurturing diverse and inclusive workplaces, they must understand, discuss, and consider the full spectrum of invisible disabilities and how they might affect a person’s safety, comfort, and ability to work to their full potential. Employers that invest time and resources to support individual abilities and foster an inclusive environment for everyone stand to see significant gains in employee loyalty — and performance. Autism – This is a condition which means the brain works differently to others. It’s not a condition that requires a cure, but people who have autism may need support. A person with autism may find it difficult to understand feelings, may find bright lights or noises overwhelming and stressful, or may think or do the same things repeatedly. They may also struggle with unfamiliar situations or social events as these could make them anxious or upset and they could also have difficulty interacting with others. Sometimes, it may take a person with autism a little longer to understand information too. Another charity which has been closely involved with development of the hidden disabilities lanyard is the National Autistic Society. Daniel Cadey, their Autism Access Development Manager, had this to say: Everyone’s disability, whether visible, non-visible or a combination of both, will affect them in different ways. Some will be confident travellers and happy to seek support if required, whilst others will be more anxious and reticent. Unfortunately, some will find the thought of using public transport so overwhelming they cannot even step out of their front door.

Multiple Sclerosis – This is a progressive condition that damages the spinal cord and also the nerve cells in the brain. There are many symptoms of this, such as numbness, speech issues, vision issues, tiredness and fatigue, and muscular coordination. Support your team’s physical and financial well-being by offering Paytient as a benefit, empowering them to access and afford whatever care they need.

Hidden disabilities can each present in a varied way, and certainly vary per individual. It isn't the mission of this article—or appropriate for your workplace—to diagnose, analyze, or come to conclusions about someone's wellness or health. Instead, we can listen and make ourselves more aware. Seeking inspiration, Bidon tried out a variety of courses: a history class, a government class, and Introduction to Computing. While considering her new path, she also discovered she loved teaching younger students about Computer Science with the partnership of Girls Who Code (GWC) and Women in Computing at Cornell (WICC). Together, these experiences confirmed she liked computing and humanities best and showed her that she could combine her passions for tech and community support. In the fall of her sophomore year, Bidon dove into studying Information Science, Systems, and Technology in the College of Engineering and joined Women in Computing at Cornell (WICC).Going on holiday can be difficult for many autistic people where unfamiliar and overwhelming environments – like noisy, bustling airports – can cause extreme anxiety. The airport worked with charities representing people with dementia, autism and impaired hearing, who are supporting the development of the lanyard – which is available free of charge, and on a purely voluntary basis from assistance desks at airports.