Hidden Disabilities | North Bristol NHS Trust (2024)

FAQs

What percentage (%) of people with disabilities in the UK have a hidden disability? ›

It is estimated that 70-80% of disabilities are invisible.

What are hidden disabilities? Some disabilities don't have physical signs so we cannot always tell if someone has one. Hidden disabilities include autism, mental health, acquired/traumatic brain injury, sensory processing, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, partial sight and hearing loss.

JAM Card allows people with a hidden disability or communication barrier to tell others that they need extra time and understanding in a private and easy way. Available for free in card or app form, JAM Card is a discreet, silent and easy device for telling others that you need 'Just A Minute' in any scenario.

Invisible disabilities are common

Invisible disabilities occur with much more frequency than you might expect. According to the CDC, 61 million adults across the U.S. identify as having a disability of some kind, and about 10% of those are invisible disabilities.

Cognitive impairments are the most commonly overlooked disability, often because they are not as visibly apparent as physical disabilities. The most commonly overlooked disability is cognitive impairment.

Non-visible disabilities may include: mental health conditions – for example, anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder ( OCD ), schizophrenia, personality disorders. autism and Asperger syndrome. sensory processing difficulties.

(Source: Accessibility.com) Examples of invisible disabilities include diabetes, fibromyalgia, endometriosis, chronic migraine disorder, and more.

Is arthritis a hidden disability? ›

Hidden disabilities are not always obvious, but can impact and limit people's everyday lives. One hidden disability is arthritis. There are thought to be 10 million people with some form of arthritis in the UK. It is the most common cause of disability in the UK and can affect people of all ages, not just older people.

About the Sunflower Scheme

Wearing the Sunflower lanyard enables individuals to discreetly indicate that they have an invisible disability and may need additional assistance, kindness, or simply a little more time. Globally 1 in 7 people live with disability.

You don't need to have a disability to wear a the lanyard, and allies of the Sunflower and Ability network disability equality are always welcome. To obtain a lanyard, please contact the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower website. You can also contact your local supermarket to see if they may also have lanyards available.

We do not ask for proof of the wearer's disability, as some are yet to be diagnosed, or have conditions that are difficult to diagnose. This is one of our core values, supported by our customers and the partner organisations we work with.

Over 42 million Americans have a severe disability, and 96% of them are unseen. Examples of invisible debilitating physical and mental conditions include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury, affective disorders, diabetes, cancer, lupus, Crohn's disease and fibromyalgia.

Source: Office for National Statistics – Census 2021

In England, 18.7% of females and 16.5% of males were disabled. Of these, 10.8% of females and 9.4% of males said that they were limited a little by a condition or illness, and 7.8% of females and 7.1% of males said they were limited a lot.

In England, the census data on disability within households show that: in 68.0% (15.9 million) of households, no people are disabled. 25.4% (6.0 million) of households include one disabled member. in the remaining 6.6% (1.6 million) of households, two or more people are disabled within the household.

How many people have a disability? The latest estimates from the Department for Work and Pensions' Family Resources Survey indicate that 16.0 million people in the UK had a disability in the 2021/22 financial year. This represents 24% of the total population.