Managing Invisible Disabilities in the Workplace: Identification and Disclosure Dilemmas for Workers with Hidden Impairments

Abstract

Many disabilities are invisible. Yet, research and lay conceptualizations of disability are largely focused on visible disabilities (e.g., wheelchair user). In this chapter, we outline features of invisible disabilities that might create unique challenges for workers with those disabilities. These challenges are summarized by two key dilemmas: whether to self-label as a person with disability and whether to disclose the disability at work. We discuss individual and social factors that influence how workers with invisible disabilities respond to those dilemmas. We then discuss the important implications of the identification and disclosure dilemmas for how practices might evolve to improve the integration and productivity of workers with invisible disabilities.