Rachel Charlton-Dailey (she/they) is a journalist specializing in health and disability.

Charlton-Dailey often uses their platform to spotlight issues that affect disabled people.

Here, they explain how “invisible illness” is a misguided, and even harmful, term.

Ive spent most of my life in pain.

Is there a migraine on the horizon?

My hips/pelvis/knees/ankles feel a little sore; will I be able to walk?

Did I get enough sleep last night?

My hands hurt; will I be able to punch in?

How does my stomach feel today?

Am I able to think properly and then translate these thoughts into proper sentences?

Where will be comfortable enough for my body to work today?

There are visible signs of every disability and condition if you pay attention.

This can make holding a conversation or doing tasks impossible.

Whether you choose to see them or not is up to you."

Lupus

Lupus, an autoimmune disease characterized by chronic inflammation, is mostly triggered by heat.

This means I cant really leave the house or do much on hot days.

I have to plan my days around the sun like a vampire.

Ive been known to faint if I get too hot.

Im also prone to ulcers in my throat and on the inside of my mouth.

These can be really painful and mean I speak with quite a croaky voice a lot of the time.

Celiac Disease

Celiac diseasemeans that I have to stick to a restrictive wheat andgluten-free diet.

This makes dining out very difficult and sometimes impossible.

Which unfortunately Id say is pretty visible, wouldnt you?

The condition makes me clumsy and my fine motor skills are terrible.

The component people know even less about, though, is its neurodivergency.

I sometimes struggle to process what people are saying (especially instructions) and misread social situations.

I also have unclear speech and sometimes say sentences out of order, so I dont make sense.

Ironically, its on the days I need to use aids that non-disabled people suddenly discover Im disabled.

It’s like they need a big lit-up, flashing sign that says “Im disabled!”

to acknowledge such a big part of who I am.

Thats not to say more physically-presenting disabilities arent valid; they of course are.

The problem with separating disability into “visible” and “invisible” is you create a hierarchy.

Meanwhile, the invisible ones remain invisible, and are less likely to be believed.

Whether you choose to see them or not is up to you.

Warren RJ.The impact of invisible illness and invisible disability on music therapy practica students.Journal of Music Therapy.

2020;57(2):193-218. doi.

Published May, 2020.