While you are not legally required to disclose your disability to your employer, it may be a good idea to do so, depending on the situation.
There’s no single “right answer” about whether you should disclose your disability to an employer and when you should do so. You need to consider the pros and cons depending on what you know about the job, the employer, the industry, and your own feelings.
It’s often a good idea to disclose your disability before an interview to make sure that appropriate accommodations will be provided to you during the interview. This is especially important where written tests or other types of evaluation could be part of the interview process.
Keep in mind that when requesting accommodations, it is the employee’s responsibility to provide details that will help the employer assess any accommodation request.
Other reasons to disclose your disability in advance of an interview are:
- To give you the first opportunity to frame your disability in a positive way that highlights your achievements;
- To ensure the employer is not surprised; and,
- To demonstrate how you are proactive in finding solutions.
There are also potential risks to disclosing your disability before an interview. For example, you may be worried that the employer could form misconceptions about you based on false stereotypes before you can meet them in person. Some employers may discriminate based on disability but will use another reason to explain why they did not hire you. It can be very difficult to prove this type of discrimination.