#hidden disabilities

[nagichi-boop]

Is it okay to wear pins on my Sunflower Lanyard for conditions I’m not yet diagnosed with, specifically autism and/or ADHD? I want to add pins on it to make it feel a little less “clinical” while still having some that provide information about my struggles. If wearing pins for stuff I’m not yet diagnosed isn’t okay, I’ll instead wear a pin saying I have anxiety since I have that too.

(Sunflower Lanyard is to signify the wearer has hidden disabilities)

[gaynpc03]

I adore the sunflower lanyard...but this?

OMFG they missed the point.

[myalgicencephalomyelitiscfstom]

[my-kids-made-me-play-minecraft]

First time seeing sunflowers in this game. What a lovely surprise.

I love sunflowers!

And they are also the symbol of hidden disabilities of which I have a few. I am AuDHD and I have a sleep disorder called hypersomnia aswell as fibromyalgia. What about you?

[dreamdropsystem]

ALL. DISABILITIES. ARE. NOT. ALWAYS. VISIBLE.

[thechronicsloth]

The sunflower is the official symbol of hidden/invisible disabilities.

So I'm trying to do all the flags on the ace, aro and aroace spectrums as sunflowers (for those on these spectrums who have invisible disabilities) for aroace week, and came upon the Aegosexual and Aegoromantic flags, which were quite a challenge.

I wanted to check with the community if you think these are alright like that or if you'd prefer I have another go. I've put the original flags next to my drawings so you can compare them more easily.

EDIT: I noticed that you can't really see all their details on some screens, so I've added versions with a white background. It still looks a lot darker on my phone than it does on the laptop, but I think you can see it better. I'll have to fix this though.

[autisticdreamdrop]

12/4/23 hidden disability lanyard + our card we emade

[gameofthrones2020]

Hidden Disabilities and Mental Health: Awareness at Work

Hidden Disabilities and Mental Health: Awareness at Work and how peoples working around the most vulnerable can work effective and be safe.

A training course on identifying and approaching people or avoiding people in severe mental distress, committing acts of violence or other situations threatening any staff member working as a handyperson conducting general repairs. Furthermore, it is essential to highlight that members of the organisation employees are also entitled to protection from acts of violence, according to…

[tameramann]

Hidden Disabilities

[pokedext]

Dealing with ppl who can't actually perceive how chronic pain works makes me mad.

Is your shoulder just always in pain? Yes!

How do you live like that? You get use to it.

You move around a lot for someone in pain? I mask my discomfort and just push through it.

Is it forever? POSSIBLY that's the fun part you're promised vaguely it could get better, but you're also told it's possibly forever too.

I already grieved the loss of function in my right shoulder and overcame it, some disabilities are not visible. It took almost a year for me to find peace. Just be mindful when I say no and respect that while I might appear capable I know my limits. That it's not some fake thing in my head just because I don't publicly display my pain every moment. I go out of my way to be out of sight when I'm at my worst so ppl don't worry.

[mileswinchester]

Quick reminder! being disabled doesn’t make you any less sexy or fuckable

[myalgicencephalomyelitiscfstom]

[nagichi-boop]

I don’t know whether it would be more beneficial or detrimental to take my mum with me to my WCA face to face assessment. Like I said in my responses that I pretty much always need someone to come with me to appointments, so bringing her would back that point up. But if I do bring her, I’ll be constantly anxious about what I’m saying and probably misrepresent myself (and also have to deal with her asking me 101 questions afterwards about the answers I gave).

[the-nettle-knight]

I finally got a sunflower lanyard, which I've been putting off forever, but supermarket shopping has gotten so anxiety inducing that it's definitely necessary

[lachlanwrites]

Mask mandates and autism - a match made in hell?

On the 24th of July 2020, the UK government announced that face coverings would now be mandatory in all enclosed spaces such as shops and on public transport. 

