Looking beyond the monochrome: Are disabilities black and white?

A comparative paper on Visible Vs Invisible Disabilities

Shivangi Tiwary and Anoushka Augustine

“Research and Development team, Inclusive Divyangjan Entrepreneur Association (IDEA), Plot
no. 4, 4th Floor, Block A, Sector-19, Dwarka, New Delhi – 110075.”

This paper explores the nuances of disability and its categories based on visibility and invisibility
of pertaining symptoms, in India. The quantitative data is mainly taken from ‘Divyangjan Aspiration
Study’ conducted by the organisation in 2021-22. We start by explaining the terminologies based
on their primary definitions, and then explain the disabilities that are categorised under them. We
then explore the similarities and differences between the two types of disabilities: Visible and
Invisible; and focus on unveiling their implications on lives of disabled population. This leads to
the understanding of degrees of marginalisation on each category based on employment,
education, representation, and overall treatment from the society. We conclude by giving
recommendations on the way forward, and our understanding of an all-inclusive world.

Keywords: Disability; Society; Invisible Disabilities; Visible Disabilities; Employment

I
ntroduction
The Centre for Disease Control (CDC) defines disability as “any condition of the body or
mind (impairment) that makes it more difficult for the person with the condition to do certain
activities (activity limitation) and interact with the world around them (participation restrictions)”
(cdc.gov, 2005).
People with disabilities, or ‘PWDs’, though it refers to a whole community, represents people from
diverse backgrounds with varied needs. It often happens that persons affected by a similar category
of disability may have extremely different requirements.
According to World Health Organization (WHO), disability has three facets:
1. Impairment: A dysfunction in body structure or mental faculties, like loss of memory or a
limb.
2. Limitation in daily activities, like hearing, seeing, talking, etc.
 3. Participation restrictions such as social and recreational activities, getting health services.
(WHO, 2001).
Almost every human being suffers from one or the other type of disability in their lifetime, either
permanent or temporary. Disability can occur either by birth or by some external factor that results
in a health condition that limits participation. Any individual’s environment has a vast contribution
to the extent and interaction with disability, and unapproachable environments create barriers that
hinders the equal participation of PWDs in the society.
Disabilities can be categorized in many forms, mainly with their nomenclature, however, a more
recent form of distinguishing them is in two categories: Invisible disabilities, and Visible
disabilities (24hour home care, 2018).

What are Invisible and Visible Disabilities?

Visible Disabilities are those which can be often seen, are visible to the eyes, and the features of
disability can be noticed easily by people. They have structures that visibly indicate certain types
of impairment, for example, shaking of the body, a missing leg, blindness, etc. There is a visible
indicator that is attached to a person having a visible disability usually having an assistive device,
communication features, prosthetics, orthotics. Common examples of visible disabilities are:
Vision impairment, locomotor disability, Autism, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Dwarfism,
Acid Attack Victims, Parkinson's disease.
Visible Disabilities have an advantage over invisible disabilities as most of the schemes, benefits
provided by PWDs are aimed towards the upliftment of persons with visible disabilities.
(Divyangjan Aspiration research, 2021-22).

Invisible Disabilities “is a physical, mental or neurological condition that is not visible from the
outside, yet can limit or challenge a person’s movements, senses, or activities''
(invisibledisabilities.org, 2022). These are disabilities that are not apparent or visible to the naked
eye. Like visible disabilities, invisible disabilities also hamper the individual’s functioning and
creates a challenge for the individual to involve in daily activities. Since they are different, people
might not be able to recognize or acknowledge a person having an invisible disability. These
disabilities defy the stereotypical perception of a disabled person (disabled-world.com, 2022).
Invisible Disabilities which have been recognised by the Government of India under Rights of
Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 include Mental Illnesses, blood disorders such as Thalassemia,
Haemophilia, Sickle cell disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, Degrees of Autism1,
Speech and Hearing disorder, learning disabilities like Dyslexia, Chronic Neurological Disorders,
ADHD, Low-vision 2, that are not visible because of their causes. Globally, there are more invisible
disabilities, like, Diabetes, Cancer, Degrees to Tourette, Epilepsy, Chronic Pain, and many more.
The hidden nature of invisible disabilities makes it crucial for extensive awareness and
sensitisation to develop the society. Stigma is oftentimes linked to a person with disability who is
considered as dependent by the society. This perceived notion of a PWD by others creates an
inaccessible environment to reach their potential (Divyangjan Aspiration research, 2021-22).

