5 Disabilities You Haven’t Heard of Yet

There are many uncommon and rare disabilities out there that you may not have heard of yet. The world of disability is much larger and more complex than we may initially deem it to be. To be truly inclusive, it is important that we know as much as possible about the range of disabilities that exist.

At Careers with Disabilities, we believe in the power of learning and education. We share resources to help both employees and employers find out more about a range of disabilities and how they can be supported at work. That is why we have the Disability Advice Hub, so we can group as much of this information together as possible to be helpful and accessible. 

On this page, we are going to add to our resources by discussing 5 disabilities you haven’t heard of yet. Well, maybe you have, but they are rare at the very least.

Let’s discuss them individually in some more depth.

1. Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS)

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) is a genetic disorder that affects a person’s joints and connective tissue. Their limbs are “overly” flexible in a way that can cause frequent pain and injury. The syndrome presents itself at birth and often affects multiple siblings in the same family. 

People with EDS can also experience: 

• Stretchy skin 
• Lumps and growths around joints
• Fragile skin that doesn’t heal well
• Frequent dislocation of limbs
• Arthritis 
• Blood vessel ruptures

There are no current cures for EDS but there are treatments available including medication and physical therapy. 

Overall, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome is a lifelong condition that affects a person’s day-to-day life and overall health. 

2. Sjogren’s Syndrome

Sjogren’s Syndrome is a chronic autoimmune disease which leads to a lack of appropriate moisture production in specific glands in a person’s body. This can, in turn, lead to complications such as dry eyes, inflamed tear ducts, eye infections, inflamed salivary glands, swelling problems, mouth sores, and further infections. 

There is currently no known cause of the syndrome and there is no cure either. It is someone that affects people with the condition on a chronic basis and it can cause great discomfort.

Some treatment options include eye drops, nasal sprays, plugging of the tear ducts, dental treatments, and so on. It is a condition that generally requires long-term maintenance and care, which for some people can be very stressful and overwhelming. 

3. Multiple Chemical Sensitivity

Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) is it is the “inability of the body to readily detoxify and eliminate chemicals found in the everyday environment.” It is somewhat of an intensified version of asthma and allergies. One which leaves many people with the condition housebound for fear of contamination and reaction.

People with this condition often struggle to work and integrate with society. It is hard to know which chemicals and substances will cause a reaction and so someone may feel left with no choice but limit or exclude all interaction with the outside world. They may also wear masks, gloves, and other protective gear if they do interact with others and new environments.

4. Myasthenia Gravis

Myasthenia Gravis is another type of autoimmune disorder. It leads to progressive skeletal muscle weakness and chronic fatigue. The condition can progress to a severe level, with people’s facial, swallowing and respiratory functions being targeted. However, people with the condition do have a normal life expectancy in general. 

The known treatments for MG include medication, particularly Immuno-suppressants. However, this medication in itself poses secondary complications for the person taking them and can greatly impact their social and working life. 

Less is known about this autoimmune disorder and so people with the condition may feel isolated and undersupported as they navigate the progressive condition.

5. Depersonalisation Disorder

For the last spot on our list, we have depersonalisation disorder. This is a mental disorder that we hear about a lot less frequently than others and so it can be one either completely off the radar or completely misunderstood. 

The condition is also known as derealization disorder. Symptoms commonly include:

• Periods of amnesia
• Feelings of being outside your body and observing yourself from a distance 
• Feeling that the surrounding world is “unreal”
• Feeling foggy and lifeless

It is a condition in which the person living with it feels out of reality and disengaged from their own body. As such, it can be a terrifying experience for the person and can cause a lot of mental distress. 

As it is also less known, people with the condition also feel misunderstood and stigmatised by others around them. 

This condition requires direct psychiatric care and may be managed through medication and mental health support. 

To Sum Up

To be inclusive and accessible to those around us, it is key that we are aware of how complex and diverse the world really is. Disability manifests itself in many different ways. We can never know about every disability that exists, but we can certainly try to know and understand as much as possible. 

Hopefully, this blog has helped you learn something new about disability today. We also hope that you take the time to check out our Disability Advice Hub to learn more about disabilities and conditions that affect many people around us.

The more we learn, the more we can be supportive and inclusive. That is a very important cause, one that makes the world a better place for every single person who lives in it. 

If you are an employer looking to become more inclusive, check out the services for employers over on our main site. Those will help you on your journey to inclusivity and finding diverse job seekers. 

If you are a diverse job seeker yourself, take a look at our list of support and resources. You can also dive into the disability-friendly job board on Careers with Disabilities where you can find accessible, inclusive and diverse jobs for people of all abilities. 

Inclusion is everywhere, if we create it.