It can be hard to know where to start when disclosing. It can also be tricky to keep things concise. Here’s an example of how to disclose in just 150 words…
‘I have dyspraxia. Key features include difficulties with concentration and coordination, but it affects people very differently.
How dyspraxia impacts me is that I can lose my balance sometimes. I have good long-term memory but it takes a while for me to take on lots of information and to remember the names of new people.
I would like to discuss some adjustments so that I can perform at my best during the interview. One would be a clear description of what the task is going to involve.
It wasn’t until my last job that I realised I might have dyspraxia. I got tested and it was confirmed that I am dyspraxic. Having this disability has made me a good listener and certainly played a part in me being an empathetic and encouraging person. Colleagues have said that I am easy to talk to and that I am a team player.’
Hopefully, this example demonstrates there is a happy medium between mentioning your disability in passing and going into lots of painstaking detail.
It’s always a good idea to start off by defining what the disability/ies you have is/are. The employer might not be familiar with it or they might have some misconceptions.
When writing this, I had in mind someone who has been invited to interview and been told there is a 45 minute interview and a 20 minute task but no details on what the task is. You might want to include more adjustments that you think you would need, or speak more about how disability affects you. It depends on your personal circumstances and at what stage you choose to disclose.
This blog has lots of posts focussed on disability disclosure and reasonable adjustments so be sure to check them out for further tips, links and advice. In particular, AGCAS Disability Task Group Disclosure – Neurodiversity is a really clear and helpful resource.
Edmund Lewis, AGCAS Disability Task Group, University of Westminster
AGCAS Disability Task Group Blog 