Accessibility Version | Skip to content | Change text size

Table of contents
Previous page  | Next page

Deal with disclosure issues

Thinking about whether to disclose?

The website Choosing your path: Disclosure is a personal issue opens in a new window is a 'must read' if you're thinking about whether to tell people about your disability or not.

Here is summary of some of the points from Choosing your path: Disclosure is a personal issue.

It's your choice!

The decision to disclose a disability in the education sector is a personal choice for people with disabilities. Disclosure is an individual decision, depending on the circumstances, the context and how comfortable the person feels about it.

It depends on your personal circumstances

"When, how and if disclosure is to occur is often affected by such factors as:

  • the type of disability
  • the type of educational course being undertaken
  • whether the disability is apparent or not and how this might affect academics' judgement of the person's ability to undertake their chosen course
  • the need for education related adjustments or supports while studying
  • the attitudes of academic and other staff and students, towards people with a disability."

Your decision isn't final

The decision to disclose or not is often not a final decision but one that can be re-evaluated over time, based on the student's circumstances. It is important that the factors that determine whether disclosure occurs or not be explored before a decision is made.

You need to think about the pros and cons before you decide

In determining whether disclosure should occur or not, students need to:

  • identify possible consequences of disclosing their disability
  • investigate their legislative rights and responsibilities
  • consider the experiences of other students and staff with disabilities
  • explore the availability of disability support services and networks at the education institution."

It's ok not to disclose

Many people with disabilities have weighed up these factors and made the personal decision that disclosure of disability should not occur whilst pursuing educational options or whilst studying.

Some students choose not to disclose:

  • because they feel that they will be discriminated against and that they will be treated differently
  • because of fear of people's attitudes towards them
  • there is no impact of their disability or medical condition on their performance
  • there are adequate inclusive practices in the educational or professional environment not to require disclosure."
Summarised from Disclosure is a personal issue section Choosing not to disclose opens in a new window.

I didn't want to talk about my problems which affected my learning because I had some short-term memory loss. I felt I had to cope myself. But I was just putting pressure on myself by not disclosing.

The DLU helped me negotiate extra time in exams and even made a laptop available. I had terrible trouble writing clearly in the exam, so the laptop meant that my exam answers could be read. I wish I'd gone to them in my first semester.

If you discuss your requirements with the Disability Liaison Unit, DLU, they can provide you with the services you require including:

  • access to on- campus assistive technology rooms
  • Alternative Arrangements for Assessment examinations (AAA's).
― Harry

You can revisit the issues of disclosure at any time. You can read the personal stories and information on Choosing your path: Disclosure it's a personal issue opens in a new window to help you think about the issues.

If you choose not to disclose then people might think the effect of the disability or medical condition is just your poor performance. You may miss out on 'reasonable adjustments' opens in a new window to which you are entitled.

If you have a disability you may also want to find out about the Willing and Able Mentor Program opens in a new window on the Graduate Careers website opens in a new window and work with a professional mentor.

You can also visit the Inclusive Teaching site to look issues of disclosure and confidentiality.

download a word document Download a printable version of this page.
Problems? Questions? Comments? Please provide us feedback.

Need help? Library frequently asked questions and online inquiries: current students/staff | public users, online chat, or phone +61 3 9905 5054
Something to say? Send us your feedback and suggestions: current students/staff | public users

Monash University logo