Disclosing your disability in job applications: do you or don’t you?

About me

I work as an editor, having completed both a BA and MA in English literature. I have minimal cerebral palsy. In terms of working life, it essentially means that I walk with a slight limp and that I find it difficult to get up stairs without rails. The following contains my personal insights on seeking graduate employment as a disabled student; I don’t speak for all job-hunters with disabilities.

Should you admit to a disability in a job application?

This is a personal choice. If your disability will make it harder for you to participate equally in graduate recruitment selection procedures – or if you would benefit from special access arrangements – I would argue that you’re doing yourself a disservice by not doing so.

If you do choose to disclose your disability, you don’t have to baldly announce it: the art lies in presenting it in the way that best shows off your strengths.

For example, if you needed extra time in your university exams and would benefit from the same when taking selection tests, why not have it? The extra time would mean that you’re not at an unfair disadvantage compared to able-bodied candidates, that everyone under consideration is assessed equally on their individual merits.

If you do choose to disclose your disability, you don’t have to baldly announce it: the art lies in presenting it in the way that best shows off your strengths.

How do you disclose your disability in a positive way on your CV?

Many disabilities cover a wide spectrum of conditions with varying degrees of seriousness, and sometimes the very name of a disability sparks connotations of the most serious conditions. But you can avoid creating this impression:

• Where possible, avoid medical labels – can you use a different phrase to summarise your needs?
• Emphasise what you can do and the strengths it gives you, not what you find difficult or can’t do.
• Avoid stating your need for any adjustments on your CV – these can be discussed later if necessary when you’ve been offered the job.

For example, on my CV I include a single sentence just above the reference section stating: ‘I am independently mobile but have an uneven walking gait.’

What about application forms?

You may be asked to fill out an equal opportunities questionnaire, on which it usually states that it will not be seen by the assessors. If you request extra support on the interview day – such as disabled access – you may get a phone call from someone in the HR office confirming your requirements.

I have not written about my disability on my application form because it hasn’t been relevant, but it fed into an answer I once gave at interview about my greatest achievement.

What about discrimination?

I’ve never felt discriminated against – I’ve never had any trouble getting interviews and my disability was never brought up, except from one employer who teased me for including it on my CV because it was irrelevant!

Who can advise me on getting a graduate job as a disabled applicant?

• Your university careers adviser should be able to give you advice on selling your strengths, as well as more general careers advice.
• SKILL, the National Bureau for Students with Disabilities, is a good starting place, with helpful factsheets on job-hunting for students with disabilities.
• National organisations and pressure groups for your specific disability – although the information on their website may contain information for non-graduate employment, they should also be able to offer specialist guidance at a graduate level. SKILL has a useful factsheet with contact details.
• Find out more about equal opportunities and diversity in graduate recruitment.