Paddy Lillis – Usdaw General Secretary says: “One in five people are disabled, and of these 80% have an impairment of which can’t be seen. The majority of physical and mental health conditions as well as many learning, behavioural and developmental disabilities are not visible or immediately obvious to others. Speech and language difficulties, reduced sight, chronic fatigue syndrome, colitis, autism, depression, migraine and asthma are just a few examples of hidden disability. There are many, many more.
 
“The issue of hidden disability is important because, although we have come a long way in recent years, the idea that ‘real’ disability can be seen is still widespread. This means that members living and working with invisible impairments sometimes struggle to get their disability taken seriously by managers and others.
 
“Given this, it’s more important than ever, that Usdaw gives reps the tools they need to support members with hidden disability and to spread the word that disabled members with invisible impairments have the same rights at work as those with a visible disability. To do this, Usdaw has launched new ‘Not all disability is visible’ campaign materials. The campaign is a visible reminder to members who might be struggling at work because of a disability that isn’t visible to talk to Usdaw.”
 
Notes for editors:
 
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fifth biggest trade union with around 360,000 members. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemical industry and other trades.
 
Usdaw’s campaign ‘Not all disability is visible’: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/Help-Advice/Equalities/Disability/Not-all-disability-is-visible
 
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