A
re they similar? Parallels between the two:
From extensive research named ‘Divyangjan Aspiration Study, 2021-22’ conducted by
Inclusive Divyangjan Entrepreneur Association (IDEA), New Delhi, it was observed
that the percentage of persons with invisible disabilities who participated in the study was quite
minimal compared to people with visible disabilities. The Divyangjan Aspiration Study aimed at
mapping the aspirations of youth with disabilities between 15-40 years, focused on covering both
invisible and visible disabilities throughout its data collection process that primarily involved
conducting surveys, focus group discussions, and case study analysis. From the results received
through this methodology, in depth information and insight of different invisible disabilities from
organizations, and/or individuals, it indicated that there is a need for advocating for these
disabilities.

Findings from the study are compared below:

Every disability that is mandated under the Right to Persons with Disability Act (RPWD Act),
2016 has been given emphasis to pertain to the provision of equal opportunities in the sectors of
education, employment, health, and livelihood. The RPWD Act included the rights and
entitlements of persons with disabilities and increased the number of disabilities from 7 to 21 in

1
Visibility depends on the Degree and Progression of Autism. People with lower degrees come under invisible
disabilities as the symptoms are not visible.
2
Similarly with Low-vision, there are aspects of this disability that can be visible depending on severity of
condition.
2016. Additionally, for all disabilities the reservation quota in the employment/education sector
has gone up from 3 to 4 per cent. Free education for children with disabilities between 6 - 18 years
of age has also been introduced in the act. Protection of legal rights of PWDs include
establishments of special courts in each district to hear cases that cater to the violation of rights in
any form or manner. National and State funds have set up provisions to provide financial assistance
to PWDs (legislative.gov.in, 2016).
The schemes for PWDs are following:
1. General Entitlements - “Persons with disabilities are eligible for income tax deduction
under Section 80U. Deduction of Rs. 50,000 is provided to those with disability in the
range of 40 per cent to 80 percent. Legal guardians of dependent persons with disabilities
are eligible for income tax deduction under section 80DD for expenditures incurred on
medical care, training and rehabilitation expenses or annuity paid.”
2. Education - “Students with disabilities are provided three per cent reservation in seats in
government and government aided educational institutes. Scholarship is awarded for
pursuing post matric / professional / technical courses of duration more than one year.
Accessible and barrier free built-in infrastructure and transport facilities, supply of books,
uniforms and stationery, specialized learning aids and scholarships for students with
disabilities.”
3. Employment - “The government has reserved three per cent posts in Groups A, B, C and
Group D positions in government services, public sector banks and government
undertakings for persons with disabilities. The reservations are provided as:
Category Reservation
Visually Impaired One Percent
Hearing Impaired One Percent
Physically disabled One Percent”
4. Social Security, Health, Rehabilitation and Recreation - “Central assistance of Rs. 300
p.m. per beneficiary is provided to persons with severe or multiple disabilities in the age
group of 18-79 years and belonging to a household living BPL as per criteria prescribed by
Government of India.”
 5. Accessibility - “The Government of India (Ministry of Urban Affairs & Employment) is
currently engaged in the process of amending/modifying the existing building bye-laws
which would be applicable to all buildings and facilities used by the public.”
6. Certification - “The Rules lay down that a Medical Board, duly constituted by the Central
and the State Government, shall issue a Disability Certificate. The certificate issued by the
Medical Board makes a person eligible to apply for facilities, concessions and benefits
admissible under schemes of the Governments or Non-Governmental Organizations,
subject to such conditions as the Central or the State Government may impose” (cis-
india.org, 2014).
According to the RPWD Act, 2016, and the schemes provided by the Government of India, all 21
disabilities are covered under these regulations. Both Visible and Invisible disabilities are equally
entitled to avail the benefits provided by the Government, and/or other similar organizations.
Disability benefits are one of the key elements of a system that socially protects and discourses
disability-related necessities that supports PWDs and their caregiving circle. Additionally,
Government schemes promote the incorporation of PWDs into the economic and labour market to
facilitate employment and entrepreneurship, independent living, and social security. In this
context, financial backing by the Government to cover basic costs in attaining education, or
employment can facilitate equal participation of PWDs in every sector. However, there are many
deterrents to achieving equal participation as the nuances of visible and invisible disabilities
glimpse over. As the differences in the context of societal treatment of disability, employment
opportunities, and representation are unravelled in the following sections, the “WHY and HOW”
of the two can be acutely observed (Divyangjan Aspiration research, 2022).

