Students with Disabilities

Disclosure Article

Read the "To Disclose or not to Disclose" article in our Job Search Guide. Consider the Pros and Cons of whether/when you should disclose your disability to a (potential) employer. Remember, in order to be covered under the ADA, you must have a current disabling condition that impacts your ability to do the job.

“Under the ADA, you have a disability if you have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity such as hearing, seeing, speaking, thinking, walking, breathing, or performing manual tasks. You also must be able to do the job you want or were hired to do, with or without reasonable accommodation.” - A Guide for People with Disabilities Seeking Employment, US Department of Justice web page.

Disclosure Log

As you disclose to various people, including employers, keep track of what happened. Consider the following questions:

• To whom did you disclose?
• At what point in the job search process did you disclose?
• What reaction did you perceive from the employer?
• What accommodations did you request?
• What was the outcome?
• What might you do differently next time?

Click Here for a chart that will help you to keep track of this information.

Disclosure Script

Evaluate the position’s duties and responsibilities. What questions will you need to ask the employer to determine whether or not your disability will affect the job? What will you say when you disclose your disability? How will you describe your specific needs? What accommodations will you need and what impact will it have on the employer (financially or otherwise)? If you don’t know how to evaluate this, contact The Job Accommodation Network (JAN). Talk about what you plan to say. Rehearse with a friend or counselor.