Faculty Guide: Hidden Disabilities

Some disabilities that are not usually visible or readily detectable to the casual onlooker are:

• seizure disorders, brain injury, or neurological dysfunction
• cardiovascular diseases
• respiratory disease or dysfunction (asthma, chemical sensitivities, environmental allergies, etc.)
• systemic diseases or dysfunctions (Lupus, Diabetes, Multiple Sclerosis, Cancer, etc.)
• attention disorders and psychological disorders

 Some students with hidden disabilities cope with

• chronic pain
• high levels of fatigue
• medications that may affect classroom performance.

Adaptations should be made on an individual basis only after close consultation with the student. Most students, having  worked out their own ways of coping with their disabilities and the many demands of academic endeavor, may not find it necessary to call upon the instructor for any type of assistance. They may, however, need your understanding when absences occur, stress causes problems in taking tests, or in other circumstances caused by the hidden disability.