GITNUXREPORT 2026

Invisible Disability Statistics

Invisible disabilities are incredibly common yet often misunderstood and hidden.

Alexander Schmidt

Research Analyst specializing in technology and digital transformation trends.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

Our Commitment to Accuracy

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Statistic 1

People with disabilities live in poverty at more than twice the rate of people without disabilities

Statistic 2

26% of adults in the US with a disability live in households with a total income of less than $15,000

Statistic 3

Extra costs faced by disabled people in the UK average £583 a month

Statistic 4

1 in 5 people with invisible disabilities have been forced to leave the workforce entirely

Statistic 5

Medical debt is the leading cause of bankruptcy in the U.S., affecting a disproportionate number of those with invisible chronic conditions

Statistic 6

The "disability pay gap" in the UK is 12.2%, with disabled workers earning significantly less per hour

Statistic 7

1 in 3 people with disabilities report they cannot afford to keep their home warm

Statistic 8

Households containing a person with a disability need an average of 28% more income to achieve the same standard of living

Statistic 9

Annual economic cost of ADHD in the U.S. is estimated between $143 billion and $266 billion

Statistic 10

77% of people with invisible disabilities rely on family for financial support due to inability to work full-time

Statistic 11

33% of people with disabilities worldwide live below the poverty line

Statistic 12

Lost productivity due to chronic pain (invisible) costs the U.S. economy $635 billion annually

Statistic 13

20% of people with invisible disabilities have had to move house to be closer to medical care

Statistic 14

Only 40% of people with disabilities have an emergency savings fund of at least $2,000

Statistic 15

People with disabilities spend 10x more on specialized transportation than those without

Statistic 16

25% of students with invisible disabilities drop out of high school, compared to 15% of the general population

Statistic 17

52% of people with disabilities say they have less than $500 in liquid assets

Statistic 18

1 in 4 adults with a disability in the U.S. do not have a steady source of income other than government benefits

Statistic 19

Mental health conditions cost the global economy $1 trillion per year in lost productivity

Statistic 20

15% of people with invisible disabilities use crowdfunding to pay for medical expenses

Statistic 21

37% of people with hidden disabilities say they have difficulty affording specialized dietary needs

Statistic 22

40% of people with invisible disabilities have avoided travel due to the high cost of health insurance premiums

Statistic 23

Only 35% of people with disabilities in the U.S. are homeowners, compared to 64% of the general population

Statistic 24

In the UK, the "purple pound" (spending power of disabled people) is estimated at £274 billion per year

Statistic 25

People with invisible disabilities are 50% more likely to be unbanked or underbanked

Statistic 26

28% of the global cost of disability is due to neurodevelopmental disorders

Statistic 27

60% of people with disabilities say that the cost of assistive technology is a major barrier to independence

Statistic 28

On average, a person with an invisible disability spends 15% of their income on non-reimbursable health costs

Statistic 29

1 in 8 people with disabilities in the U.S. reported being unable to pay their rent in the past year

Statistic 30

Companies with high disability inclusion scores have 90% higher stock price growth over 4 years

Statistic 31

Average time to diagnosis for an invisible autoimmune disease is 4.6 years

Statistic 32

Patients with invisible illnesses see an average of 4.8 doctors before receiving a correct diagnosis

Statistic 33

83% of Rare Disease patients have conditions that involve non-visible symptoms

Statistic 34

It takes an average of 6 to 10 years for a woman to be diagnosed with Endometriosis

Statistic 35

33% of people with invisible disabilities say they have been dismissed by a medical professional

Statistic 36

70% of mental health problems begin during childhood or adolescence, yet are often undiagnosed for years

Statistic 37

25% of medical students receive no formal training on how to treat patients with disabilities

Statistic 38

People with disabilities have a 3x higher risk of being denied healthcare

Statistic 39

42% of people with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome are unable to work due to the severity of their invisible symptoms

Statistic 40

50% of the blind population have some level of functional vision, making their disability appear "invisible" at times

Statistic 41

40% of adults with ADHD also have a co-occurring invisible condition like anxiety or depression

Statistic 42

Misdiagnosis rates for Bipolar Disorder are as high as 69%

Statistic 43

Only 25% of individuals with Lupus believe their doctors completely understand the impact of the disease

Statistic 44

1 in 5 people with invisible disabilities use medical marijuana for symptom management

Statistic 45

Telehealth usage among people with invisible disabilities increased by 70% during the pandemic

Statistic 46

60% of people with IBD feel their doctors focus only on physical symptoms and ignore the invisible mental impact

