Hi everyone,
I’m wondering if anyone has checked yes for disability on an application. I do volunteer counseling for job applicants, one of folks is a cancer survivor (6 years) and asked me if I would have checked the box - he knows I’m diabetic.
It’s a good question, the box MUST be checked it says: Do you have a disability such as … Cancer, Diabetes etc. it is Yes or No only with no ability to explain. For those who have not recently applied for a job, it comes under the ‘voluntary’ section, but again MUST be answered…when I asked my friend, he said that ‘prefer not to answer’ is not usually available.
My friend also asked me, did I think the answer was confidential. Having interviewed candidates in the past, I’m pretty sure that at least HR knew but I am by far not an expert…I personally have never received that information in hiring a candidate.
My question to you, is what do or would you do. What if you say ‘no’ can you then ask for a place to inject and a container for your needles. Do you think it impacts ( pos or neg) the process.
what would you counsel your children to do when they apply for jobs …
The ADA (the other ADA, American’s with Disabilities Act) prohibits employers from asking specific questions like “do you have a disability.” They can ask if you can perform the essential functions of the job, but not about cancer or diabetes. This applies even to small business (but not to businesses with < 15 employees). You are not even required to disclose after hiring that you have diabetes and unless you intend to ask for some form of accommodation there is likely no reason to do so.
So if my daughter were to come across this question in a job application, could she simply not check “yes” or “no” and then, if she were called on not answering this question, say that she has a legal right not to answer it?
Has anyone else handled “the disability question” in this manner? If so, what transpired next?
I do check “yes” if there’s a question like, “Do you have a disability or impairment that may impact your ability to perform the job?” But I check that box because I’m legally blind and, without the employer providing accommodations like assistive technology, I wouldn’t be able to perform most of my job duties (my current employer has provided me with screen reading and screen magnification software, a braille display, and a video magnifier, all of which I use daily). I’m nervous that if I ever checked “no” that the employer would somehow be exempt from providing me with accommodations, and in terms of an interview it’s quite obvious as soon as I walk in that I have a visual impairment (white cane and all), so there’s no point in trying to hide it. I also don’t mind answering questions about how I do things with a visual impairment in the interview; if I don’t answer them, the interviewer is just going to assume I can’t do it, which is worse than answering a question.
If I just had diabetes, I don’t think I would answer “yes” to this type of question unless I was applying for a job where I would need major accommodations. My diabetes doesn’t usually come up until I fill out the health and safety form that asks about serious health conditions and emergency contacts (although I do wear a medical ID bracelet, so even in the interview it’s clear that I have something medical going on). I’ve never had to ask for accommodations for my diabetes. I bring my own sharps container (Tic Tac box) and use a pump, but when I did inject I did so in the washroom or at my desk (I had no office) and it was never an issue.
Now that I have diabetes, I would leave a yes or no question unanswered.
For other conditions which might need accommodation, I would answer yes.
And I would outright tell the interviewer that it is illegal to ask me this question, if it singles out diabetes or cancer. These are conditions and illnesses–NOT necessarily disabilities.
Once in my 20’s, I interviewed with someone who asked me if I intended to become pregnant within the next year. I flat out told him he could not ask that in an interview, that it was not legal to do so.
By this person actually asking the question, it helped me determine that I did NOT want to work for/with HIM.
So a question worded, as @mskdka has written, violates the ADA. And I would be happy to inform the interviewer of this.
But, I would be prepared to vigorously answer it verbally. Especially if my diabetes was not going to interfere with my job performance. Maybe someone needs to be enlightened.
If I had a disability, then of course I’d check the yes box. Since I don’t look at diabetes as a disability, I wouldn’t check it. But then I’ve always told everyone right away that I have Juvenile Onset/Type 1 diabetes. I’ve never been afraid to tell people, never cared what their reaction might be.
I used to work in human resources and I do a lot of hiring now. Companies collect that information not as a screening tool but rather to collect diversity information about the candidate/employee pool. There’s no reason why someone couldn’t check off “no” if they didn’t want to disclose a disability, assuming it’s not an actual medical screening, which would be much more involved that just the yes/no/I don’t want to disclose question, and would be stated very clearly as a requirement of the job.
Hi Folks,
I had my friend send a copy of the application online - he provided the below. I’ve not had to apply for many years, but even though it says it’s not part of the application, I understand his concern…based on responses I’ve suggested for him to say ‘No’
I checked the box that I have diabetes on my last drivers license renewal form. What a mistake that was. The DMV employee informed me that I needed to attend 2 DMV sanctioned seminars on diabetes and she would not renew my license until I had proof I attended the time wasting classes. I did inform her I’ve been a diabetic for 35 years and know how to take care of my disease and have all the safety precautions set in place just in case my bg starts to crash while I’m driving. She then informed me not so nicely that the clssses are mandatory. I grabbed my application out of her hand and walked out. Went back to my car and made another renewal appointment at a different DMV and did not disclose the fact I’m a diabetic on the app and got my license renewed without incident. Sometimes being completely honest is not the best choice.
Thanks for writing on this topic! It has been on the back of my mind for some time now too, but moreso because I’m in and out of temp jobs.
I check “Yes” for the Disabled box and on my usajobs.gov profile, I have Diabetes marked. I only had one instance where it came up. A disreputable temp agency (FSS) was being audited and someone simply called to ask if I was still in the position they placed me in. (FYI - I worked for 2 days because the agency completely lied to me about the job.)
At my last temp job, I was very vocal about my D since I just got the pump. It didn’t seem to be a problem.
I asked friends from my state about the license application, and was told that I didn’t have to. (When I filled out my permit application, it didn’t even occur to me to check “yes”)
When I went into the DMV, I asked and the person behind the desk said I didn’t have to put it on the form, so that’s that.
I am a federal employee and sometimes check the box for disability yes. I have disclosed and not disclosed my disability. I have been discriminated against for claiming a disability and requesting accommodations. It can work against one is some cases. It can work for you in others.
