The idea behind our "Not all disabilities are visible" stickers came from brutal first-hand experience of what it's like to exist as a disabled person in this world, but more specifically, a YOUNG disabled person or someone with an INVISIBLE disability. 

The process behind applying for and receiving a blue badge and the world of disability is little understood by people who don't have them. Yet, these are the people who judge the harshest with their dirty looks, stolen glances, or even confrontations starting with "You shouldn't be parked there!". So, how do you respond to this verbal assault? Do you stand up for yourself? Do you do so by divulging your private medical information to justify your place in this specific part of the carpark? Or do you go for a more generalised means of defence, explaining why it's none of their goddamn business?

Either way, you're left shaky from the confrontation, annoyed, frustrated, upset, or anxious in the future every time you park there in case another verbal ambush lurks around the corner. This isn't fair, you've only left your house to go and exist in society, yet you feel under threat of scrutiny from people who couldn't imagine "PoTS" being anything other than a kitchen utensil and just don't care to learn what "EDS" is. 

Worse for some disabled people, who are fierce and ready for confrontation, is the lurker who simply shoots a non-verbal disapproving look. The potential is there as you watch every ableist thought play across their expression, rehearsing your best go-to advocacy one-liners in your head. And then they walk away. Where was the confrontation? The justice you were so ready to provide? Surely they don't get to just walk away and continue with their day after that? But you can't exactly chase them down and give them a piece of your mind because then somehow YOU'RE the aggressor. 

We experienced these situations one too many times until, eventually, we stumbled upon a solution. "What if these ableists could see something that helped them understand at the same time as they see me?". A quick design session later and we had stickers that read "Not all disabilities are visible" with our shop mascot Bastion the Ghost providing visual representation. Since placing these stickers on our car doors, just under the windows, I have lost count of the amount of times someone has looked at me, then seen the sticker, then walked quickly away, tail between their legs. These visual markers stop confrontation before it happens, simply because they show people they don't have the full story and are therefore in no position to judge. If you have ever encountered this problem, then I cannot recommend these stickers enough. Get one from our shop now and use the code "Blog" to get 10% off!