![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
elionwyrhttp://invisibleillnessweek.com/ is hosting a virtual conference. Pretty nifty idea!
From the website:
What is an Invisible Illness?
The purpose of National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week is to provide people with the feeling of validation that their pain is real and that they can feel a sense of inclusion for a change, rather than exclusion. We also seek to bring about awareness of countless diseases, conditions, and chronic pain.
With this as a part of our purpose, our definition of “invisible illness” could be considered rather “loose.” Most illnesses are invisible at some point in the disease progression. One with rheumatoid arthritis, for example, may have the disease completely unseen in the first years of the diagnosis, yet it can become more visible as degnerations of the joints occur.
One with multiple sclerosis may go from looking perfectly healthy to being bedridden and then go into remission and have their illness be “invisible” to anyone looking for signs of sickness. Remission may last for months or even years. Or the visual signs may not show, but the illness may still be progressing.
We invite anyone or any organization that represents an illness to be involve with Invisible Illness Week. It is an opportunity to bring increased awareness to a cause you are passionate about while also educating the general public that those with illness may “look so good” but are still experiencing considerable pain.
It is no secret that those with invisible illness may be seen as exagerating their diseases or pain, or even making it up entirely. “The volunteers of National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week hope to call attention to situations such as parking in the blue spots (with a logo that has a photo of the wheelchair) to responding to “advice” by Dear Abby that could be considered irresponsible.
Not just illnesses are invisible. We hope to bring awareness to conditions such as chronic migraines, autism, cancer, to bi-polar disorder. While many of us with an invisible illness have heard “you look so good” moms of children with autism are often told, “If you just disciplined him more…”
If you have to ask, “Do I qualify?” the answer is “Yes!” We’d love to have you join us to bring about more awareness to whatever health or illness cause you feel passionate about that impacts you or someone you love.
And remember, folks: One person's invisible illness is *just* as important and valid as another's. All too often I see people making the mistake of discounting a particular condition because it's not part of a given person's life.
It's not a competition. So don't be a dick.
From the website:
What is an Invisible Illness?
The purpose of National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week is to provide people with the feeling of validation that their pain is real and that they can feel a sense of inclusion for a change, rather than exclusion. We also seek to bring about awareness of countless diseases, conditions, and chronic pain.
With this as a part of our purpose, our definition of “invisible illness” could be considered rather “loose.” Most illnesses are invisible at some point in the disease progression. One with rheumatoid arthritis, for example, may have the disease completely unseen in the first years of the diagnosis, yet it can become more visible as degnerations of the joints occur.
One with multiple sclerosis may go from looking perfectly healthy to being bedridden and then go into remission and have their illness be “invisible” to anyone looking for signs of sickness. Remission may last for months or even years. Or the visual signs may not show, but the illness may still be progressing.
We invite anyone or any organization that represents an illness to be involve with Invisible Illness Week. It is an opportunity to bring increased awareness to a cause you are passionate about while also educating the general public that those with illness may “look so good” but are still experiencing considerable pain.
It is no secret that those with invisible illness may be seen as exagerating their diseases or pain, or even making it up entirely. “The volunteers of National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week hope to call attention to situations such as parking in the blue spots (with a logo that has a photo of the wheelchair) to responding to “advice” by Dear Abby that could be considered irresponsible.
Not just illnesses are invisible. We hope to bring awareness to conditions such as chronic migraines, autism, cancer, to bi-polar disorder. While many of us with an invisible illness have heard “you look so good” moms of children with autism are often told, “If you just disciplined him more…”
If you have to ask, “Do I qualify?” the answer is “Yes!” We’d love to have you join us to bring about more awareness to whatever health or illness cause you feel passionate about that impacts you or someone you love.
And remember, folks: One person's invisible illness is *just* as important and valid as another's. All too often I see people making the mistake of discounting a particular condition because it's not part of a given person's life.
It's not a competition. So don't be a dick.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2009-09-15 02:29 am (UTC)Hmmm, I have been pondering this since I first saw the "invisible illness" meme a few weeks back.
no subject
Date: 2009-09-15 02:35 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-15 11:17 am (UTC)