Understanding Hidden Disabilities

Let’s raise awareness about Hidden Disabilities Sunflower

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Why Non-Visible Conditions Deserve Visibility, Respect, and Daily Awareness

Hidden disabilities, or non-visible disabilities, are conditions that affect a person’s daily life but may not be immediately obvious to others. The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Scheme describes them as including “neurological, cognitive and neurodevelopmental as well as physical, visual, auditory and … chronic health conditions such as arthritis and diabetes, chronic pain and sleep disorders.”
Just because a disability cannot be seen does not mean it does not exist.

Examples of Hidden Disabilities

Below is an expanded, easy-to-understand list of conditions that can be hidden, fluctuating, or misunderstood.

This list is non-exhaustive:

• Autism Spectrum Condition
• ADHD
• Dyslexia
• Dyspraxia
• Dyscalculia
• Multiple Sclerosis (MS) — symptoms fluctuate, causing pain, fatigue, mobility issues, cognitive fog and sensory disturbances
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) — often misunderstood, affects intrusive thoughts, rituals, anxiety, and daily functioning
• Hearing loss
• Partial or fluctuating visual impairment
• Chronic pain (fibromyalgia, neuropathy, etc.)
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome / ME
• Sleep disorders
• Mental health conditions (PTSD, anxiety disorders, severe depression)
• Epilepsy
• Diabetes
• Neurological conditions
• Sensory processing disorders
• Respiratory problems (severe asthma, COPD)

Every person’s experience is different, and society must stop assuming “you look fine, so you must be fine”.

Why Awareness Must Be Everywhere — Especially in Workplaces and Businesses

Businesses, retailers, hospitality venues, and institutions need to play an active role in recognising and supporting hidden disabilities. Too often, employers know about a disability but forget day to day, defaulting back to expecting able-bodied performance. This is unfair, unrealistic, and can be discriminatory.

1. Display Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Merchandise

Every organisation should visibly display the Sunflower Scheme merchandise from:
👉 https://hdsunflower.com/uk/

This shows customers, staff, and visitors that your venue recognises and supports hidden disabilities.

2. Encourage Employees With Hidden Disabilities to Wear Lanyards

Wearing a lanyard or card is empowering, not embarrassing. It serves as a

• Reminder to managers,
• Sign to colleagues, and
• Explanation to customers

that a person may need extra time, flexibility, or reasonable adjustments.

Some employers overlook or forget a person’s disability entirely, especially when it isn’t visible. A lanyard immediately prevents assumptions and protects the employee.

3. Teach Hidden Disability Awareness in Schools

To build a respectful future generation, this must start young.
Schools should teach children about:

• Non-visible disabilities
• Empathy
• Inclusion
• Respecting others’ differences

A child who grows up understanding hidden disabilities will become an adult who treats disabled people with dignity, whether as a friend, colleague, teacher, or employer.

Benefits of Awareness Across Society

• More respectful public behaviour
• Better customer service
• Stronger mental health for disabled individuals
• Reduced stigma
• Reduced ableist attitudes
• More inclusive workplaces
• Fairer treatment during recruitment, performance management, and daily tasks

Hidden disabilities are real, valid, and deserving of understanding every single day, not just when someone remembers.

Conclusion

Hidden disabilities may not be immediately visible, but their impact is deeply felt by the people living with them every day. By embracing awareness initiatives such as the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Scheme, displaying supportive merchandise, training staff, and educating younger generations about inclusion, we can foster a society rooted in empathy and respect. Every business, school, and organisation has a responsibility to recognise that not all disabilities can be seen, and by being mindful, patient, and visibly supportive, we create a safer, more understanding world where everyone has the chance to live, work, and thrive with dignity.

Further Reading & Resources

• Let’s raise awareness about Hidden Disabilities Sunflower
• https://disabledentrepreneur.uk/understanding-invisible-disabilities-ableist-attitudes/
• https://disabledentrepreneur.uk/invisible-disabilities-and-pip-assessments/
• https://disabledentrepreneur.uk/understanding-invisible-disabilities-recognizing-the-unseen-challenges/
• https://disabledentrepreneur.uk/how-to-fact-check-best-places-for-people-with-disabilities-before-you-move/
• https://disabledentrepreneur.uk/border-control-horror-stories-the-degrading-treatment-of-people-with-disabilities/