July is Disability Pride Month: a recognition rooted in one of the most significant pieces of disability rights legislation in American history. On July 26, 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law, affirming that people with disabilities deserve full and equal access to public life. More than three decades later, July is a time to celebrate the disability community, honor the progress made, and acknowledge how much work is still ahead.
Part of that work is expanding our understanding of what disability actually looks like.
The Invisible Side of Disability
When most people picture disability, they picture something visible. But many people navigate the world with conditions that aren’t apparent to anyone around them.
Invisible disabilities like PTSD, ADHD, autism, long COVID, chronic pain, anxiety, and depression can profoundly shape how a person moves through each day. These realities influence how much energy it takes to leave the house, whether a loud or unpredictable environment is manageable, or how much preparation is required just to show up somewhere and seem okay (to name just a few).
The people around someone with an invisible disability often don’t see that work. And because they don’t see it, they might not account for it.
Invisible disability also isn’t always consistent. Someone managing a new diagnosis, recovering from a prolonged illness, or processing a significant loss may be navigating something debilitating that isn’t visible to anyone else. Even a persistent disability like chronic pain will bring good and bad days, and what comes easily on a Monday may be impossible on a Tuesday.
That uncertainty can add to the isolation that often accompanies disability.
Recognizing invisible disabilities is the first step. Knowing how to respond well is the next — and that’s where small, everyday habits make the difference. In the next post in this series, we’ll look at some of those habits, along with a resource for building on them.