Between Visibility and Doubt: The Complexities of Passing with a Disability

Quinn grips the rubber handles of her walking poles, the wind tugging at loose strands of her hair. She feels it again—the lingering glances. As people pass by, their eyes flick between her poles and her posture, silently questioning: “Why does she need those? She looks fine.”

This is a familiar experience. Whether Quinn is at the grocery store, in meetings, or with friends, her walking poles often prompt puzzled looks and assumptions about her condition. People expect a disability to fit a narrow mold, and Quinn, living with Cerebral Palsy, constantly navigates the gap between being seen and truly understood.

Sometimes, she “passes”—her disability goes unnoticed or is misunderstood. Rather than offering relief, this creates a sense of discomfort. It complicates her relationships at work, with friends, and within her community. She constantly navigates the tension between wanting to blend in and needing to be seen for who she really is. The pressure of balancing these conflicting desires weighs on her, shaping how she moves through the world each day.

Passing, the misunderstanding of her condition, presents unique challenges. Quinn often finds herself defending her needs, explaining that her walking poles are not a choice but a necessity. Yet, because she doesn’t fit society’s narrow image of disability, her use of assistive devices is frequently questioned.

As disability scholars Brune and Garland-Thomson (2012) have noted, public perceptions hinge on visible cues. For Quinn, passing is not a convenience but a burden. Remarks like “You don’t look like you have a disability” or “Why do you need those poles?” force her to constantly justify her reality.

The impact of passing, as Forber-Pratt et al. (2019) explain, can lead to frustration and isolation. For Quinn, it means feeling both misunderstood and unseen. Each time her disability is questioned or invalidated, she grows more disconnected from those around her, as if her Cerebral Palsy isn’t real in their eyes.

Her phone buzzes with a ride-share notification, and she braces herself. She knows what might come next: puzzled glances at her walking poles, followed by inevitable questions. Even friends and coworkers sometimes ask if she truly needs them. The poles, a tool for mobility, become a source of doubt. Quinn often wonders if explaining her needs is worth the effort or if it’s easier to endure the discomfort of passing.

Passing shapes every part of Quinn’s life. People often cling to fixed ideas about disability, often overlooking conditions that aren’t immediately visible. Garland-Thomson (2013) points out that these limited views exclude those who don’t fit narrow definitions. Quinn’s walking poles make her visible, yet because she doesn’t appear “disabled enough,” their necessity is frequently questioned.

McClintock, Otto, and Bouck (2021) highlight how misunderstandings around invisible disabilities, especially concerning mobility aids, persist. Quinn’s condition is milder than others with similar diagnoses, leading many to question her need for support, even though the poles are essential for her independence. The devices are noticeable, but their importance is often overlooked.

When her ride-share arrives, Quinn prepares for the usual hesitation from drivers who glance at her poles, puzzled by her request for an accessible ride. Today, the driver simply smiles and opens the door, offering a brief moment of relief. However, Quinn knows it is temporary—her next encounter may bring the same subtle doubts she faces so often.

As the car drives through the city, Quinn recalls a recent work event. While her colleagues mingled freely, Quinn leaned on her poles, the strain in her legs becoming almost unbearable. She eventually asked for a chair. “You don’t look like you need to sit,” a coworker whispered, echoing the disbelief she frequently encounters. Her need for a chair and rest was obvious to her but invisible to those around her.

Passing doesn’t shield Quinn from the challenges of living with a disability. Instead, it places her in a space where she often feels the need to justify herself. Caldwell (2016) observes that passing leaves individuals with disabilities in a kind of limbo, neither fully recognized nor fully supported. Quinn’s Cerebral Palsy affects every step she takes, but because it isn’t always visible, her condition is frequently questioned.

Passing can lead to isolation. Quinn’s needs are not always visible to others, leading to doubt about her requests for accommodations. Each interaction comes with uncertainty: will people accept her explanation or challenge her need for support? This constant balancing act between her physical needs and public perception leaves her feeling unseen.

As the car nears her destination, Quinn gazes out the window, reflecting on how passing, though not chosen, shapes her entire experience. People, along with society’s limited view of disability, often overlook her reality. Her walking poles, meant to support her mobility, become symbols of contradiction—noticeable enough to attract attention, but not enough to inspire true understanding. Quinn wonders how this perception could change. She realizes the solution goes beyond accessibility; it is about fostering greater awareness. People need to recognize that disabilities take many forms, often invisible at first glance.

Stepping out of the car, Quinn steadies herself with her walking poles, adjusting to the movement of the world around her. The wind brushes past, but today, her focus remains clear. Passing, she knows, is not about blending in—it is about the gap between being seen and being understood. The glances and quiet judgments will continue, but so will her resolve.

For Quinn, and for many others with invisible disabilities, the challenge goes beyond managing daily physical demands. It includes the ongoing task of explaining their needs and navigating the assumptions of others. The world may not change overnight, but awareness starts with small shifts in how people observe, listen, and reconsider their assumptions.

Quinn hopes for a world where her presence, and that of others with disabilities, is accepted without question. Taking a moment to reflect, to look deeper, and to challenge perceptions can help create a space where everyone, regardless of visible or invisible differences, is seen for who they are.

References

• Brune, J. A., & Garland-Thomson, R. (Eds.). (2012). Disability and passing: Blurring the lines of identity. Temple University Press.
• Caldwell, L. (2016). Intersectionality and disability: Examining race, gender, and disability through a new lens. Journal of Disability Studies, 23(4), 318-331.
• Forber-Pratt, A. J., Muller-Gonzalez, A. M., & Loo, J. (2019). Disability identity development: A systematic review of the literature. Disability and Rehabilitation, 41(3), 265-275. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2017.1381243
• Garland-Thomson, R. (2013). Integrating disability, transforming feminist theory. Feminist Disability Studies, 50(2), 13-17.
• McClintock, K., Otto, K., & Bouck, E. (2021). Invisible disabilities: Implications for educators, employers, and policymakers. Disability Studies Quarterly, 41(4), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.18061/dsq.v41i4.8281