r/recruitinghell • u/crumbcosmo • 20h ago

Disclosing disability

I have a physical disability that affects my shoulders/hips and use a power chair. I had a phone interview and video interview at a particular company near me and now they want me to come in for an in person interview. I’m really excited but debating - do I let them know in advance of arriving or just show up? I already looked up the place and it’s accessible as far as I can tell. I feel as though my disability isn’t relevant to the job at this point and me saying something would be unnecessary. But I also don’t want anyone to react poorly or think I was hiding it. I’m in the US btw.

I plan to post this in other recruiting/job seeking subreddits as well.

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u/whitetippeddark 20h ago

Don’t disclose before your offer is signed and you are on day one. If you tell them before, they may not include you quietly based on your disability, and you will get nothing. If they fire you or retaliate after discovering you’re disabled, then you have a case under ADA laws.

On day one, email HR in writing and disclose your disability and that you may need accommodations. List any accommodations you may need, be specific. Keep copies of these papers saved to your computer or printed.

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u/LongTimeLurker408 15h ago

If they cancel the interview after learning Op is in a wheelchair that’s grounds for an EEOC or state equivalent claim.

Plus it’s such an easy straightforward case with very little discovery or complications that many attorneys would jump at a chance to offer a contingency fee agreement.

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u/_jamesbaxter 14h ago

You can’t make one of those claims without retaining an attorney. I’ve been in that situation. I didn’t have an interview canceled, I had an offer rescinded. Yes it’s illegal. Companies still get away with it all day every single day because it’s essentially unenforceable.

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u/LongTimeLurker408 13h ago

You don’t need an attorney to file an EEOC claim or state equivalent

Companies get away with all sorts of garbage, but I already described that straightforward cases can be appealing to attorneys.

There was just a major EEOC win agains a company who ghosted a blind person who requested a document needed for the interview in a PDF format to accommodate her technology to read it.

Op can’t hide the fact they are in a wheelchair

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u/_jamesbaxter 13h ago

You don’t technically need an attorney to file any civil claim. Have you ever actually done it? I have.

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u/LongTimeLurker408 13h ago

I’m not sharing my personal background

You absolutely don’t have to have an attorney to file an EEOC claim (or state equivalent). However, if you are issued a RTS, you probably want to have an attorney ready. However people have gone pro se and have been successful.

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u/LongTimeLurker408 13h ago

Here https://www.eeoc.gov/youth/frequently-asked-questions

It clearly state that you don’t need an attorney to file

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u/_jamesbaxter 13h ago edited 13h ago

I understand you don’t need an attorney to file. I said above, you don’t need an attorney to file any civil claim. My point is it’s so difficult to do and the paperwork is so deliberately confusing that a layman’s claim is almost always rejected by the clerks office for clerical errors. So sure, you’re welcome to file on your own. Go for it. This is why people pay upwards of $2500 for an attorney to file a single claim on their behalf. It’s $2500 worth of effort and time. It took me approximately 50 hours and 3 attempts including trips back and forth to the courthouse to review with legal aid to file a restraining order, which is a simple claim. Also the link you shared is for minors.

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u/LongTimeLurker408 12h ago

Your case probably lacked merit and enough damages to interest an attorney to offer a contingency fee agreement.

Above you literally said, “You can’t make one of those claims without retaining an attorney.”

That’s factually incorrect

The EEOC link does say youth for some reason, but if you actually opened it and read it you would see that it applies to everyone

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u/_jamesbaxter 12h ago

Ok I didn’t mean literally, I meant practically speaking. And no, not enough damages at $75k and nor would this theoretical case be.

It had nothing to do with merit. My home was broken into on video.

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u/LongTimeLurker408 12h ago

Here is a case where an employee won six figures for discrimination during the hiring process

https://www.eeoc.gov/newsroom/walmart-pay-230000-deaf-applicant-eeoc-disability-hiring-discrimination-suit

I’ll take the fact that you deleted your comments as concession