What are Non-Apparent Disabilities?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 1 in 4 adult Americans have some type of disability. While some disabilities may seem apparent, many are unseen – they are “non-apparent”. Non-apparent disabilities are sometimes referred to as invisible, hidden, non-visible, or not evident disabilities. These disabilities are physical, mental and/or neurological conditions that can limit or challenge a person’s movements, senses, or activities, and can impact the person’s ability to work.
Did you know …
Non-apparent disabilities are usually defined as those that don’t manifest in ways that are immediately obvious to others. This is a loosely-defined blanket category that may include any number of disabilities, impairments or medical conditions, including:
- Chronic pain or fatigue.
- Cognitive or learning disabilities or differences.
- Head or brain injuries.
- Hearing disabilities or impairments.
- Vision disabilities or impairments; and many more.
Most people are unaware of the numerous underlying challenges a person with a non-apparent disability might need to navigate when they are working. Certain job tasks can be problematic and can trigger stress, frustration, confusion and/or embarrassment. Unfortunately, the unseen symptoms can lead to misunderstandings, false perceptions and judgments by others who don’t understand the situation. Even if a person does not share information about a non-apparent disability, consider that there may be underlying reasons for their actions and attitudes and try to help out if you can. If a person is raising awareness about their disability, they’re doing so with personal risk and vulnerability. Share and receive this information with grace and seriousness.
Here are just a few non-apparent disabilities that can impact employees:
Dyslexia is a reading impairment, not a thinking impairment. The International Dyslexia Association states that between 15-20% of the population have a language-based learning disability, dyslexia being the most common of these. Employers and managers can recognize how dyslexia impacts a person’s day-to-day work, and understand that dyslexic employees can bring a great deal of creativity, energy, and problem-solving skills to the organization. Creating an environment with small changes to company protocols and communication can go a long way toward supporting dyslexic individuals, such as:
- Keep communications brief and to-the-point.
- Send out meeting agendas in advance.
- Provide easy access to the information needed to do one’s job.
Learn more at the National Institutes of Health website: Dyslexia | National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (nih.gov).
Long-COVID. Long-COVID refers to a collection of symptoms, including impaired attention, confusion, lack of concentration, memory and brain processing speed issues, difficulty breathing, fever, headaches, changes in smell or taste and more, which may arise after a person has COVID-19. Brain fog is a term frequently associated with Long-COVID; if you are experiencing brain fog, you might want to read the article, What it’s like to live with brain fog (msn.com). Long-COVID is a recognized disability under the ADA, Section 504, and Section 1557 if the symptoms substantially limit one or more major life activities.
Anxiety Disorders. While it is common for many people to experience occasional anxiety, individuals with anxiety disorders have symptoms which do not go away or get worse over time. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults or 19% of the population every year. There are different types of anxiety disorders such as generalized, social anxiety, phobia-related and post-traumatic stress. Examples of anxiety symptoms can range from possible restlessness, difficulty sleeping or staying awake, sweating, a racing heart, stomach issues, self-consciousness, and fear. Anxiety disorders can greatly impact one’s daily activities including regular functions, job performance, productivity, and relationships with others.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD is a mental health condition triggered by witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event. Symptoms may include: intrusive memories; avoidance; negative changes in thinking and mood such as hopelessness or feeling detached; and changes in physical and emotional reactions like trouble sleeping or concentrating. PTSD can make it hard to do everyday things, and trauma survivors with PTSD might have trouble with professional or personal relationships. The symptoms of PTSD can cause problems with trust, closeness, communication, and problem solving which, in turn, may impact the way loved ones respond to the trauma survivor. Individuals suffering with PTSD might also have a hard time feeling emotions and may feel detached from others. Read more information about PTSD on the Department of Veterans Affairs website.
Color Blindness. Color blindness is often identified as someone who only sees in black and white. In reality, that condition is very rare. In most cases, they really have a color vision deficiency. Most affected people can see some colors, but not the whole spectrum. For example, a person could have difficulty differentiating between shades of greens and reds. As of November 2022, approximately 3.7% or 12 million Americans have some form of color blindness. See details at: Color Blindness | National Eye Institute (nih.gov).
Lyme Disease. Lyme disease is a tick-borne illness and occurs when someone is bitten by an infected deer tick. If undetected or left untreated, Lyme can trigger a complex set of debilitating and potentially long-lasting physical, cognitive, and neurological symptoms. The CDC confirms the highest rates of Lyme infections are diagnosed in the northeastern states.
