By definition, Invisible Disabilities limit a person’s visual, auditory, emotional or physical capabilities and are often misunderstood because they are not visibly apparent to others. For example, you may not be able to see that a person is suffering from visual or hearing impairment, an emotional disorder, Fibromyalgia, Autism, ADD/ADHD, or other such disorders. Many times people with invisible disabilities are perceived as wild, whiny, stupid, spoiled, shy, slow, day dreamy, or many other adjectives I tend to ignore. The point – Invisible Disabilities are REAL! Just because you can’t see them it doesn’t mean they are not there.
People with invisible disabilities are often misunderstood. They often act “out-of-the-box” and are labeled as bad behaviorally. A large part of our very intelligent population, The Rembrandt’s, are being stifled because they do not fit the norm. This causes our society to flight from the spirit of individualism and it will eventually affect our ability to survive as a world. Let’s take the example of ADHD as a case study.
The Theory of ADHD Evolution
According to the article ADHD and Evolution: Were Hyperactive Hunter Gatherers Better Adapted Than Their Peers?, “From an evolutionary perspective, school is an abnormal environment. Nothing like it ever existed in the long course of evolution during which we acquired our human nature” (Gray, P.). Gray believes that sitting quietly in chairs, participating in academics of which they (ADHD students) have no interest, and listening to teachers feed them information to memorize is not an evolutionary adequate expectation for students who hold the ADHD gene.
In the same article, Krans argues that given the ability to have freedom and choice a person will be very effective in a school environment. While most students enjoy choice in learning, many students with invisible disabilities NEED choice. Without options many children begin to act inappropriately because they are bored or need to be more physically active. Basically, their birthrights are being stolen because society does not agree with their behavior when their needs are not being met. ADHD people can be amazing humans when given the right to think and act differently.
The Medication Remediation
“Children and adults with ADHD are often made to believe that their ADHD is strictly a disability… Instead of understanding that their ADHD can be a strength” (Krans, B). Medication is being fed to children with invisible disabilities at an alarming rate and is masking their ability to become truly unique individuals. We have to stop inhibiting children from meeting their potential, God-given, talents based upon societal limitations. All the medication is doing is causing unhealthy children with lower self-esteem. Many also lack the bare essentials due to suppression in appetite, food tasting differently while on medication, body activity levels etc… In general, people cannot perform to their best because they are not receiving basic nutritional, physical and neurological necessities. The side effects can be alarming.
The Truth
We have to embrace our Invisible Disability beings and begin to appreciate them for being the amazing humans they are. They have the ability to survive, a commodity necessary in today’s society. They are not afraid, naturally, of the world and its surrounding until we tell them they should be. These children need to learn the best way that they can…their way. That is their key to success.
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