Knowing your legal rights and employers’ legal obligations can help inform your decisions around whether to disclose a disability to an employer and request accommodations. Disclosure means explaining the impact of your disability and usually happens because accommodation for that impact is needed. Accommodations are reasonable steps an employer must by law, provide an employee or candidate with a disability, to meet their needs during the recruitment process or for success on the job. These decisions are complex and sensitive. The resources in this section will help you make strategic decisions about disclosure. Appointments to discuss your accommodations and disclosure situation are also available through the Career Centre.
The legal duty to accommodate for disabilities in the workplace is spelled out in the Canadian Human Rights Code and at the provincial level in the Ontario Human Rights Code Duty to Accommodate - Ontario Human Rights Commission
Requesting Accommodations usually requires disclosing a disability’s impact on the job to the employer but the decision to disclose, how much to disclose, when and to whom is highly personal and depends on both the candidate or employee and their employment situation. Read When and How to Talk About Your Disability to learn more about the pros and cons of disclosure.
Not sure what accommodations would be helpful for you? This website has great information on the types of accommodations suitable for specific disability conditions. Ask JAN - Job Accommodation Network’s Searchable Online Accommodations Resource
The Canadian Mental Health Association’s guide to finding employment for persons with mental health disabilities discusses when, how and why to disclose and is broadly applicable to any disclosure decision. See Steps to Employment Guide for Persons with Mental Health Disabilities Chapter 7 “Disclosure of Your Disability”.
If you are unsure about disclosure decisions and/or how to ask for accommodations, please make an appointment to discuss it with a Career Counsellor.
updated August 27, 2022