Disability Disclosure Decision Guide for Work and College

This disability disclosure decision guide helps transition students decide whether to share about a disability at work or college, who to tell, how much to say, and when, with write-on charts, a plan page, and four practice situations.

Why I made this: Students leave high school after years of adults handling their disability for them. Then, all at once, it is their call whether anyone knows. I wanted a tool that slows that decision down and treats it as a real choice, with no pressure to share and no pressure not to.

What's included:
• Cover
• Teacher and coach how-to page
• What disclosure means at work and at college
• Should I share? Pros and cons chart
• Who might I tell? (supervisor, HR, disability services, instructor, coworker, nobody yet)
• How much do I share? Three levels, and the student chooses
• When do I share? At the interview, after hire, before a hard task, before classes, or not at all
• My disclosure plan
• 4 practice situations: choose a path and explain why
• Teacher and coach tips with talking points for the practice page

How I use it: Go one or two pages at a time. Do pages 3 and 4 together, spread the next four over a few sessions, then finish with the practice situations. There is no right answer here. The goal is a choice the student made on purpose. It is general information, not legal advice.

What you download: one printable PDF, 10 pages, US Letter.

Rules and processes vary by state, school, and employer. This is general information, not legal advice. Always follow your district policies.

Good to know: there is no right answer about whether to disclose, and the guide does not push students one way. It helps them think through what they would share, with whom, and what they might ask for. It is general information, so rules differ by employer and school.

Written by Jeremy D. Gooch, a teacher with 20+ years in education. All names in examples are made up.