When most people think of disabilities, they often imagine,  something you can see ( ex. wheelchair, a hearing aide, or a visible physical difference.) But what people do not realize is that Some disabilities live quietly in the mind, shaping how a person experiences the world in ways that are not always obvious to others. 

Neurodivergence- whether it’s autism, ADHD, dyslexia, Tourette’s, OCD, or another condition- often falls into that “invisible” category. From the outside, a neurodivergent  person might seem “fine.” They might smile, hold a conversation, go to work or school, and appear to function like a “normal” human. But what others don’t see is the pure social stress from having to talk to people all day ( autism), the struggle to make a sentence read right ( dyslexia), the sudden head movement to better stim and regulate ( Tourette’s). What they also do not see is the constant effort it can take to exist in a world that wasn’t designed with neurodiverse minds in mind. 

For many of us masking becomes second nature- the act of hiding stimming behaviors, forcing eye contact, surpressing impulses, or mimicking ” socially acceptable” communication just to fit in. It’s exhausting and often misunderstood. People might say to us things like ” you don’t look autistic,” or ” you seem normal to me.” But this is the exact problem- the assumption that visibility equals legitimacy. 

Invisible disabilities are infact real and legit. They often carry sensory overloads, executive dysfunction, and emotional regulation struggles may not have a physical marker, but they’re just as impactful. They affect how we think, work, socialize, and navigate daily life. 

What we need most is understanding- not pity, not disbelief. Believe when people like me share there stories and experiences with being neurodiverse with you. We are sharing just simply so we can feel seen and be heard. Offer some patience when someone needs to rest, stim, or take extra time. Accessibility is not just ramps and parking spaces; it’s also flexible communication, sensory-friendly spaces, and environments that respect different ways of thinking and being.  The next time you meet someone who says they are neurodivergent, remember: Just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it’s not there.