Disability is a kaleidoscope. Even within each medical diagnosis, there is so much variation. As a community we are not homogenous, we are diverse. It feels like mainstream is the circle, and they’ve made disability a square – you must fit into either box, but ultimately everyone is shaped differently. 

It feels like the stage we are at with understanding disability is in its infancy. Looking at other marginalised groups, understanding has often been spearheaded by a fragment of the community. As this becomes more widely accepted, we begin to be able to learn about the remainder of the community and understand the diversity within it.

Looking to mental health, there was a general understanding built first of ‘mental health’ and it has grown to a stage where we have more awareness of different conditions within it beyond depression and anxiety. Cancer is another area, a decade ago we had an awareness of cancer, but now we have a deeper understanding of many of the different types of it.

For disability, we have been led into the spotlight by people with visible disabilities. Not necessarily by choice, often by virtue or diversity ‘signalling’ or matching disability with either tragedy or paralympic glory. As a talent agent for a range of people with disability and chronic illness, I have seen firsthand that casting briefs looking for disabled people only accept those with a visible disability. It’s both exclusionary and understandable. If we want people to see disability represented, they need to be able to see it? 

How disability is portrayed and spoken about contributed to why I struggled to feel part of the disability community. I am one of the 90% of people with disability who have an ‘invisible’ or hidden disability. I am actually part of the majority. But I’ve watched society’s pace of understanding the existence of hidden disabilities fall far behind mine. 

I describe having an invisible disability as a blessing and a curse. It often feels like you straddle two worlds, yet do not fit into either. I couldn’t relate to a non-disabled experience and didn’t fit into the representation of disability either. When we don’t see the disability, we often don’t see the person as being disabled. I have been so fearful of asking for what I need, as I don’t have the energy to defend my disability. A common story I’ve heard from many is receiving abuse when people without obvious disabilities use disability parking. How we have understood disability as a society needs to evolve.

Associating people like me, who blend into a crowd, and platforming, acknowledging and validating that disability can look like this too will impact everyone positively. One of my proudest achievements was being named an International Day of People with Disability Ambassador last year, as it demonstrated that other people recognise my disability. It reinforced how we are learning that disability isn’t based on appearance, but on experience and you cannot judge the severity of the disability by others' ability to recognise it. It is the beginning of redefining and repositioning disability in a way that improves people’s lives.

About the Author:

Anja Christoffersen is an award-winning disability advocate, social entrepreneur, author and model, selected as one of the International Day of People with Disability Ambassadors for 2023. Anja walked Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Amsterdam at 17 years old, and wrote a book (Behind the Smile) before turning to entrepreneurship and founding the Women with Disabilities Entrepreneur Network, Champion Health Agency, SHH!T Happens, and co-founding Against the Grain Coffee.