Statistic 47

Average out-of-pocket costs for managing a chronic invisible illness can exceed $5,000 annually

Statistic 48

30% of rare disease patients wait more than 5 years for a diagnosis

Statistic 49

55% of patients with invisible illnesses feel their family doctor is "not very knowledgeable" about their condition

Statistic 50

1 in 3 adults with a disability report having an unmet healthcare need

Statistic 51

Women are 50% more likely than men to have their pain ignored/undertreated by doctors

Statistic 52

40% of stroke survivors live with invisible cognitive impairments

Statistic 53

1 in 4 people with invisible disabilities report avoiding the doctor due to previous negative experiences

Statistic 54

Chronic migraine affects 1% to 2% of the global population, but only 40% of sufferers are properly diagnosed

Statistic 55

80% of children with autism have sensory processing issues that are entirely invisible to observers

Statistic 56

Adults with disabilities are 3x more likely to have diabetes compared to those without

Statistic 57

75% of patients with chronic invisible pain report significant sleep disturbances

Statistic 58

15% of the world's population lives with a disability, yet they represent only 1% of the global healthcare workforce

Statistic 59

1 in 4 people with invisible disabilities report that they have had to switch doctors at least 3 times to find one who believed their symptoms

Statistic 60

Patients with invisible illnesses spend an average of 40 hours a month on healthcare-related administration

Statistic 61

1 in 4 Americans have a disability, yet up to 80% are not immediately apparent to others

Statistic 62

Approximately 10% of people in the U.S. have a medical condition that could be considered an invisible disability

Statistic 63

74% of people with disabilities do not use a wheelchair or other assistive device that is visible

Statistic 64

96% of people with chronic medical conditions live with a condition that is invisible to the casual observer

Statistic 65

Over 1 billion people worldwide experience some form of disability, with the majority being non-visible

Statistic 66

In the UK, 80% of the 14 million people with disabilities have an invisible impairment

Statistic 67

1 in 5 college students in the U.S. report having a disability, many of which are learning or mental health related

Statistic 68

Women are diagnosed with autoimmune diseases (often invisible) at a rate of 3 to 1 compared to men

Statistic 69

Approximately 50 million Americans suffer from chronic pain, a leading invisible condition

Statistic 70

1 in 42 boys are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, which is often not immediately visible

Statistic 71

Nearly 60% of people with disabilities in the UK say they have hidden their impairment to avoid stigma

Statistic 72

1 in 10 Australians have an invisible disability that affects their daily functioning

Statistic 73

40% of persons with disabilities in Canada have more than one disability, often involving invisible combinations

Statistic 74

About 20% of the U.S. population has a mental health condition, the majority of which are invisible

Statistic 75

Prevalence of ADHD in adults globally is estimated at roughly 2.8%

Statistic 76

1 in 6 children have a developmental disability, many of which lack physical markers

Statistic 77

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) impacts 1.5 million Americans annually, often resulting in invisible cognitive deficits

Statistic 78

1 in 100 people worldwide have Celiac disease, an invisible digestive autoimmune condition

Statistic 79

Multiple Sclerosis affects 2.8 million people worldwide, frequently presenting with invisible fatigue or numbness

Statistic 80

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome affects up to 2.5 million Americans, 90% of whom go undiagnosed

Statistic 81

1 in 10 women of reproductive age suffer from Endometriosis, an invisible chronic pain condition

Statistic 82

5.4 million Americans live with Alzheimer's, which is invisible in its early to mid-stages

Statistic 83

Hearing loss impacts 48 million Americans but only 1 in 5 who could benefit from a hearing aid uses one

Statistic 84

Fibromyalgia affects approximately 4 million US adults, presenting with invisible widespread pain

Statistic 85

70% of people with disabilities have "non-visible" conditions according to the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower scheme

Statistic 86

1 in 5 adults experience high levels of psychological distress

Statistic 87

Crohn’s and Colitis affect 1.6 million Americans, often hidden due to social stigma

Statistic 88

Lupus affects 1.5 million Americans, with 90% being women

Statistic 89

Over 3.4 million Americans have epilepsy, an invisible neurological disorder

Statistic 90

Dyslexia affects up to 20% of the population, representing the most common invisible learning disability

Statistic 91

60% of people with invisible disabilities have been victims of "disability shaming" in public

Statistic 92

1 in 3 people with invisible disabilities have been confronted for using a disabled parking space

