from Hacker News

Ask HN: How do you broach your disability when talking to employers?

by lwh on 8/24/17, 11:54 AM with 1 comments

If you can only work remote or need considerable accommodations, when do you tell them? Many suggest hiding until you have an offer if you can, but I could see that backfiring quickly.

  • by ThrowawayP on 8/24/17, 1:45 PM

    > Many suggest hiding until you have an offer if you can, but I could see that backfiring quickly.

    I've never had it backfire over the course of a 20 year career, though the accommodations I need are rather limited (sub-$5000 worth of additional equipment) and I've aimed to be hired at larger corporations that are big enough to afford such accommodations and have a policy for providing them. I simply mention when I receive the offer that I have a disability and its nature and offer them a chance to renegotiate or withdraw the offer if they have any concerns about it affecting my ability to do any aspect of the job. So far, I've never had anyone take me up on it.

    Really, there's nothing wrong with not mentioning a disability during the interview process if you choose not to. Your disability has (or should have) no bearing on your ability to do the job.