Comfort, Dignity and Support for Invisible or Hidden Disabilities
You likely know someone with an invisible or hidden disability!
Welcome to Our World
The Change Coalition empowers Canadians with invisible, hidden, and non-apparent disabilities through advocacy, education, and inclusive support, helping create communities where everyone can thrive.
Welcome Video
In this introductory video, Marcel Allen, Founder and Executive Director of The Change Coalition, shares his personal journey and the inspiration behind creating a movement that supports Canadians living with invisible, hidden, and non-apparent disabilities. Through lived experience, advocacy, and community collaboration, Marcel highlights the importance of awareness, inclusion, and breaking down barriers.
Share A Story
Your story has the power to inspire, educate, and create change. We invite individuals, families, caregivers, and allies to share their experiences living with an invisible, hidden, or non-apparent disability. By sharing your journey, you help raise awareness, reduce stigma, and remind others that they are not alone.
Welcome to the Community
The Change Coalition is building a stronger, more inclusive Canada through community partnerships that support people living with invisible, hidden, and non-apparent disabilities. By working together with organizations, businesses, and individuals, we raise awareness, reduce barriers, and create meaningful opportunities where everyone belongs.
why almost 1 in 5 canadians affected?
Why The Change Coalition Supports Our Numbers?
What Are Invisible Disabilities?
Invisible disabilities, also referred to as non-apparent or hidden disabilities, are disabilities that may not be immediately visible to others but can significantly affect a person's daily activities, participation in community life, education, employment, and overall well-being.
These disabilities can include, but are not limited to:
- Chronic pain conditions
- Mental health disabilities
- Learning and memory impairments
- Neurological conditions
- Autoimmune diseases
- Chronic illnesses that fluctuate in severity
Because the effects of these disabilities are often not outwardly visible, individuals may face misunderstanding, stigma, social isolation, and barriers to accessing appropriate supports and accommodations.
At The Change Coalition, we recognize that disability is not always visible. We are committed to promoting awareness, inclusion, accessibility, and equitable opportunities for individuals living with invisible, hidden, and non-apparent disabilities.
Invisible Disabilities: More Common Than Many People Realize
Invisible disabilities, also known as hidden or non-apparent disabilities, are more common than many people realize. Statistics Canada reports that many of the most common disabilities in Canada are non-apparent, while broader disability research estimates that approximately 70–80% of disabilities are non-visible.
According to Statistics Canada’s 2022 Canadian Survey on Disability, approximately 27% of Canadians aged 15 years and older report having at least one disability. Applying the widely cited estimate that 70–80% of disabilities are non-visible suggests that between 19% and 22% of Canadians—or approximately 1 in 5 Canadians—may be living with an invisible, hidden, or non-apparent disability.
What Does This Mean?
To put this into perspective, in a group of 100 Canadians, approximately 19 to 22 individuals may be living with a disability that is not immediately apparent to others. These individuals can be found in our:
- Schools
- Workplaces
- Community organizations
- Recreational programs
- Social settings
Challenges Faced by Individuals with Invisible Disabilities
Because invisible disabilities often lack visible indicators, many individuals face challenges that are not readily recognized by others. These disabilities can affect participation in daily activities and may create barriers related to education, employment, healthcare, and community engagement.
Individuals with invisible disabilities may experience:
- Misunderstanding and misconceptions
- Stigma and social isolation
- Barriers to accessing supports and accommodations
- Challenges in having their needs recognized and understood
The Numbers May Be Higher Than Reported
It is important to recognize that disability statistics may not fully capture the experiences of all Canadians.
Some individuals may:
- Face barriers to obtaining a formal diagnosis
- Experience difficulty accessing healthcare services
- Choose not to disclose their disability due to privacy concerns
- Fear stigma, bias, or discrimination
As a result, the actual number of Canadians living with invisible, hidden, or non-apparent disabilities may be higher than reported figures suggest.
Why This Matters
The Change Coalition believes that awareness, education, accessibility, inclusion, and appropriate supports are essential to creating communities where individuals with invisible, hidden, and non-apparent disabilities are recognized, respected, and supported.
By increasing public understanding and reducing barriers, we can help foster a more inclusive society where all individuals have the opportunity to participate fully and equitably in community life.
Sources
Statistics Canada – Canadian Survey on Disability (2022)
Approximately 27% of Canadians aged 15 years and older report having a disability.
Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST), Invisible Disabilities in Education and Employment (POSTnote 689, 2022)
Research estimates that approximately 70–80% of disabilities are invisible or non-apparent.
To Learn More:
Transforming Communities with Innovation and Care
Why do those with invisible or hidden conditions go unnoticed?
Why do those with invisible or hidden conditions go unnoticed?
Invisible, hidden, and non-apparent disabilities often go unrecognized because they are not immediately visible. This can lead to misunderstanding and barriers to support. The Change Coalition promotes awareness, advocacy, and community partnerships to create more inclusive and accessible communities for individuals living with invisible disabilities.
Age and Invisible Disabilities
Why do those with invisible or hidden conditions go unnoticed?
As Canada’s population ages, more older adults are living with invisible, hidden, and non-apparent disabilities. Conditions such as chronic pain, fatigue, cognitive changes, and mobility challenges may not be visible but can greatly impact daily life.
The Change Coalition promotes awareness, accessibility, and inclusion to ensure older adults with invisible disabilities are supported with dignity and respect.
Philanthropy + Innovation = Change²
Philanthropy + Innovation = Change²
Change² (Change Squared) is the idea that social impact grows exponentially when philanthropy and innovation work together. Philanthropy provides the funding and support needed to create change, while innovation introduces new ideas, technologies, and approaches that improve outcomes.
At The Change Coalition, Change² helps advance inclusion for people living with invisible, hidden, and non-apparent disabilities by combining community investment with innovative solutions that create lasting, measurable impact across Canada.