Statistic 93

49% of the public feel "awkward" talking to a person with a disability

Statistic 94

Only 25% of the general public believes that people with mental health conditions are "dangerous," yet stigma persists in social exclusion

Statistic 95

67% of people in the UK say they feel uncomfortable talking to a person with an invisible disability

Statistic 96

40% of people with disabilities report they are often treated with less respect than others

Statistic 97

22% of disabled people feel that others have low expectations of them due to their condition

Statistic 98

People with invisible disabilities are 3x more likely to be victims of violent crime

Statistic 99

45% of children with ADHD report being bullied at school due to their symptoms

Statistic 100

30% of people with disabilities have experienced some form of discrimination in a healthcare setting

Statistic 101

1 in 5 people with invisible disabilities say they have been denied access to a business or service

Statistic 102

72% of autistic adults feel that they are socially isolated due to their condition

Statistic 103

85% of people with chronic pain feel that their condition is misunderstood by friends and family

Statistic 104

1 in 4 people with mental health conditions reported discriminatory treatment by their neighbors

Statistic 105

38% of hate crimes against disabled people in England and Wales are targeted at those with invisible impairments

Statistic 106

60% of people with disabilities say they have adjusted their behavior to "fit in" and avoid judgment

Statistic 107

23% of complaints to the EEOC are disability-related, many focusing on invisible impairments

Statistic 108

50% of people with invisible disabilities say that the fear of judgment keeps them from traveling

Statistic 109

1 in 10 social media posts about invisible illness contain "medical gaslighting" or skeptical comments

Statistic 110

42% of people with disabilities feel that people ignore them or talk over them

Statistic 111

35% of individuals with fibromyalgia report lost friendships due to the invisible nature of their flares

Statistic 112

40% of people worldwide believe that depression is a sign of personal weakness

Statistic 113

64% of people with hidden disabilities have stayed at home for fear of not being able to find a bathroom in time

Statistic 114

Only 30% of the public says they would feel comfortable dating someone with a mental health condition

Statistic 115

18% of people with invisible disabilities have been asked to "prove" their disability in a public space

Statistic 116

59% of disabled people state that the public’s lack of understanding is the biggest barrier in their daily life

Statistic 117

Only 3.2% of employees globally disclose their invisible disability to their HR departments

Statistic 118

62% of employees with a disability have an "invisible" one

Statistic 119

1 in 3 employees with disabilities say they have experienced negative treatment at work due to their condition

Statistic 120

Employees who disclose a disability are 2x more likely to feel happy at work than those who don't

Statistic 121

80% of employees with invisible disabilities choose not to disclose to HR

Statistic 122

Companies that lead in disability inclusion have 28% higher revenue on average

Statistic 123

34% of people with a disability feel that their employer's recruitment processes are inaccessible

Statistic 124

Workers with disabilities take 30% fewer sick days than their non-disabled peers on average

Statistic 125

Only 4.1% of Fortune 1000 board members have a disclosed disability

Statistic 126

48% of employees with invisible disabilities fear that disclosure will limit their career growth

Statistic 127

57% of employees with invisible disabilities report feeling like they are "faking" wellness at work

Statistic 128

The employment rate for people with disabilities is 19.1%, compared to 63.7% for people without

Statistic 129

39% of employees with disabilities have experienced bullying or harassment in the workplace

Statistic 130

76% of employees with disabilities do not fully disclose their condition to their manager

Statistic 131

44% of workers with invisible disabilities feel that colleagues would think they were "slacking" if they sought accommodations

Statistic 132

Employees with disabilities have a 90% higher retention rate than those without

Statistic 133

58% of workplace accommodations cost $0 to implement

Statistic 134

For accommodations that do cost money, the median spend is $500

Statistic 135

20% of disabled people in the UK feel that their colleagues' attitudes are a major barrier to work

Statistic 136

1 in 4 people with non-visible disabilities have had a request for reasonable adjustment refused

Statistic 137

Only 21% of people with disabilities say they feel comfortable asking for adjustments

Statistic 138

Disability-inclusive companies see 30% higher profit margins

Statistic 139

30% of professional-level employees have a disability, but only 3.2% disclose it to HR

Statistic 140

People with disabilities are twice as likely to be self-employed as those without

Statistic 141

73% of managers feel that supporting employees with mental health issues is part of their job, but only 24% have been trained

Statistic 142

43% of people with disabilities believe they were not hired for a job due to their condition

Statistic 143

19% of employees with invisible disabilities feel that they are treated differently after disclosing

Statistic 144

High-potential employees with disabilities are 1.3 times more likely to quit if they feel undervalued

Statistic 145

60% of employees with disabilities find that remote work helps them manage symptoms more effectively

Statistic 146

1 in 7 employees currently deal with a neurodivergent condition like ADHD or Autism

1/146

Sources

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You've probably unknowingly walked past, worked with, or befriended someone with a non-visible condition, because while a staggering one in four Americans lives with a disability, up to eighty percent of those impairments are completely invisible to the casual observer.

