When you must disclose: your disability / illness conditions would – or could – affect your ability to perform the normal functions of the job. 

Other than that requirement, if, and when, you decide to share your disability status with your employer (or potential employer) is completely up to you.

…if, and when, you decide to share your disability status with your employer (or potential employer) is completely up to you.

Note: this is one reason why I’m glad remote work has become so accepted. The ability to work remote has opened lots of doors for people with disabilities in part due accessibility (see Remote Work Helps People with Disabilities Land Jobs) and, possibly, in part due fewer chances for…unintended…disability discrimination when hiring occurs remotely, e.g., over Zoom (see: Persons with Disabilities: Labor Force Characteristics – 2022).

Disclosure for Accommodations

In order to receive a “reasonable accommodation” under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), you’re going to have to disclose.

This talking dog can tell you more:

Accommodation Tools

I’ve tracked down the following tools to help obtain accommodations – as I find more, I’ll add to the list.

• Accommodation Search – Great search site for potential accommodations
• Disclosure Tree – Additional information on making the decision whether or not to disclose your disability
• Sample Accommodation Letter – Sample letter from the Job Accommodation Network asking for accommodations
• Sample medical documentation letter – Employer’s medical information request must also be “reasonable”
• Sample text to provide to your employer an initial disclosure of disability with a potential for accommodations down the line:

     Dear [Manager],

         I am writing to inform you that my health has taken a turn, and I am now living with a          disability. As someone who values my work and my team, I wanted to let you know as soon as possible that I may require accommodations to continue working to the best of my abilities.

         My disability affects my [state the impact of your disability on your ability to perform your job functions]. While I am still able to perform the essential functions of my job, I may need some accommodations to ensure that I can continue to work efficiently and effectively. I am committed to working with you to find a solution that works for both me and the company.

         I understand that accommodating my disability may require some adjustments, and I appreciate your willingness to work with me to find a solution. I am open to discussing any accommodations that could help me perform my job duties, such as [provide examples of accommodations that you think may be helpful].

         I remain committed to performing my job duties to the best of my ability and contributing to the success of our team and am confident that, with your help, we can find a way to accommodate my disability and continue working together successfully.

         Thank you for your understanding and support. I look forward to discussing this further with you.

     Sincerely
    [You]

To Disclose or Not to Disclose…

…is (for the most part) completely up to you.

You can’t be fired over your disability, but if you need accommodations, it’s best to disclose and request.

Lastly

If you’re interested in checking out companies that not only accommodate people with disabilities but also lead the charge in “measuring and achieving strong talent outcomes for people with disabilities,” take a look at the National Organization on Disability (NOD) 2022 Leading Disability Employers.