28/08/2026
The concept of fluctuating capacity and dynamic disabilities, demonstrates how a person's ability to perform activities changes based on internal and external stressors. It serves as a visual framework for educators, healthcare providers, and families to understand that a person's skill level remains constant, but their available cognitive and energy reserves vary day by day.
🥛 The Cup Analogy Breakdown
The illustration compares a person's daily capacity to a glass or cup that fills up with hidden baseline demands:
Monday Morning (High Capacity): The baseline stressors at the bottom are low, leaving a large portion of the cup empty ("Capacity for EVERYTHING else"). On this day, the person can easily complete tasks, learn new things, and handle daily challenges.
The Following Week/Day (Low Capacity): The cup is heavily occupied by foundational layers. This leaves only a tiny fraction of space at the top for remaining tasks, making additional demands feel overwhelming or impossible.
🎨 The 5 Internal Stressor Layers
The right-hand glass details the specific, compounding invisible factors that drain a person's focus and functional capacity:
Physiological (Red): Physical health factors like sleep quality, illness, pain, hunger, or hormonal changes.
Sensory Load (Orange): Overstimulation from environmental factors like bright lights, background noise, crowds, or uncomfortable clothing.
Emotions + Felt Safety (Yellow): Anxiety, stress, underlying trauma, or feeling unsupported in their current environment.
Cognitive Demands (Green): Processing load, memory demands, problem-solving, or trying to understand complex instructions.
Capacity for Everything Else (Purple): The remaining, restricted space left over for executive functioning, everyday skills, and social interaction.
original illustration style from ,
