The Eurpopean Federation of Neurological Associations (EFNA) encourages member and supporters to mark the Invisible Disabilities Week – 16 to 22 October – by sharing special pictures hiding their faces with their umbrella plus a message that mentions a brain disorder and an associated invisible symptom. For example:

Because you can’t always see disability – get #UnderTheUmbrella for #InvisibleDisabilitiesWeek #[INSERT-DISORDER] #[INSERT-INVISIBLE-SYMPTOM]’

For more information visit: www.undertheumbrella.eu.

Invisible disabilities

This is a term that captures a whole spectrum of hidden symptoms or challenges that are primarily neurological in nature.

Many brain and brain-related disorders cause symptoms that are not immediately obvious. They can include pain, fatigue, sleeping problems or dizziness. Other related symptoms are cognitive dysfunction, brain injuries, learning difficulties and mental health disorders, as well as hearing and vision impairments.

While these symptoms may not be visible, they can limit the person’s ability to perform daily activities and severely impact quality of life.

Even in brain disorders that have immediately apparent symptoms, the secondary invisible symptoms can be just as, or even more, disabling – and worsened by the stigma that such unseen disabilities can create.