Seeing the Unseen: Celebrating Invisible Disabilities Week (19-25 October 2025)
Because invisible doesn’t mean unimportant.
From 19 to 25 October 2025, we join people around the world in recognising Invisible Disabilities Week, an awareness initiative led by the Invisible Disabilities® Association. This week shines a light on the millions of Australians living with conditions that aren’t always visible but have a very real impact on daily life. At More Than Support, we’re proud to stand alongside this movement — supporting awareness, inclusion, and understanding for people with invisible disabilities and their families through the care, respect, and tailored NDIS services we provide every day.
What Are Invisible Disabilities?
Invisible disabilities (sometimes called hidden or non-visible disabilities) are conditions that don’t always have outward signs, but can affect how a person moves, thinks, feels or participates. APM AU+1
Examples include neurological conditions, chronic pain, traumatic brain injury, autism, sensory processing differences, mental health conditions, and more. These conditions can be just as real and just as impactful as those with visible aids or supports.
Why Recognition Matters
Without visible signs, many people with invisible disabilities face misunderstanding, disbelief or assumptions that their needs are less valid. Life Without Barriers
Everyday tasks may take extra energy, require adjustments, or present hidden barriers.
Observing Invisible Disabilities Week helps shift culture — promoting awareness, acceptance, and support for those whose disabilities don’t show on the surface. sagepub.com
How More Than Support Supports Individuals with Invisible Disabilities
At More Than Support, we believe that everyone deserves to be seen — and that means recognising the needs of people with invisible disabilities. Here’s how we bring that to life:
✅ Person-Centred Assessment & Planning
We start by listening — truly listening. Because when disabilities aren’t obvious, it’s even more important to ask questions, understand the lived experience, and tailor supports accordingly.
✅ Tailored Support Services
Our range of services across Victoria, Queensland and all Australia is built to match real needs, whether or not the disability is visible:
In-Home Care & Daily Living Support – for those needing assistance but perhaps without obvious equipment or outward signs
Nursing & Clinical Services – for conditions that require specialist monitoring or coordination
Community Participation – helping people engage socially, build connection and reclaim meaningful life beyond their diagnosis
Supported Independent Living (SIL) & Coordination of Supports – for clients who benefit from strong systems of support that don’t always look like a “traditional” disability service
✅ Advocacy & Navigation
People with invisible disabilities often need help navigating systems where “what you see” influences how people respond. We support our participants to understand their rights, access necessary supports, and engage with the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in ways that reflect their full reality (not just what others expect to see).
Tips for Participants, Families & Carers
As we mark Invisible Disabilities Week, here are a few practical reminders:
Check your supports and plan — Are the supports you have reflecting the invisible aspects of your disability (e.g., fatigue, cognitive load, sensory overload)?
Communicate your needs — Even if it’s not visible, your needs are real. It’s okay to ask for adjustments, breaks, or different ways of doing things.
Build your support network — Community, peer-groups, professionals, and providers all play a role.
Choose providers who understand invisible disabilities — At More Than Support, our team is trained to recognise and respond to hidden needs.
Why It Matters
Invisible disabilities might not always be visible to others, but for those who live with them, the effects are very real. By increasing awareness, we help build a culture of respect, understanding, and inclusive support — where no one has to explain or justify their needs. At More Than Support, it’s about making sure that every participant, regardless of how their disability appears (or doesn’t appear), receives the quality of support they deserve.
Start your journey with More Than Support today. We’re here to walk beside you, empower your choices, and build supports that really match your life.