What is an Invisible Disability?

Who is allowed to use handicapped parking?

• Someone in a wheelchair?

• Someone with an eye patch?

• Someone attached to an oxygen tank?

Yes, if their doctor verified their handicap with the DMV.

If you saw someone with an obvious physical handicap, you would have no doubt they should use handicapped parking. We want to give extra space to people who need it!

This is just a stock photo. We have no way of knowing if she has an invisible disability.

The DMV will give handicapped parking placards to people who have other conditions, once their doctor has verified them, including

• Diabetic nerve pain

• Multiple sclerosis

• Heart disease

What does a person with diabetic nerve pain look like?

If you saw someone like this smiling young lady getting out of a handicapped parking space, you would probably think she was cheating. That she was parking in the wrong spot, just to park up close.

Yes, selfish people do parking in handicapped parking sometimes. Don’t. It is against the law.

People who are disabled do not always look disabled!

• Fibromyalgia - widespread pain

• Autism - challenges with social skills

• Rheumatoid arthritis - pain in the joints, often beginning in young women

• ADHD - attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Looks like a normal family to us. Can you tell if anyone has an invisible disability? Nope.

Just because a person has a disability, doesn’t mean they are disabled. But they do have some area that they struggle with, something that disrupts daily life, and could use extra help.

Is ADHD an invisible disability? Is autism an invisible disability?

Yes. And, yes.

How can you tell who has an invisible disability?

If you are wondering about your child, download our free guide. This will help you know if you should seek a professional diagnosis.

• ADHD and autism are the two most common invisible disabilities in children.

• ADHD and autism are not your fault.

• ADHD and autism often cause misunderstanding among onlookers.

Get parent support now to help on your journey with invisible disabilities.