What We Don’t See: The Invisible Labor Adults with Disabilities Carry Every Day
By Sam Miller, Dreaming Made Simple
Most people believe they understand hard work.
But there’s a kind of work that rarely gets named or noticed—
a kind of work adults with disabilities carry every day just to move through a world not built with them in mind.
This unseen effort has a name:
Invisible Labor.
And if we want to build more compassionate programs, stronger communities, and more supportive environments, we must learn to see the weight people carry that we don’t.
What Invisible Labor Really Looks Like
Invisible labor is the mental, emotional, and physical work people do that others never see.
For adults with disabilities, this often includes:
Masking frustration or symptoms
Navigating sensory overload or unpredictable environments
Balancing fatigue while trying to stay “on”
Guessing social cues most people pick up instantly
Advocating for needs while worrying about being “too much”
Preparing for judgment, misunderstanding, or assumptions
Working twice as hard to communicate what others express easily
Before the day even begins, many adults with disabilities have already done hours of labor the world doesn’t know exists.
And that labor takes a toll.
A Personal Moment
As someone living with cerebral palsy, I understand this deeply.
When I step into a meeting or workshop, people see confidence. They see the final product.
What they don’t see are the dozens of micro-decisions I made before I ever entered the room:
Is this space accessible?
How’s my balance today?
Will asking for help make me look weak?
How much energy will this cost me?
That unseen effort is just as real as the work others can observe.
It is invisible, but not imaginary.
Invisible Labor Impacts Everyone
This topic matters because invisible labor affects every layer of our disability and educational support systems:
For Adults with Disabilities:
It can create fatigue, anxiety, and a sense of “I’m falling behind.”
For DSPs and Staff:
It shapes behavior, communication, and emotional bandwidth.
For Program Directors and Administrators:
Misunderstanding invisible labor often leads to mislabeling, misinterpretation, and burnout.
Invisible labor is not a small thing.
It shapes how people show up.
It shapes what they need.
It shapes how we support them.
Why Naming Invisible Labor Matters
When we identify and acknowledge the unseen work someone is doing, everything changes:
Shame decreases
Understanding increases
Communication improves
Trust deepens
Behaviors make more sense
Emotional safety increases
It shifts the question from:
❌ “Why are you struggling?”
to
✔️ “What are you carrying that I don’t see?”
That simple shift changes relationships, teams, and entire programs.
How to Support Invisible Labor in Your Program or Classroom
Here are three practical ways disability services, day programs, and educational administrators can support their teams and participants:
1. Validate Effort, Not Just Results
Acknowledge the process, not just the outcome.
Say things like:
“I see how hard you’re trying.”
“That took courage.”
“You stayed with it longer than before.”
“Thank you for communicating what you need.”
Small affirmations build confidence and stability.
2. Give People Micro-Choices
Choice reduces emotional labor.
Offer small, doable options:
Where to sit
When to transition
How to complete a task
Whether they want support now or later
Choice creates safety.
Safety creates growth.
3. Train Teams to Look for the Unseen
During staff meetings or huddles, ask:
“What invisible labor might this person be carrying?”
This one question creates:
empathy
patience
better care
stronger teamwork
more accurate expectations
It’s a culture-shaping question.
Invisible Doesn’t Mean Weakness
If no one has told you today:
Your invisible labor is real.
Your strength is real.
Your effort matters.
Every unseen step forward is still a step forward.
Every moment of courage counts.
Every small victory builds momentum.
This is the heart of I’M POSSIBLE:
Progress is progress, even when the world doesn’t see it.
Want to Bring This Training to Your Team or Organization?
I offer workshops and training experiences for:
DSPs
Day program staff
Program directors
Disability services organizations
Educational administrators
Topics include:
Invisible Labor • The Third Option • Micro-Courage • Grief & Resilience • Person-Centered Support • Team Communication • Emotional Regulation
You can learn more or request a training at:
👉 DreamingMadeSimple.com
Sam Miller is the founder of Dreaming Made Simple. Born with cerebral palsy, he helps individuals and organizations reframe limits, find purpose, and unlock new possibilities through coaching, speaking, and workshops.
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