Disclosure is the necessary first step for a student with a disability to request and obtain needed accommodations; however, disclosure can be an extremely difficult process, and students may choose not to disclose their disability for a variety of personal and societal reasons. Imagine this general scenario for a student with a disability: It is the first day of class. The professor discusses the class syllabus and explains all the information on it, including resources for students on campus. However, he/she seems to overlook the disability statement, telling the class to turn to the next page of the syllabus. A disability statement is a statement placed on course syllabi indicating a faculty member’s willingness to provide reasonable accommodations to a student with a disability.
A likely question from the student with a disability attending this class is: Do I tell the professor about my disability or not?
Why Do Students Choose Not to Disclose their Need for Accommodations?
The most common reasons why students are reluctant to disclose their disability are:
A likely question from the student with a disability attending this class is: Do I tell the professor about my disability or not?
Why Do Students Choose Not to Disclose their Need for Accommodations?
The most common reasons why students are reluctant to disclose their disability are:
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College students with disabilities are often just beginning the process of learning how to explain their disability and why certain accommodations are appropriate for their needs. In high school, accommodations are often provided for the students, whereas in college, students must assume responsibility for coordinating their own accommodations.
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Students may be in denial about their disability and may not recognize its impact on their lives. Students with disabilities have varying degrees of awareness about their disability and need for appropriate accommodations.
- Students may not be comfortable disclosing that they have a disability. They may try to take the course without accommodations in order to see if they can succeed without them. Students may prefer to "pass" as not having a disability, if possible, in order to avoid unwanted stigma associated with having a disability in our society.
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Video Clip: Disclosure is Difficult
Duration: 1.3 minutes 
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Video Clip: Reluctance to Disclose
Duration: 1.1 minutes
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