This study had participants read definitions of visble and invisbile disabilities and various symptoms and catagorise them accordingly. They were then informed they had to work with a collegeue with a visible or invisible disability that would lead to a promotion. Participants then performed a VAAST test and researchers analyzed their automatic responses.

Study 1 (Granjan et al, 2025)

Faculty often lack positive attitudes related to students with disabilities. These attitudes frequently lead to negative educational experiences for students with disabilities. These negative experiences typically result in decreased performance and increased feellings of marginalization. 

Faculty Stigmatization Surrounding Students with Disabilities

Visability of a disability effects 
- stereotyping
- stigmatization-
- perception of accomidations
- self concept
- group identification 
within educational settings. 

Gettysburg College

Students with visible or invisible disabilities experience different biases and stigmas from educators. Students often face less social inclusion and  increased stigmatization by peers and teachers throughout their academic career.

Education and Stigma around Visible and Invisible Disabilities

Granjon, M., Pillaud, N., Popa-Roch, M., Aubé, B., & Rohmer, O. (2025). Attitudes towards invisible disabilities: Evidence from behavioral tendencies. Current Research in Behavioral Sciences, 8, 100164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crbeha.2024.100164

Attitudes towards invisible disabilities: evidence from behavioral tendencies 

Influence of the visibility of a disability on psychological processes in education

Higher education instutions have an obligation to provide accomidations upon the request and proof of a disability to students. Legislation in British Columbia requires that accomidations allow for students to have access to higher educational spaces. However, the discourse related to this legislation is that while they have this access, they do not often feel welcome in said space due to stigmas and other barriers.

Role of Accomidations in Higher Education in Canada

People with invisible disabilities face a decision of whether or not they should disclose their disabilities in higher education. Students with invisible disabilities often withold information about the impact and extent of their disabilities to avoid social stigma and exclusion. 

Social stigma surrounding disclosure of invisible disabilties in higher education

Through the disclosure of a disability, students disclose a part of their identity. Therefore the students descision to disclose their disability is influenced by the extent of that they percieve their disability to be a part of their identity. 

Role of Identity Work in Disability Disclosure

Academic ableism relies on the biomedical model of disability. This model focuses on diagnostic lables and the creation of an individualized approach to accomidations. The students hold responsibility to report and maintain accomodations throughout their academic career.

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