Police were also given new powers to hand out fines of up to £100 for anyone not complying. These measures aimed to stop the rapid rise of Coronavirus cases in the UK, and protect societies most vulnerable from the disease. 

But what about the people who couldn’t comply? The National Autistic Society estimates there to be around 700,000 autistic adults in the UK. Many autistic people face complex sensory challenges that neurotypical people do not. 

One challenge autistic people face is something called sensory overload. Most autistic people will have had some experience of this in their life, although neurotypical people can also experience it. 

This occurs when you receive more stimuli than your brain can process, for example too many people talking at once, or bright lights and music at a party. As a result, your brain enters a kind of panic mode, and temporarily ‘shuts down.’ This can cause extreme anxiety, discomfort, irritability, and elevated levels of sensitivity to textures. For many autistic people, the sensation of a mask on their face can trigger this sensory overload. 

Many autistic people have struggled with the mask mandates as a result of this and, unfortunately, it can stop them from going out to places that they normally would be able to go. They face a catch-22 situation where, if they go out without a mask they risk being denied service, or abused, but if they do wear one they risk triggering sensory overload. Mask exemptions for things such as autism are allowed, however in the current political climate many people may not be understanding of an individual's exemption. This recognition is, and has been, a problem for people with invisible disabilities since long before the spread of Coronavirus. 

A scheme has been introduced by Hidden Disabilities to help people recognize someone with a hidden disability. The Sunflower symbol was launched in 2016 in partnership with London Gatwick Airport, and aims to recognize people with a disability that may not be immediately obvious. By wearing a sunflower lanyard, people can show that they might require extra support, and that they have a disability. 

Originally, the scheme was aimed at airports, however it has grown in popularity and is now recognized by businesses across the UK. As masks become mandatory, this scheme is an excellent way for anyone with an exemption, such as autistic people, to show that they have a right not to wear a mask. 

Unfortunately, the Sunflower scheme is not 100% effective in stopping autistic people from facing discrimination. 

Many ‘anti-maskers’ have taken advantage of these accommodations for disabled people in order to refuse to wear a mask without a proper exemption. As these groups become more aggressive in their tactics, the backlash often falls on the most vulnerable. One autistic man, Corey Wood, described his experience of trying to board a bus without a mask to the Metro newspaper.

“My explanations were refused, despite me showing my autism card and my disabled concessionary travel pass, and I was sternly told by the bus driver that I needed to wear a face mask - no matter what. This was upsetting because I didn’t want to cause any arguments.”

This case highlights the unfortunate reality that even when given proper evidence for a legal exemption, many people will not accept someone who cannot wear a mask. Another reason why many autistic people may find it difficult to wear a mask is the difficulties it causes when communicating. Many autistic people with some form of auditory processing difficulties rely on lip reading as someone speaks in order not to miss anything. With these mask mandates, autistic people may find it very challenging to properly communicate with other people, which can cause unnecessary stress, anxiety and miscommunications. 

So then what can be done to ensure that people with disabilities aren’t treated unfairly? With a vaccine for Coronavirus on the horizon, hopefully masks will soon become a thing of the past. 

However, ableism (discrimination against disabled people) runs far deeper than just a mask. Autism acceptance in the UK has a long way to go, but a good start is to be more understanding of other people’s sensory needs. 

Some cinemas, for example, have introduced autism friendly screenings, where the lights are kept on and the volume is turned down. In 2018, supermarket chain Morrisons introduced an ‘autism friendly hour’ between 9am and 10am, where the lights will be dimmed, music will be stopped and they will avoid the use of the tannoy. 

Outside of these corporate measures, autism acceptance starts with people. Educating yourself on the different needs of autistic friends, family and acquaintances goes a long way towards stopping discrimination against autistic people. Masks are only symbolic of the wider issues that autistic people face in society, but with time these prejudices can hopefully be eliminated entirely.

[secretunicorn]

Pain sucks time to sleep to help my legs rest and muscles relax