Different disabilities and categorizations within them lead to varying degrees of stigma, prestige, and general social standing. Disability as a social categorization is associated with social structures rather than a specific physical difference, so there is stratification within. 

Fragmentation of the Disability Community

Evidence suggests that some types of disabilities are more stigmatized than others.
Developmental disabilities are often more stigmatized than physical or sensory disabilities.

University of Colorado at Denver

Pepperdine University

Disability is a form of involuntary social deviance that causes an overall negative response (stigma). As such, it is often defined in the context of power, marginalization, and oppression. 

Disability Stigma

Gernsbacher, M.A. (2017), Editorial Perspective: The use of person-first language in scholarly writing may accentuate stigma. The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 58: 859-861. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.12706

Editorial Perspective: The use of person-ﬁrst language in scholarly writing may accentuate stigma

Because the identity of disability is inherently stigmatized, many disabled people chose to manage this stigma while in public. Some attempt to "pass" as able-bodied, though this is impossible for many.  Signifiers such as mobility aids are often used to make disabilities more clear as to not be mistaken for other forms of deviance. 

Stigma Management

The stigmatization of different kinds of disabilities

Disability is the largest minority group in the US (19% of the population) and one of the most stigmatized identities across cultures and history, yet it is surprisingly understudied in social psychology compared to race and ethnicity. Stigma is broadly defined as social devaluation based on a discrediting difference or identity.

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