Students "cannot benefit from accommodations to which they are entitled by law" and forego disability services.

Consequences of Invisible Disability Non-Disclosure: Loss of Legal Support

Research shows "for every year a student delayed disclosing, graduation time increased by almost half a year."

Consequences of Invisible Disability Non-Disclosure: Academic Delays

Students experience "embarrassment, guilt, or regret," feel they "can never really be themselves," and suffer "anxiety and depression" from unrecognized needs.

Consequences of Invisible Disability Non-Disclosure: Emotional Impact

Fear of others' perceptions affects "their own self-perception and beliefs," damaging "self-esteem and self-efficacy" and making them "reluctant to advocate their learning needs."

Consequences of Invisible Disability Non-Disclosure: Internalized Stigma

- Loss of Legal Support
- Academic Delays
- Emotional Impact
- Internalized Stigma

State University of New York at Binghamton

University students must proactively disclose their disability to receive legally mandated accommodations like varied learning materials or differentiated assessments. For students with invisible disabilities, disclosure presents a significant dilemma. Research consistently shows that the majority prefer not to disclose their condition, even when it means renouncing legal support and accommodations they're entitled to. This preference has persisted over decades, with disclosure described as "a complicated issue" left to individual student choice. The prevalence of non-disclosure is evident: among 1431 students in reviewed studies, the majority (n = 1274) didn't specify their invisible disability type, preferring to remain undisclosed even in research contexts.

The Non-Disclosure Dilemma of Invisible Disabilities in Higher Education

Moriña, A. (2024). When what is unseen does not exist: disclosure, barriers and supports for students with invisible disabilities in higher education. Disability & Society, 39(4), 914-932. DOI: 10.1080/09687599.2022.2113038

Reference: When what is unseen does not exist: disclosure, barriers and supports for students with invisible disabilities in higher education

Significant Consequences of Non-Disclosure of Invisible Disabilities in Higher Education

- Previous Negative Experiences
- Stigma and Labeling
- Credibility Issues
- Non-Disability Identity
- Desire for "Normalcy"

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