Disclosure

Do you or someone you know need adjustments to your job or work space? Whether it is due to a sudden injury, an illness or a disability many of us experience the need for adjustments or accommodations at some point in our careers. This page highlights resources to help you decide if you need to disclose your condition, when you should disclose and how you should disclose.

• More information on Accommodations

If you need to disclose

If you have a medical condition or disability and need adjustments to your work environment, it is okay and reasonable to ask for an accommodation! You may need assistance with an online job application, an interpreter during an interview or a different chair to sit in during your work hours. These are just some examples.

The Job Accommodation Network's (JAN) Searchable Online Accommodation Resource is an excellent resource to help you learn about more accommodations to fit your needs. Visit their website.

If you do not need accommodations, then you do not need to "disclose" or tell your employer you have a disability or medical condition at all.

WHEN and HOW you should disclose

When is the right time to disclose a medical condition or disability? And how should you do it? Check out:

• Virginia's Disclosure Decisions to Get the Job -- This guide provides a step-by-step worksheet that shows you the pros and cons of disclosing your information before and after you get a job. It also has examples of how to disclose your information.
• SAMHSA Article on Disclosure
  

More information

Most people are nervous to ask their employer for an accommodation. This is a normal feeling. Below are some helpful links that can better prepare you for this conversation. For more information on accommodations, visit EmploymentforME's Accommodations page or visit the resources below.

• The 411 on Disability Disclosure: A Curriculum for Educators of Youth with Disabilities
  • Instructor's Guide
  • Students' Guide
• Employees' Practical Guide to Requesting and Negotiating Reasonable Accommodations Under the ADA (JAN)
• Disability Disclosure and Interviewing Techniques for Persons with Disabilities (JAN)

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