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Ask HN: Should I disclose my disability when applying for jobs?

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Re: Ask HN: Should I disclose my disability when applying for jobs?

#11

Are mental health issues (e.g. depression or anxiety) considered "mental disability"? I have MS which causes urinary incontinence and my mobility is impaired (unable to stand for too long, cannot walk for longer than 100-200 meters at a time and so on).

Yeah, it can be considered... Here's the list on the default form the OMB gives out (assuming you're in the US, of course).

https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ofccp/self-id-forms

Disabilities include, but are not limited to: • Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally) • Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS • Blind or low vision • Cancer (past or present) • Cardiovascular or heart disease • Celiac disease • Cerebral palsy • Deaf or serious difficulty hearing • Diabetes • Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders • Epilepsy or other seizure disorder • Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome • Intellectual or developmental disability • Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD • Missing limbs or partially missing limbs • Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports • Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS) • Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities • Partial or complete paralysis (any cause) • Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema • Short stature (dwarfism) • Traumatic brain injury

Re: Ask HN: Should I disclose my disability when applying for jobs?

#12
Are you officially registered as disabled (or planning to be)? Admittedly I haven't looked into deeply, but I got the impression that that system is mostly for people who require some form of government services for their disability, which may not cover you if you're not physically disabled and are currently coping with daily work/life. Also, I don't know your visa situation, but I would be concerned that registering as potentially in need of government assistance would be counted against me when renewing or applying for PR.

Other than that, my personal policy is to not disclose unless I need some kind of accommodation (which I generally don't). I think the risks of having it consciously or subconsciously counted against me outweigh the potential benefits of being favored by a quota.

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