26 DIVERSEability Magazine www.diverseabilitymagazine.com

CAREERS

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very job seeker with a disability is faced with the same decision: Should I or shouldnt I disclose my disability? This decision may be framed differently depending upon whether you have a visible dis- ability or a non-visible disability. Ultimately, the decision of whether to disclose is entirely up to you.

Why Disclose in the Workplace?

When you leave school and enter the workforce, many aspects of your life change; among the many differences is the requirement to share information about your disability if you want your employer to provide you with reasonable accommodations. In school, if you had an individualized education program (IEP), as required under the Individu- als with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), information about your dis- ability and the accommodations you needed followed you from grade to grade. When you enter the workforce, the IDEA no longer applies to you. Instead, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Re- habilitation Act protect you from disability-related discrimination and provide for meaningful access. The laws require that qualified appli- cants and employees with disabilities be provided with reasonable ac- commodations. Yet, to benefit from the ADA and the Rehabilitation Act, you must disclose your disability since an employer is only required to provide work-related accommodations if you disclose your disability to the appropriate individuals.

When to Disclose Your Disability

There is no one right time or place to disclose your disability. Select a confidential place to disclose and allow enough time for the person to ask questions. Do not dwell on the limitations of your dis- ability. You should weigh the pros and cons of disclosure at each point of the job search, recruitment and hiring process and make the decision to discuss your disability when it is appropriate for you. Consider the following stages: In a letter of application or cover letter Before an interview At the interview In a third-party phone call or reference Before any drug testing for illegal drugs After you have a job offer During your course of employment Never

The Why, When, What and How of Disclosing Your Disability

Chamia Greene

Paralegal

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