Understanding Invisible Disabilities: Angèle’s Story
In Spain , it is estimated that about 6% of minors live with Attention Deficit Disorder with or without Hyperactivity (ADHD). Year after year, the number of children and adolescents with learning disorders such as dyslexia , dyspraxia , or dysphasia is increasing significantly.
These types of disorders greatly affect academic , emotional , and social development , even though they are not always evident to the naked eye . Thus, they are often seen as “invisible disabilities” since there are no physical traits that suggest a child is affected.
This invisibility leads to misunderstandings , stigmatization , and in the most serious cases, to isolation or bullying . Proper support and respect for the unique needs of these children can make a tremendous difference. However, many families are raising their voices against a health and educational system that still struggles to understand what is not seen.
Angèle, the daughter of the French actor Bruno Solo , shares this experience. Recently, she turned 20 and revealed her story in a video posted on her TikTok account. “I have multiple learning disorders and ADHD,” she states candidly, expressing her regret for living with a condition that many fail to comprehend.
“It’s an invisible disability. People don’t see it, so I have to make stupid comments to help them understand me,” Angèle confesses. Her childhood was far from typical. “I grew up disconnected, either alone or in the company of adults,” she recalls. From a young age, she attended speech therapists, psychologists, and psychomotor specialists, but rather than receiving proper support, she felt violated .
“They stole my childhood, trust, and self-esteem. Some professionals told me appalling things. I am still traumatized by the psychiatrists who treated me poorly.” It was not until she turned 17 that she could finally label her experience, after traveling several times from Paris to Lyon to secure an accurate diagnosis.
“For 13 years, they intimidated me. I was the weird , lonely , the rejected . I sat alone at recess and was bullied for hours,” she remembers. The situation escalated to such an extent that she had to leave school. Only the presence of a special education monitor, whom she still remembers fondly, marked a pivotal change in her life.
The repercussions of her condition have lingered at every stage of her life. “It can take me 10 minutes to write a single sentence. I don’t know how to tell time, count money, or navigate my surroundings. I had to learn how to use the subway with the help of my mother and brother. Due to ADHD and dyspraxia, I cannot obtain a driving license,” she explains.
Angèle had to abandon her great passion, classical dance , due to her physical difficulties and health challenges. “I learned to tie my shoes in fifth grade. During gymnastics, my nerves would act up. I was often the last one chosen.”
Through her testimony, Angèle has courageously shared her fears and aims to help thousands of young people facing similar situations. She has found solace in her new classmates at the Theater School and in the personal growth work she has undertaken in recent years. “Now I fight every day. I have an incredible family and an exceptional psychologist … A year ago, I wouldn’t have been able to do this,” she concludes.
Angèle’s narrative reflects the struggles of countless children who endure silent battles against disorders that may not be visible, yet cause immense suffering. In a society often quick to reject the unknown, stories like hers serve as vital reminders that these conditions deserve our support , empathy , and visibility .