Insights, Blogs & News
Persevering with Dementia – Sandy Halperin DDS
Sandy Halperin DDS – Persevering with Dementia – A Journey from the Clinic to National Advocacy In a moving episode of the InVisible InCourage Show, Wayne Connell, founder of the Invisible Disabilities Association (IDA), sat down with Sandy Halperin to discuss a life transformed by a series of profound, yet invisible, health challenges. Sandy’s story is a powerful testament to the resilience required when living with conditions the world cannot see. From the Clinic to the Patient Chair Sandy Halperin’s career began with a deep-seated inspiration for healing, influenced by his father’s work as a neighborhood pharmacy owner. He eventually […]
Patrick Williams Purpose-Driven Leadership Transforming Passion into Healthy Spaces
Patrick Williams – Purpose Driven Leadership Transforming Passion into Healthy Spaces In a recent episode of the InVisible InCourage Show, host Wayne Connell, founder and CEO of the Invisible Disabilities Association (IDA), sat down with Patrick Williams, the President and CEO of the PRK Williams Companies. Their conversation centered on a powerful theme: how purpose-driven leadership, born from deep personal passion, can reshape industries and improve lives for those with invisible disabilities. Patrick’s journey is a masterclass in aligning one’s career with a mission that transcends profit, focusing instead on the holistic wellness of the community. A Legacy of Empathy […]
I Am Invisible No More
I Am Invisible No More: Together We are Changing the Way the World Sees Disabilities In 1996, the Invisible Disabilities® Association (IDA) began with a mission to validate the millions living in the shadows of “looking good” while feeling anything but. Today, we have reached a monumental milestone: IDA’s 30th Anniversary. For more than three decades, we have been the voice for the unheard and the face for the unseen. Now, as we navigate 2026, we move forward under a banner that is both a declaration of dignity and a promise for the future: “I Am Invisible No More” A […]
Why Care Agencies Overlook Invisible Disabilities and How to Lead the Change
Why Care Agencies Overlook Invisible Disabilities and How to Lead the Change In a world that often relies on the mantra of “seeing is believing,” millions of people living with chronic pain, illness, and invisible disabilities are frequently left behind. Wayne Connell, the Founder and CEO of the Invisible Disabilities Association, recently joined the CareSmartz360 On Air podcast to discuss why home care agencies and society at large often miss the mark. He suggests that we need to transform our approach to care by moving away from clinical checklists and toward a deeper, more human understanding of the “unseen” challenges […]
Embracing Your Voice – Stuttering as an Invisible Disability
Embracing Your Voice: Stuttering as an Invisible Disability and the Path to Becoming a Limitless Leader In a recent episode of the InVisible InCourage SHOW podcast, host and IDA Executive Director, Jess Stainbrook welcomed a remarkable guest whose life story reframes how we view communication and leadership. Dr. Saundra Russell-Smith, author of Limitless Leader: Leading Beyond Your Disability, shared her journey living with a stutter—an invisible disability that often remains hidden until the moment one speaks. Her message is a powerful reminder that our value is not defined by how “perfectly” we show up in the world, but by the […]
30 Years of Making the Invisible No More: The IDA Story
30 Years of Making the Invisible No More: The IDA Story Today, January 1, 2026, marks a monumental milestone for the disability community. It has been exactly 30 years since a spark of empathy and a desperate need for validation evolved into the Invisible Disabilities® Association (IDA). What began as a personal effort to help one family understand a loved one has transformed into a global movement that has changed millions of lives. The story of IDA is rooted in a husband’s devotion and a wife’s courage. In the mid-90s, Sherri Connell was navigating the debilitating effects of Multiple Sclerosis […]