Written by Mary Kostandy
The third week of October is Invisible Disabilities Week, a time dedicated to raising awareness of the experiences of people living with invisible disabilities. For medical professionals, developing a deeper understanding of these experiences is crucial for delivering compassionate, patient-centred care. One powerful way to gain that insight is through disability arts.
Artists with disabilities use their creativity to educate the public about what it means to live with a disability and to push the boundaries of what artists with disabilities can achieve. Their art provides insights that are rarely found in academic literature, reframing disability as a source of pride and strength. They reduce stigma and open a window into the complexities of living with a disability—whether mental or physical, visible or invisible. Even when a disability is visible, the personal experience of living with it can remain hidden. This creative expression helps make the invisible visible, shedding light on what traditional medical training may overlook.
Their patient-driven art isn’t just about educating the mind—it’s about reaching the heart. Understanding disability through this humanizing lens can help develop stronger empathy and enhance patient care in medical practice.
One great resource for disability arts is the Wingspan Dis/Arts, Culture and Public Pedagogy, a Research Excellence Cluster at the UBC Vice President’s Office for Research and Innovation, which creates “heart- and head-inspired catalytic artistic performances to mobilize citizen and youth action for pedagogical, curricular, policy, legislative, and social change.” Having recently gone out to schools, their work would greatly benefit hospitals and healthcare settings as well.
Here are some inspiring pieces from this UBC Research Excellence Cluster to pique your interest:
It’s important to note that coming out about the experinces of living with a disability, especially an invisible one, can be incredibly costly. Intersectionality can make disclosure more challenging for marginalized groups. For example, being a Black woman from a low socioeconomic background and disclosing an invisible disability can have stronger implications for one’s career and economic opportunities, than a person with more privilege. The decision to come out and when must be made carefully, and it’s important to acknowledge that it’s a personal choice, not a universal obligation. Therefore, we must recognize and commend the profound courage of these artists who share their deeply personal experiences with us in such a moving and publicly meaningful way.