[Job-Discussions] Disclosing about your visual impairment

[Karen Rose]

I have often compared the question about whether to disclose my blindness with the question of whether or not to disclose my race, religion, or sexual orientation. If an employer would not ask me about these other factors, and would not consider it a violation of integrity to fail to disclose those facts about myself, then I do not understand why an employer would find it necessary for me to disclose my blindness?

Karen Rose MFT/LPCC www.career-therapy.net

> On May 19, 2021, at 8:27 PM, Jess Shek via Job-Discussions <job-discussions at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Thank you so much everyone for your thoughts.
> 
> Regarding Sandra's view, yes I thought about the perspective of being
> rude by not disclosing the visual impairment upfront. However, in Hong
> Kong, people's mindset are still not that open enough to think of
> hiring a person with a disability. And from my experience, when I
> disclose my blindness upfront when first contacted by recruiter, they
> hesitated, and ended up I would not hear from them anymore even though
> I follow up with them. Also I think a job applicant has the
> responsibility to think about if they can really do the job before
> making their application. For example, as a totally blind person, I
> will not apply for jobs such as driver, hairdresser and so on :)
> 
> Yes I agree with Nicole and the other's views that it's a personal
> decision. Really thank you so much everyone for sharing with me your
> thoughts. Indeed, I will check the relevant laws here in Hong Kong to
> see if job seekers must disclose their disabilities. My friend ended
> up lost her offer, as the employer thought that it's a problem for her
> not disclosing her disabiility, that they were in doubt with her
> integrity.
> 
> Thank you everyone once again, and happy to hear more of your thoughts.
> 
> Cheers,
> Jess
> 
>> On 5/20/21, nmpbrat at aol.com <nmpbrat at aol.com> wrote:
>> Jess,I really think it is a personal choice and know of people doing it both
>> ways.  I have always chosen to disclose at the interview for the very reason
>> you described in your message... that the employer would feel as though I
>> was not honest with them.  I felt that even though I'd have the job, it
>> could put a damper on the new relationship between myself and the employer.
>> I also felt that if an employer really didn't want me because of my visual
>> impairment and couldn't see past it to see all that I could offer them, then
>> I didn't want to work for them anyway. I want to work for people who can at
>> least respect me for the person that I am and can see past the disability.
>> When I disclosed, I always tried to put a spin on it that would hopefully
>> put them at ease and encouraged them to ask questions so that I could deal
>> with any misconceptions they might have.  I also understand why many people
>> are hesitant to disclose, as I am also keenly aware of the fact that there