{"id":328,"date":"2025-08-04T14:47:00","date_gmt":"2025-08-04T18:47:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cms.web.umflint.edu\/accessibility\/?p=328"},"modified":"2026-06-22T14:48:33","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T18:48:33","slug":"invisible-disabilities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/accessibility\/invisible-disabilities\/","title":{"rendered":"Designing Content for Users with Invisible Disabilities"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we continue our commitment to creating inclusive and accessible content, it\u2019s important to remember that not all disabilities are visible. According to the CDC, 1 in 4 adults in the U.S. lives with a disability, many of which are invisible. Invisible disabilities include physical, mental, or neurological conditions that aren\u2019t immediately apparent but can significantly impact how someone navigates the world, including digital environments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-x-large-font-size\">What Are Invisible Disabilities?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Invisible disabilities include a broad range of conditions such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Cognitive disabilities (e.g., dyslexia, ADHD, autism, epilepsy)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mental health conditions (e.g., depression, anxiety, PTSD)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Chronic illnesses or conditions that affect energy, focus, or sensory processing<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many individuals with these disabilities are active in their careers, communities, and families. Some work full or part-time while managing symptoms that can make everyday tasks more difficult. Others may not even be aware they have a disability. Because these conditions aren\u2019t always visible, they are often overlooked, especially in digital content and communication design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-x-large-font-size\">Designing with Invisible Disabilities in Mind<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By adopting accessibility best practices, we can create digital content that is not only compliant but also more effective, inclusive, and user-friendly for everyone. Here are a few key practices to consider:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Use captions and transcripts.<\/strong>\u00a0While required, these tools are also incredibly helpful for users with cognitive disabilities or those who are neurodivergent. They improve comprehension and focus, and they\u2019re beneficial for individuals who speak English as a second language.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Include content warnings.<\/strong>\u00a0If your content includes flashing visuals, intense imagery, or sensitive topics (such as trauma), a brief warning allows individuals with PTSD, epilepsy, or anxiety to make informed choices about how and when they engage with that content.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Write in clear, simple language.<\/strong>\u00a0Aim for a 7th-9th grade reading level to ensure that your message is understandable and actionable. Simple language benefits everyone, not just those with cognitive disabilities.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-x-large-font-size\">Quick Checklist<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Use descriptive headings and logical structure<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Avoid flashing animations or provide a warning<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Break up long paragraphs or complex ideas into bullet points<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Provide alternative formats where possible (e.g., audio, text, video)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Keep navigation and layout predictable and consistent<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-x-large-font-size\">Final Thoughts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Designing with invisible disabilities in mind isn\u2019t just good practice, it\u2019s a step toward a more empathetic and equitable digital environment. Your efforts can make a real difference in someone\u2019s ability to engage fully and comfortably with the content the university shares.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-x-large-font-size\">Resources<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019ve pulled together a few helpful resources to guide you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.plainlanguage.gov\/guidelines\/\">Plain language guidelines<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/disability-and-health\/articles-documents\/disability-impacts-all-of-us-infographic.html\">Disability information from the CDC<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/accessibility\">UM-Flint accessibility resources<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thank you for helping us build a more accessible and inclusive digital community!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As we continue our commitment to creating inclusive and accessible content, it\u2019s important to remember that not all disabilities are visible. According to the CDC, 1 in 4 adults in the U.S. lives with a disability, many of which are invisible. Invisible disabilities include physical, mental, or neurological conditions that aren\u2019t immediately apparent but can [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-328","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"featured_media_global":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/accessibility\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/328","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/accessibility\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/accessibility\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/accessibility\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/accessibility\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=328"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/accessibility\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/328\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":331,"href":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/accessibility\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/328\/revisions\/331"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/accessibility\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=328"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/accessibility\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=328"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/accessibility\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=328"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}