Invisible Disabilities

Invisible Disabilities

Many people assume you can tell if someone is disabled by their physical characteristics or assistive devices they use. My mom had multiple sclerosis for 21 years and people didn't know unless she was having a bad day. Sometimes when she was fatigued and needed to use the electric scooter at the store, people came up to scold her and say she was being lazy for using the scooter instead of walking. It's best to never assume you know what accommodations someone needs.

Points

You never know if someone has a disability unless you directly ask them. Believe that people know what's best for them and always make sure to show respect if someone is asking for accommodations.

People do not always want to tell you if they have a disability either. My husband has dyslexia and does not share that widely because people in his past, and even in his current job, make him feel like that's something he just needs to get over. His boss told him, "just get a Grammarly subscription, and that will fix the problem".

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