Out Of Sight, Not Out Of Rights: Accommodating Invisible Disabilities At Work

When employers think about workplace accommodations, they often picture visible disabilities, yet many disabilities are not immediately apparent. Mental health conditions, ADHD, learning disabilities, chronic pain disorders, migraines, autoimmune conditions, and endometriosis can all affect an employee's ability to perform their job, despite having no obvious outward signs.

From Ted Lasso’s portrayal of anxiety and panic attacks to Grey’s Anatomy’s depiction of endometriosis, popular culture is increasingly highlighting a reality employers must recognize: not all disabilities are visible.

As discussed in my previous blog on endometriosis, invisible disabilities often present unique accommodation challenges because symptoms may fluctuate, be episodic, or be difficult for others to recognize and understand. For employers, the focus should not be on what can be seen, but rather on how a medical condition affects an employee's ability to perform their job.