Do I declare this??

[BevvyGoldberg]

I am in the process of preparing an application for an advertised PhD studentship and have come to the page where they ask about disabilities.

I have a slow processing speed diagnosis and have been in receipt of DSA during my MSc. I'm not sure whether to declare this on the application? I can't help feeling embarrassed that I have a plan and get extra time for exams etc...will they think my grades are merely a reflection of some sort of advantage!? I know there are those who think it's all a swizz. I strongly suspect I have ADHD, hence my cognitive profile. However I still feel like a bit of a fraud!

No, you've not had any kind of advantage, and they won't think you did.

You don't have to declare it, but I would. I have a SpLD, and it affected me more during my PhD than prior to that (my coping strategies didn't work so well for the type of work I was doing, basically).

You're not a fraud.

I would. Is it likely that this info would get to the academics anyway? It’s probably just for HR monitoring purposes. If you needed extra time in exams because of a physical disability would you also feel a fraud?

Thank you for your responses

Ha - old name back!

You're gonna put yourself at a disadvantage if you don't, it's nothing to be ashamed of.