Hidden Labour of Disability

The unrecognized time, effort, and energy that disabled people must invest to navigate inaccessible environments, use assistive technologies, manage care relationships, and participate in activities that non-disabled people can do with minimal effort. Examples include spending weeks preparing a synthetic voice presentation that a non-disabled peer could deliver with minimal preparation, repeatedly explaining one's needs to service providers, or troubleshooting technology failures that disproportionately impact disabled users. Recognizing hidden labour is essential for understanding the true cost of inaccessibility.