Key Takeaways

1 in 4 Americans have a disability, yet up to 80% are not immediately apparent to others
Approximately 10% of people in the U.S. have a medical condition that could be considered an invisible disability
74% of people with disabilities do not use a wheelchair or other assistive device that is visible
Only 3.2% of employees globally disclose their invisible disability to their HR departments
62% of employees with a disability have an "invisible" one
1 in 3 employees with disabilities say they have experienced negative treatment at work due to their condition
60% of people with invisible disabilities have been victims of "disability shaming" in public
1 in 3 people with invisible disabilities have been confronted for using a disabled parking space
49% of the public feel "awkward" talking to a person with a disability
Average time to diagnosis for an invisible autoimmune disease is 4.6 years
Patients with invisible illnesses see an average of 4.8 doctors before receiving a correct diagnosis
83% of Rare Disease patients have conditions that involve non-visible symptoms
People with disabilities live in poverty at more than twice the rate of people without disabilities
26% of adults in the US with a disability live in households with a total income of less than $15,000
Extra costs faced by disabled people in the UK average £583 a month

Invisible disabilities are incredibly common yet often misunderstood and hidden.

Economic Impact and Logistics

People with disabilities live in poverty at more than twice the rate of people without disabilities
26% of adults in the US with a disability live in households with a total income of less than $15,000
Extra costs faced by disabled people in the UK average £583 a month
1 in 5 people with invisible disabilities have been forced to leave the workforce entirely
Medical debt is the leading cause of bankruptcy in the U.S., affecting a disproportionate number of those with invisible chronic conditions
The "disability pay gap" in the UK is 12.2%, with disabled workers earning significantly less per hour
1 in 3 people with disabilities report they cannot afford to keep their home warm
Households containing a person with a disability need an average of 28% more income to achieve the same standard of living
Annual economic cost of ADHD in the U.S. is estimated between $143 billion and $266 billion
77% of people with invisible disabilities rely on family for financial support due to inability to work full-time
33% of people with disabilities worldwide live below the poverty line
Lost productivity due to chronic pain (invisible) costs the U.S. economy $635 billion annually
20% of people with invisible disabilities have had to move house to be closer to medical care
Only 40% of people with disabilities have an emergency savings fund of at least $2,000
People with disabilities spend 10x more on specialized transportation than those without
25% of students with invisible disabilities drop out of high school, compared to 15% of the general population
52% of people with disabilities say they have less than $500 in liquid assets
1 in 4 adults with a disability in the U.S. do not have a steady source of income other than government benefits
Mental health conditions cost the global economy $1 trillion per year in lost productivity
15% of people with invisible disabilities use crowdfunding to pay for medical expenses
37% of people with hidden disabilities say they have difficulty affording specialized dietary needs
40% of people with invisible disabilities have avoided travel due to the high cost of health insurance premiums
Only 35% of people with disabilities in the U.S. are homeowners, compared to 64% of the general population
In the UK, the "purple pound" (spending power of disabled people) is estimated at £274 billion per year
People with invisible disabilities are 50% more likely to be unbanked or underbanked
28% of the global cost of disability is due to neurodevelopmental disorders
60% of people with disabilities say that the cost of assistive technology is a major barrier to independence
On average, a person with an invisible disability spends 15% of their income on non-reimbursable health costs
1 in 8 people with disabilities in the U.S. reported being unable to pay their rent in the past year
Companies with high disability inclusion scores have 90% higher stock price growth over 4 years

Economic Impact and Logistics Interpretation

This alarming parade of statistics reveals that society’s failure to accommodate invisible disabilities is effectively taxing people for their own survival, impoverishing them in body, wallet, and spirit.

