Many people suffer from disabilities or illnesses that are not readily noticeable but limit their ability to do one or more everyday activities and they range from mild to very severe. These include arthritis, Crohn’s and colitis, diabetes, mental health issues, AIDS, autism, cancer, cystic fibrosis, and sickle cell disease, all of which are supported by charities under the Federated Health umbrella. Partial blindness and deafness can also be included.
Unfortunately, because of the invisibility, people suffering often do not get the respect, treatment or help they should, at work or in society at large. For example, someone with a permit park in a space reserved for the disabled but seem fine so people question their right to do so. However, they may suffer from something that means they cannot walk very far, such as severe pain or COPD, but it is not recognizable looking at the individual.
Often people think that if someone is not in a wheelchair, has a cane or a seeing eye dog, they are not disabled; however, someone’s disability cannot be judged by whether or not they are using an assistive device, or the disability is clearly visible.
If we can define and talk/learn about these different types and degrees of disability, it can open channels of communication between sufferers and people without disabilities which can lead to better understanding and a more inclusive society.
International Disability expert, Joni Eareckson Tada, explained it well when she told someone living with debilitating fatigue, “People have such high expectations of folks like you [with invisible disabilities], like, ‘come on, get your act together.’ But they have such low expectations of folks like me in wheelchairs, as though the thought is that we can’t do much” (Joni).
Both expectations are false and can lead to misunderstandings and isolation for people with invisible disabilities.
The Canadian Disability Foundation maintains that there are 6.2 million people in Canada with disabilities, many unseen and view their role as helping Canadians with disabilities (visible and invisible, including mobility, sensory, cognitive and mental health disabilities) pursue their goals in a more accessible, supportive and inclusive Canada.
Please visit Federated Health’s site to see what charities are supported and consider donating to them through Federated Health which release funds to the charities with no restrictions.
