Invisible and unheard: epistemic injustice at the intersection of migration and disability

Migrants with disabilities have been described as the ‘hidden population’, as a lack of official and accurate data renders them largely invisible (Amas and Lagnado, 2010). In this essay, we suggest that beyond the problem of invisibility, they also experience a lack of voice by which we mean that their experiences are often dismissed or ascribed less credibility. We frame the problem in terms of epistemic injustice and consider how factors such as the experience of interpersonal discrimination and barriers to accessing healthcare contribute to and exacerbate these injustices. We further suggest that the experience of such injustices by migrants with disabilities will be particularly heightened in these times of increasing hostilities against migrants, especially in the Global North. Hence, the considerations presented in this essay are timely and targeted at inspiring creative solutions to address this burgeoning problem.