Our Mission

I’m so glad you’re here! You must be feeling so much better!

You look so good! You can’t really be that sick, right?

I saw you out walking your dog… so… when are you going back to work?

If you’ve ever heard one of those comments you understand how hard it is to live with a chronic illness that is invisible. The truth is, most people don’t even realize just how invisible most illnesses are! The ill are expected to look ill; we’re expected to live in sweats and have dark circles under our eyes. To fully live, however, we get dressed, put on some cover-up and push our way through the day doing what needs done.

By letting others know that you have an illness, you will provide valuable information to healthy people about the challenges of living with an invisible chronic condition, thus providing a more understanding environment.

Together we can make a difference! National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week, September 14-20-2009 is a designated time, worldwide, in which people who live with chronic illness, those who love them, and organizations are encouraged to educate the general public, churches, health care professionals and government officials about the affects of living with a disease that is not visually apparent.

Through programs and resources, we seek to recognize the daily challenges of more than 100 million adults and children who live with invisible illness. Through acknowledging that despite how “well” they look, they live with the ups and downs of a chronic condition, it is our mission, to encourage and offer compassion.

We seek to educate those who do not live with illness on how to reach out to and encourage those with health difficulties, including what to say and not say and how to meet practical needs.

Overall, it is our hope that people who live with invisible chronic illness can legally park in a handicapped parking spot without receiving skeptical looks, that friends and family acknowledge that invisible illnesses are real, and how to not just survive, but truly live–and even celebrate life– despite illness, encouraging others on the same detour in life.

Will you be a part of our efforts to increase awareness? Here are some fast ways to make a difference!

• Join our cause on Facebook and then spread the word
• Watch our video, share it, consider playing it at your support group, place of business, church or other forum. Feel free to post it to your own blog too!
• When you read an article or post you like, take 2 seconds to share it via Twitter, Facebook, or whatever your favorite social network is. Bookmark it too in your social bookmarking tools.
• Order some goodies: a cute summer tote bag, a bumper sticker or license plate (fewer dirty looks if you legally park there with these items on your car!) Give yourself the chance to share that nearly 1 in 2 Americans live with a chronic condition.
• Plan on attending at least a few of our seminars during our virtual conference, M-F of II Week (Sept 14-18, 2009) and share it with your friends.

There are lots of ways to just bring awareness to the people around who care about you. It’s NOT all in your head!

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