Disclosing Your Disability

There is a large debate among those in the disabled community about how, when and under what circumstances do you disclose your disability. Could this mean the difference between employed and jobless? What about in an online setting where you are looking for relationships? There are many factors to consider when deciding how much and when to disclose.

In a situation of employment, some believe that if a disabled person discloses their disability immediately, then, the potential for the job has drastically decreased. However, if you wait too long, the employer feels deceived. Some disabled people want to give the employer time to evaluate them on their merits before they make a decision. Besides, they argue that their disability is the least important factor when assessing their capabilities. I agree with this point. It should be the last factor when evaluating our competency. However, there is always a wide chasm between what should be and what is. There have been times when a disabled person has not told the employer until he/she has arrived at an interview. The end result was disastrous. The employer was caught unaware and made large blunders because they were uncomfortable. Truth be told, if you are going to be discriminated against because of your disability; it could happen before or after the interview. This is not to say that one should announce their disability as if it was an award or their most prominent skill. Mentioning a disability to prove one's perseverance rarely is beneficial and sets the disabled person up to be admired, not employed. The question must be asked: "Why are you not disclosing?" or: "Why are you disclosing?" If you are not disclosing out of fear, then, fear's realization usually finds you.

Actually, I have been relieved of this decision, largely due to my childhood. Most job applications ask where you went to High School. Since I went to a state-run blind school before attending a University, I don't have this dilemma of whether to disclose. Although, I must say that employers don't really look at High Schools. In this situation, I call and wait until I get the interview, then, if it is crucial to the job or if I will need accommodations for parts of the interview, I will discuss my disability. I am also a member of many blind organizations which I list on my resume. If the employer does not take the time to look closely at the resume, then, they might be caught unaware, but that is largely their mistake. Most disabled people disclose after they have gotten a review, but before they arrive.

What about online? Should we disclose our disability online? Some might say that there are so many things that people do not disclose online. Besides, There is a concern of privacy. And, isn't the online community all about anonymity? I choose to be open about my disability. I don't wear it as a badge on my chest. All of my conversations don't revolve around my disability. However, it is a distinctive part of me. My disability does affect many facets of my life. When I talk about accessing a website, traveling, my guide dog and social stigmas, then I mention my disability. If people have a hard time accepting my disability, then, avoiding the issue seems dishonest. If I conveniently leave out a reference to my disability because I am worried about how someone will act, then I am deceptive and insecure in myself.

However, sometimes, the issue of disability does not enter the conversation. I admire a talented musician (no matter which genre of music), revel in discussing and analyzing many different social and spiritual issues, enjoy interacting with small children, feel a social responsibility to my community, am devoutly stubborn, am a procrastinator (especially about housework), can be quite expressive and argumentative, need to work on my organizational skills (nice way to say that I lose everything and am quite messy) and don't require sugar in my tea (whether hot or cold). None of this revolves around or affects my disability.

Yet, when it comes up in conversation, I don't shy away from it. I discuss it in such topics as web accessibility, traveling, my personal life, raising my children, and my guide dog. Just as I don't hide the fact that I am a mother, a social worker, a Christian, I find Math challenging, crafts boring and biographies stimulating; I also don't hide the fact that I am unable to see with my eyes. When people stop placing their worth on "what they can do," instead of "what kind of person they are," they are more likely to be honest with others. When people get more comfortable with their disability and abilities: when they accept their limitations and feel proud of their strengths, when they don't judge themselves either by what others will think/say or by what they can "do," then, they will disclose their disability.