Ableism is discrimination or prejudice against individuals with disabilities, stemming from the belief that non-disabled individuals are "normal" while those with disabilities are seen as "less than normal" or in "need of correction." This mindset influences societal perceptions and treatment of people with mild or a lesser visible disability.

For people with mild disabilities, ableism often leads to unique challenges because their disabilities may not be immediately obvious. My disability aligns closely with this.

Here's how ableism plays a defining role:

Others Dismissing Their Needs

People with mild disabilities often face the sentiment they aren't 'disabled enough'. Their mental and emotional struggles may be trivialised, downplayed or simply ignored and left out of being able to contribute to 'normal' relationships. Someone with mild dyslexia might find reading challenging – with others choosing to interpret this as a lack of effort, or being lazy, rather than recognising they need meaningful support.

Others Expecting Them to Hide Their Disability

Society frequently pressures individuals with mild disabilities to act and behave as if they don't have a disability at all, instead of accepting and working on inclusivity. This expectation often results in a heavy burden, as those individuals feel compelled to mask their difficulties or simply 'push through,' leading to continual stress and mental and emotional fatigue. I'm still expected to behave normally around my own mild disability and to push through. It's one of the reasons I wrote this blog.

A Lack of Acknowledgment

Mild disabilities, particularly those relating to mental health or learning differences are mostly ignored in the wider population, misunderstood and overlooked – with genuine challenges posed by the condition falling by the wayside. Those will always have a bearing on that person's physical, mental and emotional health.

Individuals with mild disabilities do not neatly fit into societal binary categories of 'disabled' or 'not disabled.' This can lead to inconsistent treatment where they may struggle to obtain the necessary support in certain situations, while being classified as disabled in others.

Internalised Ableism

Due to prevailing attitudes towards mild disabilities, individuals may internalise the belief that their conditions are not "serious enough" to matter and for others to care. Those with a mild disability may begin to feel other people's guilt – and as a result may ignore seeking or asking for help, even when they know they need it, because they are afraid on the response.

Conclusion

Ableism is a real issue that continues to create real challenges for people with mild disabilities by others downplaying their needs – expecting them to minimise and in some circumstances hide their mental and emotional struggles. But first, to fight against ableism, society needs to recognise that disabilities exist on a different spectrum and to accept that those with mild disabilities deserve the same respect, understanding and support as everyone else.