A reasonable accommodation reminder
A reasonable accommodation is any change in the work environment or assistive tools that enable an individual with a disability to have equal opportunities, participation, and access. If you have a disability and are seeking accommodations needed to perform your job function, please consult with your immediate supervisor or your Local Reasonable Accommodation Coordinator (LRAC) to explore options.
Meet John Bagwell!
Program Specialist, PBS, R4
Co-Program Manager PWDSEP
What has been your career journey until now?
I moved to Atlanta, Georgia, in my early 20s to finish school and find a great career. I’ve encountered challenges in many jobs over the years despite my strong work ethic and can-do spirit. At Chick-fil-A, I loved the way they operated; I asked for a promotion and was told I could not do what their other managers did. I worked at a company that made sales inserts for grocery stores; I was terminated from my job and was denied unemployment. I actively appealed the decision to the Department of Labor and won! A turning point came when I started as a Student Assistant in the College of Law at Georgia State University. I registered with the University Disability Office, started a Disability Club, and began my passion for advocacy. Because of all of this, when a federal HR Specialist sought to recruit persons with disabilities, the director of the Disability Office thought of me given my reputation as a tenacious advocate! I started my federal career with the U.S. Immigration Office as a co-op in 2008, and then in 2010 GSA called me and I was fortunate to start work in PBS as a buildings management specialist.
When I started in the federal government, there were no disability advocates or special emphasis groups to support us. When GSA created the Persons with Disabilities Special Emphasis Program (PWDSEP), I was skeptical as to the kind of reception we would receive. To my surprise it exploded – the outreach has been amazing! Agencies are reaching out seeking me and Hayden (the other Program Manager) to give talks. I love how people want to be informed!
What advice do you have for other employees?
Don’t give up. My first injury happened when I was 17 years old; the doctors and therapists told my parents that I had the brain of an 8th grader and any kind of higher education should not be considered. I persevered and read everything in sight. I now have a dual degree in Marketing & Business Administration, plus a B.A. in Speech Communications with a minor in English.
People have told me that you can’t have your dreams, but you can have them. Put your mind to it. Do not EVER give up on your dreams.
How do you deliver efficient and effective government for the American people?
As a Building Manager, I actively sought to use businesses that are owned by or proactively employ people with disabilities to provide contract support. The federal government sets goals and these businesses are eager to do excellent work; it’s a win-win for all!
Is there an inspirational quote you would like to share from someone you admire that you go to when you need a boost?
“Silence is the last thing the world will ever hear from me.” – Marlee Matlin
“Know me for my abilities, not my disability.” – Robert M. Hensel
Is there anything else you would like to share about your experience?
I have learned that it is so important to be an advocate. I let people know that I enjoy answering disability-related questions, and researching disability issues. The results? Other building managers reach out to me with disability questions. I actively support a Best Buddies program that helps intellectually and developmentally disabled persons get jobs. I’ve joined a sports running group. Some people said, “You can’t run.” So?? I ended up introducing them to the wheelchair racers at the Shepherd Center.
I put myself out there. I want to educate people about disabilities! Just don’t let the disability define you, and don’t give up on anything. We need to speak up. If anyone has a question or just wants to chat you can email me at john.bagwell@gsa.gov.
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In case you missed it…
- In January 2023, GSA invited the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide an informational session on the PACT Act. The PACT Act is a new law that expands VA health care and benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances.The Act adds to the list of health conditions that we assume (or “presume”) are caused by exposure to these substances. The VA website can answer your questions about what the PACT Act means for you or your loved ones, or call 800-698-2411 (TTY: 711) to file a claim for PACT Act-related disability compensation or apply for VA health care now. See more about the Veterans Benefits PACT ACT at The PACT Act and Your VA Benefits | Veterans Affairs web page.
- On March 3, 2023, Judy Heumann, considered the “mother of the disability rights movement,” passed away at the age of 75. Learn more about her contributions outlined in the Deputy CHCO email message dated March 8, 2023.
What’s new?
The PWDSEP InSite page has been updated! Check it out for more information about our recorded events video library: Persons with Disabilities Special Emphasis Program (gsa.gov).
Upcoming events:
- May 2023 – Experience of Disabled Veterans at GSA.
- July 2023 – The Americans with Disabilities Act Anniversary Event.
- October 2023 – National Disability Employment Awareness Month.
For American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter requests
For Communication Access Real Time (CART) services (Live Captioning)
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