A new framework shows disability occurs on an observability spectrum instead of a visible/invisible binary.

More observed disabilities trigger paternalistic ableism characterized by pity.

Less observed disabilities trigger ableism in the form of delegitimization and suspicion.

For too long, we’ve relied on a simple binary to describe disability: Is it visible or invisible, concealable or not? Although these terms are common, they don’t quite capture the fluid, multisensory nature of disability. In a new publication, my colleagues Marine Granjon and Pauline Rasset and I propose a new framework. Instead of a binary, we propose the disability observability spectrum.

The most common term we use, “visibility,” is ocularcentric—it prioritizes sight as the only way to perceive difference, ignoring other sensory channels like sound. For instance, you might not see a speech disorder, but you may hear it. "Concealment" is an active behavior, not a permanent state. Not everyone with a concealable disability chooses to hide it, nor should they.

This is why I use the term "observability spectrum.” The verb form—"observed"—shifts the focus away from the individual and places it squarely on the social interaction. Whether a disability is observed isn't inherent to the condition; it's a dynamic interaction that depends on the individual, the observer, and the context.

What Moves Us Along the Spectrum?

Whether a disability is observed at any point in time depends on a combination of factors within the individual, the observer, and the context.

The Individual: The prototypicality of a disability—that is, the extent to which the disability type aligns with public stereotypes about what a disability is—affects whether it is observed. A wheelchair user is the international symbol of disability, appearing on accessible bathroom stalls and parking spaces. Contrasted with a less prototypical disability like facial paralysis, individuals using wheelchairs are more likely to be recognized as disabled.

A disability........

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