If applying for a position within an organisation where you feel your impairment will give you an added advantage, for example if you apply for a position within a disability charity, or if your impairment would explain a gap in your work experience due to rehabilitation, then declare your disability at the earliest opportunity.

If you feel the issue of your impairment may adversely affect the chances of you being selected for interview then leave out the declaration.

However, it is never advisable to lie on your CV or application form. If a question on an application form asks whether you have a disability then you should tell the truth. Bear in mind that under the Disability Discrimination Act an employer cannot treat a disabled person less favourably than a non-disabled person for a reason relating to their disability unless justified. One of the justifications an employer can use is that they were unaware the candidate in question was disabled. So, it is worth considering this when deciding whether to declare your disability.

Simply declaring your disability is enough for an application form, although it can be a good idea to expand on points from your experience to illustrate how your disability does not affect your ability to do a job. Many employers have little experience of working with disabled people and it is this lack of experience which has to be overcome on an application form if you wish to be called for an interview.

If you have strong reason to believe that mentioning your disability will prevent you from being shortlisted, you can leave it off the application form, but you should mention it if offered the job. You will then have clear grounds for suing under the DDA if the offer is withdrawn.

About us Our partners Terms & conditions Jobs at Youreable designed by