Indeed, cryptophobia might be the source for the uneasy anxiety some people display around visible disability. They've learned stereotyped reactions growing up — "help the handicapped" — and many people emanate nervous need to know how to act in the presence of an actual handicapped person. (I'm hoping that this experience is partially generational — there were only a tiny handful of kids with disabilities in my schools growing up, while younger folks have a very different experience.)

Anyway, if I'm right about this it might explain why my new-this-winter boots have been commented on by every non-disabled stranger I've encountered out of my house. And hey, I know they are exceptionally attractive footwear, but why haven't folks commented on my multitudinous hats?