Women with Invisible Disabilities
Women with Invisible Disabilities
The Women with Invisible Disabilities project was launched on International Women’s Day in 2021. It explored the impact of being a woman or non-binary person with a disability. It focused on experiences in childhood, medical systems, diagnosis, and masking.
Spotify – Episode Description
In this very special episode, our very own Jane Madden (@janemadden_) talks with 4 other members of the Ability co_op about life as women with invisible disabilities.

Just as invisible to yourself as to others
Disabilities and chronic illnesses can sometimes be just as invisible to yourself as to others. It took me a long time to learn how my

Being hard of hearing means I spent a lot of my growing up in an unintentional bubble.
Moria Crowley
Being hard of hearing means I spent a lot of my growing up in an unintentional bubble. I was obsessed with reading and

So when you’re continuously having interactions where you don’t meet those expectations, it does chip away at your confidence over time
Sarah R
With Attention Deficit Disorder, it’s challenging because I am perceiving and processing the world in an entirely different way, which is invisible to others.

Often people ask: “are you better now?” as if it is only a temporary injury, and not a long-term condition
Jani Wiggins
I didn’t always identify as someone with a disability. I was able-bodied for 15 years of my life. Most people would declare it

Because I smile and try to live a normal life it’s hard for people to imagine that I am in constant pain
Carla Walker
Hi my name is Carla! I have type one diabetes and hydrocephalus. It can be really hard to carry out daily tasks with

You play it off, pretend you’re not in pain until you can’t pretend anymore
Heloise O’Sullivan
Society places a large emphasis on “seeing is believing”. This thinking makes invisible disabilities just that – invisible. There will always be people