Healthcare and Diagnosis

Average time to diagnosis for an invisible autoimmune disease is 4.6 years
Patients with invisible illnesses see an average of 4.8 doctors before receiving a correct diagnosis
83% of Rare Disease patients have conditions that involve non-visible symptoms
It takes an average of 6 to 10 years for a woman to be diagnosed with Endometriosis
33% of people with invisible disabilities say they have been dismissed by a medical professional
70% of mental health problems begin during childhood or adolescence, yet are often undiagnosed for years
25% of medical students receive no formal training on how to treat patients with disabilities
People with disabilities have a 3x higher risk of being denied healthcare
42% of people with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome are unable to work due to the severity of their invisible symptoms
50% of the blind population have some level of functional vision, making their disability appear "invisible" at times
40% of adults with ADHD also have a co-occurring invisible condition like anxiety or depression
Misdiagnosis rates for Bipolar Disorder are as high as 69%
Only 25% of individuals with Lupus believe their doctors completely understand the impact of the disease
1 in 5 people with invisible disabilities use medical marijuana for symptom management
Telehealth usage among people with invisible disabilities increased by 70% during the pandemic
60% of people with IBD feel their doctors focus only on physical symptoms and ignore the invisible mental impact
Average out-of-pocket costs for managing a chronic invisible illness can exceed $5,000 annually
30% of rare disease patients wait more than 5 years for a diagnosis
55% of patients with invisible illnesses feel their family doctor is "not very knowledgeable" about their condition
1 in 3 adults with a disability report having an unmet healthcare need
Women are 50% more likely than men to have their pain ignored/undertreated by doctors
40% of stroke survivors live with invisible cognitive impairments
1 in 4 people with invisible disabilities report avoiding the doctor due to previous negative experiences
Chronic migraine affects 1% to 2% of the global population, but only 40% of sufferers are properly diagnosed
80% of children with autism have sensory processing issues that are entirely invisible to observers
Adults with disabilities are 3x more likely to have diabetes compared to those without
75% of patients with chronic invisible pain report significant sleep disturbances
15% of the world's population lives with a disability, yet they represent only 1% of the global healthcare workforce
1 in 4 people with invisible disabilities report that they have had to switch doctors at least 3 times to find one who believed their symptoms
Patients with invisible illnesses spend an average of 40 hours a month on healthcare-related administration

Healthcare and Diagnosis Interpretation

This data paints a grim portrait of a healthcare system often acting as a labyrinth of disbelief, where patients must spend years as detectives in their own bodies, only to present evidence that is too frequently dismissed by the very experts they trusted to solve the case.

Prevalence and Demographics

1 in 4 Americans have a disability, yet up to 80% are not immediately apparent to others
Approximately 10% of people in the U.S. have a medical condition that could be considered an invisible disability
74% of people with disabilities do not use a wheelchair or other assistive device that is visible
96% of people with chronic medical conditions live with a condition that is invisible to the casual observer
Over 1 billion people worldwide experience some form of disability, with the majority being non-visible
In the UK, 80% of the 14 million people with disabilities have an invisible impairment
1 in 5 college students in the U.S. report having a disability, many of which are learning or mental health related
Women are diagnosed with autoimmune diseases (often invisible) at a rate of 3 to 1 compared to men
Approximately 50 million Americans suffer from chronic pain, a leading invisible condition
1 in 42 boys are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, which is often not immediately visible
Nearly 60% of people with disabilities in the UK say they have hidden their impairment to avoid stigma
1 in 10 Australians have an invisible disability that affects their daily functioning
40% of persons with disabilities in Canada have more than one disability, often involving invisible combinations
About 20% of the U.S. population has a mental health condition, the majority of which are invisible
Prevalence of ADHD in adults globally is estimated at roughly 2.8%
1 in 6 children have a developmental disability, many of which lack physical markers
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) impacts 1.5 million Americans annually, often resulting in invisible cognitive deficits
1 in 100 people worldwide have Celiac disease, an invisible digestive autoimmune condition
Multiple Sclerosis affects 2.8 million people worldwide, frequently presenting with invisible fatigue or numbness
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome affects up to 2.5 million Americans, 90% of whom go undiagnosed
1 in 10 women of reproductive age suffer from Endometriosis, an invisible chronic pain condition
5.4 million Americans live with Alzheimer's, which is invisible in its early to mid-stages
Hearing loss impacts 48 million Americans but only 1 in 5 who could benefit from a hearing aid uses one
Fibromyalgia affects approximately 4 million US adults, presenting with invisible widespread pain
70% of people with disabilities have "non-visible" conditions according to the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower scheme
1 in 5 adults experience high levels of psychological distress
Crohn’s and Colitis affect 1.6 million Americans, often hidden due to social stigma
Lupus affects 1.5 million Americans, with 90% being women
Over 3.4 million Americans have epilepsy, an invisible neurological disorder
Dyslexia affects up to 20% of the population, representing the most common invisible learning disability

Prevalence and Demographics Interpretation

The staggering truth is that our world is profoundly populated by experts in unspoken endurance, where the most common disability is, in fact, the assumption that you can see one at all.

