Bodek 1

Marie Bodek
ENC3331
Prof Wright
10/28/2015
Analysis
The term disability brings a clear mental image to those who hear it. This term is
associated largely with visible symbols, such as wheelchairs, canes, and braces. The symbol for
disability the blue person in a wheelchair is an example of how embedded this symbol is.
People link visible assistance with disability. If an individual uses assistance to complete their
day to day activities, then it is understood that they possess a disability. However, focusing so
largely on visible symbols of disability neglects an important fact: most living with disabilities
display none of these characteristics. This lack of readily apparent markers of disability causes
able-bodied individuals to question the validity of their struggles. Consequently, these
individuals struggle with having to either prove their disability or learn how to pass as an ablebodied individual. More attention has been brought to invisible disabilities in recent years, yet
more could be done to ease tension during interactions between disabled and able-bodied
individuals instead of focusing only on bringing awareness.
The term invisible disability umbrellas a long list of conditions and can be either
physical or mental. Physical disabilities, as has been stated, do not always come packaged with
an associated visible marker of disability. The University of Maryland Medical Center details
symptoms of several of these conditions. They state that people with fibromyalgia, for example,
may experience symptoms such as chronic pain, fatigue, dizziness, and increased sensitivity to
pain. Arthritis is another disability that causes chronic pain, stiff joints, and a decreased range of

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motion. Such symptoms can decrease an individuals ability to do average day-to-day tasks.
Meanwhile, a mental disability such as depression can still drastically affect an individuals
ability to function, despite the common misconception that depression is a choice that can be
overcome with positive thinking. According to UMMC, Depression can also cause chronic
fatigue in individuals, and feelings of worthlessness can grow to become thoughts of suicide.
Because of the invisibility aspect of these disabilities, it may seem that this is not a common
problem. This is not the case. Invisibleillnessweek.com shares statistics from the U.S.
Department of Commerce, 1997 to show the frequency of invisible illnesses:

26 million persons were considered to have a severe disability;

Such statistics show visible symbols are not a reliable factor to determine whether or not
someone is living with a disability, although many still use this as their primary indicator. This
causes increased tension between those who are able-bodied and those who appear to be. Those
with invisible disabilities are faced with extra pressure to prove their disability:
Often, it is not sufficient for invisibly disabled persons to reveal that they are
disabled and provide information about their special needs. Those whose
disabilities are invisible may also have to convince other people that they really
are disabled, not seeking some special unfair advantage: thus, what they must
do is meet a burden of proof. They thus face a double bind: either they forgo
the assistance or accommodation they need and thus suffer the consequences of
attempting to do things they may not be able to do so safely by themselves
or they endure the discomfort of subjecting themselves to strangers
interrogations. (Davis 154-155).
Because of the lack of understanding, its a lose/lose situation for those living with it. Ablebodied individuals understand pain and chronic fatigue when a visual symbol is attached to it; no

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one questions the person parking in a handicapped spot if they happen to be holding a cane.
There is sudden outrage, however, if they walk out of the car without assistance. Instead of
considering that the person may not possess a physical disability, it is assumed that they are ablebodied and are preventing access from those who are meant to use that space. Visible proof
creates a nonverbal understanding of potential special needs. Lack of visible proof creates an
assumption that this need is not present.
To curb this conflict between those with invisible disabilities and those who are ablebodied, there has been a push towards raising awareness of invisible disabilities. Organizations
have aimed to raise awareness that a lack of a visible symbol of difference does not mean that the
difference does not exist. In order for each side to understand each other, there needs to first be
an understanding that the difference exists, and then a willingness to listen to how each person
handles their own specific difference. As Kerschbaum states in Towards a New Rhetoric of
Difference, To communicate across difference, people must always be looking to learn what
more they do not know about the Other; they must avoid presuming they can know the Other as a
totalized and whole consciousness (70). People cannot presume that those appearing ablebodied identify as such. Further, they cannot assume that they know and understand the
experiences of someone who has an invisible disability. To identify with and relate to each other,
difference first needs to be understood, and then it needs to be understood that no two people
with invisible disabilities are going to possess the same needs. A greater understanding of the
situation is important, but it is equally important to treat each person as an individual.
The internet has been a large source of information for invisible disabilities. Sites such as
invisibleillnessweek.com strive to create a community for these individuals, so that they can find
support in each other and share their experiences. Invisible illness week both contains blog posts

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about how to handle those with invisible disabilities and focuses heavily on the trials of living
with one. Another resource, invisbleproject.com, makes heavy use of pictures to raise awareness.
Invisible Projects goal is to highlight the day-to-day experiences of pain survivors through
photographs. It relies on visual rhetoric and uses photos to make the invisible visible. When it
comes to offering support and empowering those who live with invisible disabilities, these
efforts appear highly successful. They offer opportunities for those who identify with each other
to come together and feel solidarity in their experiences instead of feeling isolated because of
their difference. While these two sites do a great job at offering support and solidarity, they are
missing a key component in fighting the stigma: allowing those who are disabled to have active
communication with those who are able-bodied, so that both parties can learn how to live among
each other. In comparison, invisibledisabilitiesawareness.com focuses on both supporting those
with disabilities and helping others learn how they can be a source of support. Invisible
Disability Awareness appears to reach out more to both groups; praise for the sites
accomplishments come from both sorts of individuals, thanking its resources for highlighting the
difference in such a way that both sides reach understanding. However, when digging further into
the site, it is clear that the battle is not yet won. Comments on a blog post about handicapped
parking spaces, for example, carry on a debate where able-bodied individuals continue to
perpetuate the stigma; if those with invisible disabilities can walk to the store without assistance,
then they shouldnt be parking in the space. Discussions between these two groups have not yet
reached a point where each side listens in an attempt to understand each other. While steps
forward are being made, these movements are still falling short of the overall goal: creating an
environment where disabled and able-bodied individuals can work together with understanding
and without judgement. Knowledge helps, but experience is what helps different groups come

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together. These groups have been fantastic at building a safe space for those with disabilities, but
they have not succeeded in erasing the fact that there is a need for a safe space to begin with.
Overall, the topic of invisible disabilities is one that has gained momentum in recent
years. More attention is being brought to the fact that a lack of a visual symbol of disability does
not mean that one is not present, and that an individual complaining of chronic fatigue isnt just
lazy and trying to get out of working. While knowledge is important for being able to
understand invisible disabilities, it has not been entirely effective in erasing the stigma.
Organizations aiming on this goal have succeeded in spreading knowledge and creating a
supportive space for those with invisible disabilities, but there is still a long way to go. The
knowledge is spreading, but more effort needs to be put into bringing the two groups together
and teaching them how to interact in healthy, empathetic ways.

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Works Cited
Davis, N. Ann. Invisible Disability. Ethics 116.1 (2005): 153-213. Academic Search Premier.
Web. 10 Oct. 2015
Depression. umm.edu. University of Maryland Medical Center. Web. 10 Oct. 2015
Fibromyalgia. umm.edu. University of Maryland Medical Center. Web. 10 Oct. 2015
Kershbaum, Stephanie L. Towards a New Rhetoric of Difference. National Council of Teachers
of English: Conference on College Composition and Communication. 2014. Print.
Statistics. Invisibleillnessweek.com. Invisible Illness Awareness Week. Web. 10 Oct. 2015
Rheumatoid Arthritis. umm.edu. University of Maryland Medical Center. Web. 10 Oct. 2015