Indirectly Disabled yet Empowered by Revealing Vulnerability

Laura is the mother of a child with autism. She is also a university professor and a disability researcher. She reflects, alongside other disability researchers, on how she cares for her disabled child and simultaneously navigates academia. Laura initially complied with ableist norms by making her struggles invisible and trialled taking on a managerial role in which she failed. During this journey, she felt indirectly disabled through her child. Over time, Laura has begun to reveal her vulnerability at work, paving the way for others towards more openness about and acceptance of challenging personal situations that influence all areas of life. We point to the permanent nature of informal caregiving for disabled family members, highlight the hidden burdens employees may carry as they comply with ableist norms and identify exposure of one’s vulnerability as a powerful tool that allows individuals to bring their whole selves to work.