Not all disabilities are visible...

...but all are valid. Even when you're told otherwise.

Not every disability is visible

This isn't exactly travel-related, but is relevant if attending an event in a large venue. I suppose I share this for two reasons: so you can be forewarned, and so venues can better aware and offer better training to their employees.

Although not strictly about travel, I had an experience today that I wanted to talk about. Many invisible disabilities exist, and low-vision is just one of them. People can have painful physical issues that do not require a wheelchair or walker, but still make mobility a challenge.

In addition to low-vision, I have a spinal issue that makes extended sitting or long walks painful, and I was with others with the same condition. We were at an event at the University of Maryland's Xfinity Center. At the end of the event, two of us with the spinal issue made our way to the nearest exit.

"Are you a teacher or a graduate?" one of the Center's employees asked us, by way of challenging our use of the exit (which was full of exiting graduates).

We explained this was the nearest exit and why we needed to use it.

The man pointed to the other end of the large space and said we needed to go out the other side. "It's right over there," he said., agitated. "It's just as long as the walk you just made."

I said, "Yes, but to two people with a disability, the walk isn't so simple." It might be a good time to note all the people ended up at the same place.

He explained he was told only to allow people through that exit who had a wheelchair or walker.

My friend said, "Invisible disabilities matter, though." But he insisted, explaining he was told that didn't matter.

We said we understood he was only following orders, but it was disheartening to be told invisible disabilities didn't matter.

The point of sharing this is not to complain, but to advocate for better training and directives for those encountering a public with a variety of disabilities. Please expand you definitions of disabilities. Not all can be seen, but all are valid.

(The image credit is the Minnesota Council on Disabilities, in their article "Hidden Disabilities Can Uncover Hidden Ableism," 2020.)