According to the Miriam-Webster Dictionary, disclosure is “the act or an instance of disclosing” something. In other words, it means sharing something about oneself that another person, an organization, or an employer may not know about the person who is sharing. For people with disabilities, this may mean disclosing information about their disability to someone, in order to make arrangements so that they have the same access or opportunity as someone without a disability. Examples include disclosing to a potential employer during a job interview, indicating the need for specific accommodations on a conference registration form, or meeting with a school’s disability services office before classes start. Deciding to disclose is each person’s choice. Often, the decision to disclose or not may be made based on weighing the benefits of reasonable accommodations, workplace considerations and the environment, awareness of labelling or stigma, or the potential for discrimination or perceived deferential treatment.

NIDILRR funds research and development projects that develop consumer-friendly and evidence-based resources to support a person’s decision to disclose their disability. Below are just a few examples:

• The Learning and Working During the Transition to Adulthood Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (Transitions ACR) develops and shares new knowledge about core concepts, interventions, and policies to greatly improve the transition to employment for youth and young adults with serious mental health conditions. Their tip sheet, Do I tell My Boss?: Disclosing My Mental Health Condition at Work, provides guidance to young adults living with a mental health condition as to whether or not to disclose that information in the workplace.
• The ADA National Network and its ten regional centers serve as a platform to facilitate and support increased implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The Network and the regional centers provide research briefs, webinars, factsheets, and more on disclosure under the ADA.
• NARIC’s Research In Focus series shares the latest research results from the NIDILRR grantee community. Here are a few examples on disclosure:
  • Working Women with Disabilities Share Strategies for Countering Stereotypes in the Workplace.
  • Disclosing a Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosis at Work May Have Pros and Cons.
• NARIC’s Spotlight blog has a number of posts on disclosure that share resources from the NIDILRR grantee community and beyond, including a post that answers the question about how or if to disclose a disability to an employer.

To learn more about disclosure and to receive more information and resources about disclosure, contact NARIC’s information specialists.