Social Stigma and Discrimination

60% of people with invisible disabilities have been victims of "disability shaming" in public
1 in 3 people with invisible disabilities have been confronted for using a disabled parking space
49% of the public feel "awkward" talking to a person with a disability
Only 25% of the general public believes that people with mental health conditions are "dangerous," yet stigma persists in social exclusion
67% of people in the UK say they feel uncomfortable talking to a person with an invisible disability
40% of people with disabilities report they are often treated with less respect than others
22% of disabled people feel that others have low expectations of them due to their condition
People with invisible disabilities are 3x more likely to be victims of violent crime
45% of children with ADHD report being bullied at school due to their symptoms
30% of people with disabilities have experienced some form of discrimination in a healthcare setting
1 in 5 people with invisible disabilities say they have been denied access to a business or service
72% of autistic adults feel that they are socially isolated due to their condition
85% of people with chronic pain feel that their condition is misunderstood by friends and family
1 in 4 people with mental health conditions reported discriminatory treatment by their neighbors
38% of hate crimes against disabled people in England and Wales are targeted at those with invisible impairments
60% of people with disabilities say they have adjusted their behavior to "fit in" and avoid judgment
23% of complaints to the EEOC are disability-related, many focusing on invisible impairments
50% of people with invisible disabilities say that the fear of judgment keeps them from traveling
1 in 10 social media posts about invisible illness contain "medical gaslighting" or skeptical comments
42% of people with disabilities feel that people ignore them or talk over them
35% of individuals with fibromyalgia report lost friendships due to the invisible nature of their flares
40% of people worldwide believe that depression is a sign of personal weakness
64% of people with hidden disabilities have stayed at home for fear of not being able to find a bathroom in time
Only 30% of the public says they would feel comfortable dating someone with a mental health condition
18% of people with invisible disabilities have been asked to "prove" their disability in a public space
59% of disabled people state that the public’s lack of understanding is the biggest barrier in their daily life

Workplace and Employment

Only 3.2% of employees globally disclose their invisible disability to their HR departments
62% of employees with a disability have an "invisible" one
1 in 3 employees with disabilities say they have experienced negative treatment at work due to their condition
Employees who disclose a disability are 2x more likely to feel happy at work than those who don't
80% of employees with invisible disabilities choose not to disclose to HR
Companies that lead in disability inclusion have 28% higher revenue on average
34% of people with a disability feel that their employer's recruitment processes are inaccessible
Workers with disabilities take 30% fewer sick days than their non-disabled peers on average
Only 4.1% of Fortune 1000 board members have a disclosed disability
48% of employees with invisible disabilities fear that disclosure will limit their career growth
57% of employees with invisible disabilities report feeling like they are "faking" wellness at work
The employment rate for people with disabilities is 19.1%, compared to 63.7% for people without
39% of employees with disabilities have experienced bullying or harassment in the workplace
76% of employees with disabilities do not fully disclose their condition to their manager
44% of workers with invisible disabilities feel that colleagues would think they were "slacking" if they sought accommodations
Employees with disabilities have a 90% higher retention rate than those without
58% of workplace accommodations cost $0 to implement
For accommodations that do cost money, the median spend is $500
20% of disabled people in the UK feel that their colleagues' attitudes are a major barrier to work
1 in 4 people with non-visible disabilities have had a request for reasonable adjustment refused
Only 21% of people with disabilities say they feel comfortable asking for adjustments
Disability-inclusive companies see 30% higher profit margins
30% of professional-level employees have a disability, but only 3.2% disclose it to HR
People with disabilities are twice as likely to be self-employed as those without
73% of managers feel that supporting employees with mental health issues is part of their job, but only 24% have been trained
43% of people with disabilities believe they were not hired for a job due to their condition
19% of employees with invisible disabilities feel that they are treated differently after disclosing
High-potential employees with disabilities are 1.3 times more likely to quit if they feel undervalued
60% of employees with disabilities find that remote work helps them manage symptoms more effectively
1 in 7 employees currently deal with a neurodivergent condition like ADHD or Autism

Workplace and Employment Interpretation

The staggering silence around invisible disabilities—where fear of being seen as "faking it" or "slacking" outweighs the proven benefits of inclusion—creates a tragic paradox where companies actively undermine their own revenue, retention, and humanity by clinging to outdated perceptions.

Sources & References

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