To disclose that I have ADHD in my application for a role working with children with SEND?

[Doyoureallylikeitisitisitwicked]

I am completing an application for a role working with children with SEN and/ or disabilities.

I have a lot of professional experience and qualifications in this area. I was diagnosed with ADHD around a year ago and therefore have never considered disclosing this when applying for a job.

I don’t require any adjustments so no need to disclose for that reason - I just wondered if I should include it in my personal statement to explain that I have lived experience.

WIBU to include this in my application or should I leave it out (as I always have done in the past as I was undiagnosed).

Thank you.

@x2boys I don’t think anyone on this thread, never mind the OP has suggested all people with disabilities have the same needs.

@stayingaliveisawayoflife
I agree that sharing your own experiences, in appropriate ways helps with understanding for everyone. Not that people should ever feel they have to share any of their own experience but if they are comfortable.

I'd be very careful about this. Is your ADHD well managed? Do the symptoms ever interfere negatively with work? I'd be worried that I would get negatively pigeon holes. Eg if I forget to complete one form they might think that I'm likely to do this all the time because of my ADHD.

On the other hand I do agree that it is relevant. Will you work with kids with ADHD? If not I wouldn't disclose it.

If you decide to disclose it then stress how you are managing the symptoms and they might ask you specific questions regarding it. Eg how do you cope with organisation, attention to detail, emotional regulation, etc.

Good luck 🤞

Also I wonder if you don't consider it a disability would you still be able to relate to kids for whom it is very much a disability?

Thank you.

Yes, my ADHD is well managed, mostly via strategies I learned before I had any inkling that I had ADHD. For e.g. I got a distinction in my Master's degree professional qualification whilst also working and raising primary school children and fulfilling all placement requirements. My CV alone indicates that it's well managed, so I'm not too worried about that.

Yes, I'd work with kids with ADHD in this role (and do in my current role).

I think my main concern is who would be reading my application, places aren't always that confidential in my experience, despite GDPR. I found out that in my last role my line manager (SLT) asked a good friend who was a midday supervisor to help her papersift. I think it's relevant to the role but I don't the knowledge to be had by all and sundry.

I have dyspraxia and am very open about it. Part of my job is very paper and task driven. Because my school know about my condition and how it affects me they have to make adjustments. They cannot just lump me into the whole school 'tidy desk area' policy if they have one and they have to make sure directives and new instructions are clear, make sense and will not be changed in the next five minutes which actually benefits everyone.

There are people with disabilities seen and unseen doing amazing jobs and highly achieving and the more this is seen the better for our colleagues and for the children we are supporting.

Thank you. Yes of course I can relate to children who consider their ADHD a disability, as I do every day at work and have been appropriately trained to do.

Just because I don't personally consider myself to have a disability doesn't mean I can't relate to disability as a concept.

Thank you, that's interesting to know.

I work in a role in which self-disclosure is rare and should only be done if clinically appropriate, not a routine part of the role, so I'm not intending to disclose anything to the children and young people, I was asking in reference to job application specifically.

Teacher here. We have 2 teachers on the spectrum and 1 LSA with dyslexia. We also have 3 disabled staff members - children need people they can relate to. Please disclose this, they can't fire you for have an additional need.

Thank you. I'm not sure if I made myself clear, I'm not asking about disclosing because I require additional support, more would it be helpful to the application.

I think the poster (sorry can't scroll back) who suggested saving it for interview if it feels relevant to a competency has given the advice I was looking for.

Thanks for all responses.

I am a primary school teacher with ADHD.
I am open about it in school and wear a neurodiversity lanyard too. I have had some wonderful conversations with children over the years and I think it helps them to see a positive adult scenario for themselves.
I do disclose it as I have another disability too - so automatically check the box on the forms. I’ve not been discriminated against unlike when I was a pupil at school.

TBH I wouldn't disclose until after you've been offered the job unless you are definitely sure that it would be seen as a positive. There are discriminatory people working in all areas of life.

I am dyslexic. It dosent hinder me so I don't class it as a disbility. However if I work with children I would disclose it so staff know If anyone has the condition I can relate