[NABS-L] [nabs-l] disclosing your disability on a graduate schoolapplication

Karl Martin Adam kmaent1 at gmail.com
Wed Aug 22 23:36:56 UTC 2018


Hi Danielle,

I'm in the humanities, but I disclosed on my applications.  
Unfortunately, I have no way of knowing whether I would have 
gotten into more or fewer schools had I not done so.

HTH,
Karl

 ----- Original Message -----
From: Danielle Sykora via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list 
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Date sent: Wed, 22 Aug 2018 18:16:26 -0400
Subject: [NABS-L] [nabs-l] disclosing your disability on a 
graduate schoolapplication

Hi all,

I'm curious whether those of you who have applied to graduate 
school,
particularly in STEM subjects, disclosed your disability prior to
being accepted? I generally do not disclose my disability ahead 
of
time if I have the choice because I want to be considered fairly 
with
as little prejudice as possible. I've submitted one application
without disclosing my disability anywhere in the application 
material,
which is definitely the right decision for that situation.

I am however considering whether disclosing my blindness with 
this
second application would be beneficial or not. This particular
university really seems to emphasize diversity, mentioning 
unusual
backgrounds and being part of a minority group on both the 
application
and statement of purpose guidelines (not just the generic "we 
value
diversity" statement on the website that practically every 
university
includes). I'm wondering if mentioning my blindness along with 
other
factors (either on the appropriate place in the application or on 
my
statement of purpose) would improve my chances of being accepted
because it improves their diversity; however, I am still 
concerned
about preconceived notions the professors I would like to 
consider me
for assistantships might have that could cause them to overlook 
me
entirely.

Thoughts?
Danielle

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