Empowering Employees with Invisible Disabilities in the Workplace

Millions of adults in the United States live with invisible disabilities that are not always apparent to others. Invisible disabilities can include mental health conditions, chronic pain, Crohn’s disease, diabetes, traumatic brain injuries, and autism. People with invisible disabilities are frequently misunderstood and underrepresented in the workplace. Due to fear of retaliation, employees may be more hesitant to disclose their disabilities, which makes it harder for them to receive the appropriate support they need. How can you empower your employees with invisible disabilities in the workplace? 

Disabilities are defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as physical or mental impairments that significantly limit one or more major life activities. Nonetheless, certain disabilities remain invisible and do not manifest as physical limitations that hinder an individual's ability to walk, talk, write, see, or perform manual duties. Employees may face difficulties because of these invisible disabilities in different ways. Employees may experience challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, recognizing social cues, disorientation, blurred vision, focus, memory, time management, and general morale, depending on their impairment. 

The first step to empowering your employees with invisible disabilities is to establish an inclusive workplace. One step towards accomplishing this would be to educate your employees about invisible disabilities and how they can impact people who have them. Laying this foundation can help to ensure that your employees are more understanding, accommodating, and supportive of their peers. Utilizing assistive technologies can be another method to support your employees who may encounter challenges performing their jobs due to their invisible impairments.

By fostering a more inclusive environment you can ensure your employees feel more empowered at work. For more information on how to best support your employees who could be experiencing difficulties because of a non-apparent disability, reach out to our consulting team.