How and When Do You Disclose Your Disability?

[ILADVOCATE]

I'd rather post this in a forum where everyone would see it, though I know it is applicable to some more than others. Wondering when people disclose their disabilities and to whom? Before recovery I disclosed about my schizoaffective disorder to family and friends but obviously not to people I didn't know (except at consumer presentations). Now I have a Medicalert pendant stating "tardive dyskinesia" and I don't tell everyone upfront but if someone saw it and had concerns I'd be happy to explain it. Of course if I recovered enough to return to work I would not (and people should not) disclose my disability before I got hired. But not everyone discloses to all the people they know. But probably some. But where do people draw the line? This is not a poll as the answers would vary widely. Just interested and I know everyone's perspective varies but my mine comes from the one discussed in: "No Pity : People with Disabilities Forging a New Civil Rights Movement". Worth reading just for an understanding of how to approach the issue of disability acceptance overall though I appreciate and respect everyone's viewpoints.

[LetaB]

If I were to go around this small town and anounce "bipolar, ADD, dyslexia." People would raise their eyebrows, look at each other and nod. "I thought so". Maybe you've heard me say this but I asked my therapist once why people sympathetically ask you if you're depressed but whisper accusations begind your back that you are bipolar. I personally know a woman in town who is almost a street peson and who is also bipolar. If I were to tell people that I am too I would be stigmatized further than I already am and delegated to her fate (which may yet be mine). I have only told my adult children, my mother and siblings, my boyfriend, and 2 of my very closest friends. I think when or what we tell depends on our condition. I had no compunctions about telling anyone I was ADD.

[kayakka]

IMHO its part of the whole 'right to know' versus 'right to privacy' debate. You have a right to privacy by virtue of the stigma attached to the disorder

[Cherie762]

everyone on this forum has a disability of some sort , as for diclosing it here I hope you will recieve nothing but support, the real world is cruel , people can be iggnorant, and not understand,so as for disclosing personal stuff I wait till I feel the person out.

[PlateletGal]

If you have time, would you mind copying your post and posting it in the fibro / CFS forum ?

http://www.medhelp.org/forums/show/44?personal_page_id=216197

A lot of members in the forum have been discussing disability issues. We would love to have you in the community !