Am I being unreasonable to think that hidden disabilities are still ignored or not supported in the workplace or by the wider public?
In fact, there is often a collective misgiving to any hidden disability, despite a clinical diagnosis and clear medical background reports to support hidden disabilities.
I have heard team members/friends etc… ‘poo poo’ a diagnosis of other colleagues or friends conditions, just because they don’t think it’s ‘real’
I find that frustrating, as surely no one makes this up!, how could they make it up?
Not all disabilities are visible - some are not obvious and can make everyday life demanding for so many people.
In the UK, 1 in 5 people have a disability, 80 per cent of which have a hidden disability.
Hidden disabilities are a wide range of physical and mental conditions that are not visible or immediately obvious. They can range from a speech impediment, reduced sight, bipolar, chronic fatigue syndrome, colitis, autism, depression, and there are many others.
I find it sad that so many people are struggling (from my own experience, a lot of women) and not only, not getting the support they need, being gaslighted, and (behind their backs) ridiculed by colleagues/‘friends’/acquaintances ☹️. I see and hear it happening so often now, I wonder if it’s just the norm with unkind people who can’t empathise or sympathise, or am I missing something.