Invisible Disability 'Seeing others with compassion'

CAMHS Equality Champions: Invisible Disability ‘Seeing others with compassion’

In our next piece on invisible disabilities, Louise – parent and CAMHS Equality Champion talks about her experience of contributing to this work and invites us to watch a TedTalk that she found fascinating and inspiring.

Louise says: “Being part of an ‘Invisible Disability’ group has certainly been an eye opener. I would struggle to define what an “Invisible Disability” is. The Invisible Disabilities Association state’s the following:

“People often ask us to define invisible disability. In simple terms, an invisible disability is a physical, mental or neurological condition that is not visible from the outside, yet can limit or challenge a person’s movements, senses, or activities. Unfortunately, the very fact that these symptoms are invisible can lead to misunderstandings, false perceptions, and judgments.”

“In my journey to understand more it led me to a Ted Talks Video. Valerie Kosson tells us her story. She was born a premature baby and she explains what “parts” she is missing and what she has to do on a daily basis to function. She was so tiny that her hand could be tucked inside her Mum’s wedding ring.

“I invite you to watch the video and I hope it makes a difference to how you go about your day and how you see other people.”

What did we as a group gain from watching this video?

Hannah – Clinical Psychologist

“Valerie speaks frankly about the long-term effects of prematurity and the hidden impacts on her daily life. For me, what stood out was her message about it being everyone’s responsibility to adjust and adapt to support people living with invisible disabilities. It prompted me to reflect on how we can do this, and take responsibility to do so, as clinicians working in services supporting young people with invisible disabilities. By doing this, we can help to reduce shameful experiences that are brought on by stigma and lack of inclusivity. Valerie advocates the power of compassion to facilitate connection with others. To celebrate difference over conformity.

“When you don’t connect with someone right way, you don’t walk away, but lean in a little closer”.

Helena – CAMHS Young Advisor

“I enjoyed watching this TED Talk. I think it truly highlights the wide range of invisible disabilities, as someone with an invisible disability, I’d never considered that premature babies can go on to have disabilities in later life. I think, to me, it shows how every invisible disability is so different. I also loved the strapline in the background ‘Seeing others with compassion’. I think because invisible disabilities are hidden it teaches us to treat everyone with the same amount of respect even if they come across differently to you. You don’t know what they might be going through or living with.”

Robin – CAMHS Participation Worker

“There are so many things that Valerie says in this talk that are powerful and moving and made me think about the experience of someone with an invisible disability. In particular, she says towards the end of her talk.

“How do you know if someone was born prematurely and has invisible disabilities? You don’t. That’s why it’s important that we have compassion and understanding towards others when we get frustrated with them. How about when you don’t connect with someone right away, you give it another try…”

“This is so important with any invisible disability and, in fact, any engagement with another person. Throughout the talk, Valerie stresses the importance of compassion, patience, kindness and a willingness to understand as much of others’ experience as we can. She makes the point that school and college assessments tend to measure a person’s ability to memorise material but not their resilience, determination, kindness, loyalty and the ability to be a good listener. This is something that really resonates with me having been a teacher in the past and feeling very much the same about how students are judged and assessed.”

View the Invisible Disability ‘Seeing others with compassion’ video here.

If you would like to contribute to this work on invisible disabilities in some way, or if you know of any young people or parents/carers that would like to be involved, please contact Robin Tay, CAMHS Participation Worker on robin.tay@nhs.net.