A
re they dissimilar? Differences between the both:
Persons with invisible disabilities as compared to those with visible disabilities face
greater difficulties in accessing resources because of their condition not being
recognised or being misunderstood due to its presentation to the general public. In India, persons
with invisible disabilities like blood disorders, multiple sclerosis, ADHD, and other such
disabilities, have to wait for long durations to receive their disability benefits which include
Disability Certificate, Pension, and other welfare needs. This lack of understanding about invisible
disabilities is mainly because of the lack of concrete data or statistics available on the kinds and
information around the invisible disabilities (Divyangjan Aspiration Research, 2022). There is a
simple fact: People see, people do. According to research, only 39 percent People with Disabilities
in India have assistive devices like wheelchairs, hearing aids etc, therefore, a disability cannot be
defined by the usage of a support device (Stastica.com, 2019). The Indian societal mindset is
conditioned to see a disability with a Charity model framework3 and hence cannot fathom the
gradations of invisible disability as it does not provoke sympathy based on visible symptoms. For
example, a person in a wheelchair is expected to perform ‘less’ from initiation, whereas a
neurodivergent is asked to ‘get over’ their symptoms as their challenges are not seen. Symptoms
such as dizziness, fatigue, cognitive dysfunctions, mental health conditions, hearing impairment,
low vision, learning challenges, debilitating pain, and others are not palpable to the spectator, but
can create severe limitations in daily life for those suffering with the same. Persons with invisible
disabilities oftentimes hesitate to reveal their disability with the fear of losing their job or negative
attitudes displayed by peers towards them (Divyangjan Aspiration Research, 2021-22).
At workplaces, the challenges of a person having an invisible disability is manifold because there
is unavailability or lack of awareness on the proper accommodations that the individual with a
particular invisible disability might require. Since schools and workplaces are not accommodative
to their needs, socializing with the people becomes even harder and hampers the holistic
development of a person.
In terms of socio-economic population, People with disabilities are an underrepresented group,
however, with the development in activism throughout the world, there is a noticeable traction in
this cause. From the survey conducted by IDEA on Disability and employment, it is evident that
the unemployment rate is very high amongst PWDs with almost 40 percent of them without jobs.
The second highest number is of Self-employed PWDs, with 21.3 percent of them owning their
own businesses or micro-businesses. From the menial 12 per cent of PWDs that are employed, the
highest belongs to Locomotor disability, Visual impairment, Partial Visual Impairment, and Total
Hearing impairment. All of these belong to the Visible disability categories. The disabilities that
belong to invisible disabilities noted only 1-2 percent of active job/employment participation.
Connecting their age and employment, the number of participants was so low because many of the
invisible disabilities like Thalassemia, Muscular Dystrophy, and Multiple Sclerosis, the lifespan

3
The charity model views the PWD as the problem and the one who requires sympathy and
therefore needs charity or continuous welfare for well-being
of people is between 30-40 years. Also, many companies often have an age limit of hiring
employees and so, being a PWD in the age group of 36-40, finding a job opportunity is quite rare
(Divyangjan Aspiration research, 2021-22).
In Invisible Disability representation, there are many aspects that become deterrent in the way
people’s storylines are depicted with members of the society/community, and most representations
fail to capture the diverseness of their disability. From schools to corporates, discussions on PWDs
take a backseat, as non-disabled people often don’t understand major aspects of disability: what
might they look like? Or how may they approach the person? To disengage with this “unknown”
narrative of disability, intervention is very important; this is where popular media can be impactful
and create exposure by authentic representation. The main idea behind any representation is to
help normalize and destigmatize stereotypical notions deeply engraved in the minds of people.
Authentic depiction of characters creates an environment where people find others relatable. As
an instance, a person working with a Neurodiversity in an office environment can help other
employees understand the nuances of the disability, and the right treatment of the same
(Divyangjan Aspiration Research, 2021-22).

C
onclusion: What is the correct way?
Although Disability as a sector is itself stigmatized, from this comparative paper, it is
more evident that certain disabilities are far more marginalized than the others. As
narratives are built around ‘popular’ disabilities, the shades of diverse disabilities are yet to be
mainstreamed in the society. By sharing narratives of persons with invisible disabilities a much
greater emphasis will be laid on the needs of persons with the same. If ‘Theory of Change4’ is to
be inculcated throughout all research and data on a social cause, it is imperative to understand the
underlying nuances of that particular movement. From this study, a brief set of recommendations
that emerge are ‘Activity’ and ‘Participation’. A detailed orientation through an in-house workshop
for employees, educational staff, and the public on invisible disabilities can educate and sensitize
them to possess better interacting mechanisms. The most important aspect of the two is that
activities start at an individual level, whereas participation involves engagement at a community
level. By learning, and applying knowledge, difficult barriers can be broken in the environment,

4
A method that elaborates that in any given intervention, or set of interventions, the results are expected to lead to a
specific development change in the society, based on a brief analysis of available evidence, and data.
employment, services, policies, governance, and most importantly, beliefs of people. Some of the
areas that require constant intervention are: Mobility, domestic/familial life, Public and private
sectors, education sector, interactions with society and civic life. It is crucially important to
understand the implications of invisible disabilities on the mindset of people, so that people with
invisible disabilities are able to participate fully in every social role.
Acronyms:
ADHD - Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
CDC - Centre for Disease Control
PWD - People with disabilities
RPWD - Right to Persons with Disability Act
WHO - World Health Organization

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