Describing a disability, disease or disorder to someone who doesn’t understand it can be tricky — particularly if the condition isn’t common or visible. Overly scientific descriptions aren’t usually easily understood and ignoring the topic entirely isn’t an option. So, what is a good way to describe a disability to someone who isn’t familiar with it?

To learn more about the tactics people use to describe disability, we turned to the people who do it every day. The Mighty asked our readers on Facebook to share how they describe their own or a loved one’s disability to people who don’t understand it. The responses we received were informative, creative and incredibly helpful.

Here’s what they had to say:

1. “

2. “

3. “

4. “

5. “To explain my

6. “

7. “

8. “[I explain it] w

9. “I’ve told people to imagine, ‘If your lips were superglued and you couldn’t get anything out that you were thinking about, wouldn’t that frustrate you as well?” — Jimalea Jones

10. “F

11. “I

12. “You know how there are stressors in your life that make you nervous or anxious? Those situations make [my son] feel like the world is caving in and he has no control over his behavior because he is tapped out.” — Kimberly Konig Marley

13. “

14. “

15. “

16. “M

17. “

18. “

19. “

20. “

21. “

22. “[Living with depression]

23. “

24. “

25. “[My adult son has] s

26. “

27. “

28. “

29. “ — Rebecca Silvern Roberts

*Some responses have been shortened and/or edited.

How do you explain you or a loved one’s disability or disorder? Let us know in the comments below.