My Portfolio

Disability Disclosure in the Workplace

A transition portfolio is a collection of items that demonstrate your knowledge, skills, interests, needs, and goals. Fill out the form below and use it as a starting point for a new portfolio or add it to a portfolio you already have.

Enter your name.
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Answer each question and fill out the form.
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Now you can print the document or save it as a digital file to add to your transition portfolio.

How to Disclose My Disability

Remember, it is your choice whether or not to disclose your disability. If you are ever thinking about disclosing your disability in the future, you can keep this with you to help you know what to say to your supervisor on the job.

This activity might help you figure out when to disclose your disability and how to explain the things about your disability that may come up on the job. Remember, it is your responsibility as an employee to let your employer know what you will need to succeed!

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Name
First
Email*
Job You Are Applying or Thinking About Applying for*
Let's Practice Disability Disclosure!
Click which ones you would like to practice
I want to practice disclosing my disability before an interview*
- Yes
- No
I want to practice disclosing my disability during an interview*
- Yes
- No
I want to practice disclosing my disability after I have been offered the job*
- Yes
- No
I do not want or need to disclose my disability in this work environment*
- Yes
My Disclosure for My Interview:
Here are some tips for how to disclose your disability before an interview.

Bad Example: I use a wheelchair, I hope that this will not affect the interview in any way.

Good Example: Thank you so much for the opportunity to interview for the position. Because I use a wheelchair, I wanted to check to make sure that the interview room where we will be meeting can accommodate my wheelchair. I’m really looking forward to meeting all of you!

Now it’s your turn to write what you would say!
Step 1: Thank the employer for the opportunity to interview:*
Step 2: Explain the accommodation that you need at the interview:*
Step 3: End with something positive by saying that you are looking forward to the interview:*
My Disclosure for During My Interview:
Here are some tips for disclosing your disability during an interview:

Bad Example: I have autism, so when things get too loud, I get really upset.

Good Example: I am confident in my abilities to perform this job and I think that I would be a really good fit for your company. I wanted to share with you that, I am really sensitive to loud noise and when I go to places where there might be loud noises, it helps me to wear noise cancelling ear plugs or headphones. As a result, I’ve found that wearing these on the job really helps me stay focused on my work.

Now it’s your turn to write what you would say!
Step 1: Start with something positive by saying you are confident in your ability to perform the job:*
Step 2: Give an example of a specific situation where you need an accommodation:*
Step 3: Explain the accommodation that works for you:*
Step 4: Describe the result of having the right accommodation in that situation:*
My Disclosure on the Job:
Here are some tips for disclosing your disability after you have been offered the job:

Bad Example: I thought I was going to do fine on this job without mentioning my learning disability, but I was wrong and it’s making this job impossible for me!

Good Example: I’ve really been enjoying my time working here and am confident in my abilities to be a great employee. I wanted to share with you that sometimes when I have to read things for work, I mix the letters up so I have to re-read it a couple times to make sure I’m reading it right. When I was in school, my teacher would let me have a little extra time when reading things. Here at work, having a little extra time for my tasks that involve reading would help me make less mistakes and do a better job.

Now it’s your turn to write what you would say!
Step 1: Start with something positive by saying that you are confident in your ability to perform the job, or how much you enjoy working there:*
Step 2: Give an example of a specific situation where you need an accommodation:*
Step 3: Explain the accommodation that works for you:*
Step 4: Describe the result of having the right accommodation in that situation:*
My Disclosure on the Job:
You’re right. You may not need to disclose your disability for this job. But, it’s still a good idea to practice if you end up needing to disclose your disability at some point in the future. Here’s some tips for what to say:

Bad Example: I thought I was going to do fine on this job without mentioning my learning disability, but I was wrong and it’s making this job impossible for me!

Good Example: I’ve really been enjoying my time working here and am confident in my abilities to be a great employee. I wanted to share with you that sometimes when I have to read things for work, I mix the letters up so I have to re-read it a couple times to make sure I’m reading it right. When I was in school, my teacher would let me have a little extra time when reading things. Here at work, having a little extra time for my tasks that involve reading would help me make less mistakes and do a lot better job.

Now it’s your turn to write what you would say!
Step 1: Start with something positive by saying that you are confident in your ability to perform the job, or how much you enjoy working there:*
Step 2: Give an example of a specific situation where you would need an accommodation:*
Step 3: Explain the accommodation that would work for you:*
Step 4: Describe the result of having the right accommodation in that situation:*

Put Your Knowledge Into Action

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My Portfolio

Disability Disclosure in the Workplace

Instructor Resources

Let's Practice Disability Disclosure!

My Disclosure for My Interview:

My Disclosure for During My Interview:

My Disclosure on the Job:

My Disclosure on the Job:

Put Your Knowledge Into Action

Role-Play Scenario

Get Involved