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My Disability: To Disclose or Not To Disclose
Erin wasn't sure if she should disclose her hearing disability to prospective employers.
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Erin Geld
Erin Geld, a recent graduate of Cornell University, lives in San Francisco and is pursuing a career in education. She writes a weekly column on the ins-and-outs of starting a career, managing the job search, and all that strikes a recent grad’s fancy.
Erin also writes a blog on books, called Berin.
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Erin Geld | WomenCo.
May 22, 2008
I was born deaf in one ear and nearly deaf in the other. By the grace of incredible parents and teachers I was “mainstreamed” at a very young age, meaning I talk and “hear” like most people. Despite many suggestions, I have never learned sign language. My hearing loss often goes by undetected, despite an ugly hearing aid and slight accent. However, it does not mean my life has been without its obstacles and challenging choices, especially regarding the disclosure of my disability.
In high school and at college, I was upfront about it, mentioning it on the first day of class each year. I usually would ask teachers to face me when lecturing, write a few notes on the board, and provide occasional visual materials. I asked classmates to speak clearly when contributing, and would often pick a buddy to compare notes with and to fill in missing gaps. (When writing, I would often miss lecture points, as my head was turned down – I’m a big lip-reader.) When I took a job at a college campus café, I attached a label to an overhead photograph that read: “I’m deaf. Speak up!” All in all, they were simple, infrequent favors and most people were happy to help.
When applying for jobs post-graduation, however, it was different. In the very spare and formulaic cover-letter-and-resume applications, where should I indicate my hearing loss? Should I even mention it? Why should I mention it?
Most of the time, I don’t even think of it as a disability, as I am extremely capable in terms of communication and language – I use the phone, am a serious chatterbox, and love to write. Yet, it is a huge part of my personality that I find impossible to overlook when introducing myself to a prospective employer. Not because I will constantly be asking for help and require large-scale accommodations, but because it indicates a certain strength, patience, humility and perseverance that has come with growing up with a disability. As a creative individual, deafness also deeply informs my personality, as I have always seen my mind divided between silence and sound.
As I said, I rarely see my hearing loss as a disability, and instead see it as a huge additional dimension to myself.
Unfortunately, I do know it’s not immediately obvious to most people. Terrible visions of mumbling awkward half-wits come to mind when word “deaf” is heard. The prejudice and ignorance regarding the deaf community is phenomenal, and I have experienced it throughout my lifetime. Do I risk putting that on my resume, while still risking a shallow perception of my abilities? It’s my oldest quandary.
At first, I sent out applications without any mention of my hearing loss. I eventually got an invitation for a phone interview at a very cool consulting company (if you’ve been reading my columns, you’ll notice I’ve applied to all sorts of jobs). Even though it was a phone interview, I insisted on keeping my disability private. A stubborn, proud part of me felt I could manage without their understanding.
Rachelle
13 days ago
6 comments
Erin, Thank You for your inspirational article. I think many of us have disabilities that we don't want to label or admit to. In owning your disability you have show that you can overcome with out denying something that is a part of you. Your story has touched my heart and mind at a time when I have been doubting myself and worth in the business world.
kar23
3 months ago
78 comments
Erin, I definitely appreciate this article; as well as freckles and all other comments. Disability is unique to the person. As freckles mentioned, many people who are Deaf do not consider it a disability. Some disabilitly theorists regard the environment as the "disabling" factor- not the person, why we have ADA (American's with Disabilities Act) and the provision for reasonable accommodation.
As far as job search disclosure of disability or disclosure of a newly acquired disablity (love the proposal of 'TAB': temporarily able-bodied, by Irving Zola) to your ongoing employer- situational. I believe there is no 'best' answer. To expand upon Erin's mention of misplaced shame, defeat, etc being the "greatest disablity of all", I would further the 'greatest disability' to the potential fear and non-acceptance of others, specifically employers. Love how Erin turned what her employer may perceive as a weakness into a strength that set her apart from other canidates. Well done!
Dana_B
4 months ago
92 comments
In my opinion, because many people are automatically dismissive when it comes to disibilities, you should not include it on your resume/email/cover letter. Instead, I think that you should give them the chance to meet you in person, so that they can see that you as a professional woman, can verify your experience and abilities. If I were you, I would wait until I'd proved myself before I told them something so personal, and something that would unfortunately cause them to (even if they don't want to) judge.
freckles
4 months ago
4 comments
Saraann- My intention with my comment was in no way to judge one disability against another. I respect that everyone's story and situation is unique. My intention was simply to provide readers with information and a perspective that is often unrecognized and misunderstood. My full intention was exactly as you said: to promote a greater understanding. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Daniela- I did not say that Erin was making generalizations about an entire community. I said upfront that I recognized her story as her own, and that it was not, and could not be, wrong. I merely hoped to point out, for those who might not be aware, some information about the Deaf community. While Erin's story may be empowering for some, it also falls into a history where the very few deaf children who successfully learn to "talk and 'hear' like most people" ("oral successes") are applauded at the expense of others.
TessaT
4 months ago
2 comments
I think Freckles' point is that the act of looking past a child's deafness (or ignoring it, or trying to mainstream them, depending on the circumstance) can ultimately cause a lot of problems (developmental delays due to lack of language, etc) rather than be a positive solution. While Erin's story is her own and as such is clearly not "wrong" or "right," I agree with Freckles that it is important to recognize that the same thing that has given her such strength can be such a detriment to other people. While I understand that Erin was not intending to make generalizations about the entire Deaf community, I think this is an important dialogue to engage in given that people often do generalize after hearing only one perspective.
Daniela
4 months ago
1492 comments
Your story is moving, insightful, and so personal - thanks so much for writing it, Erin! It's always interesting to see how different people view obstacles in their lives - you obviously see your near-deafness as something that makes you stronger. While I appreciate Freckles' point of view, I don't think it's fair to say that Erin is making overtures about the entire deaf and near-deaf community: Her story is her own. And it's an empowering one. Thank you!
saraann
4 months ago
2 comments
Thanks for sharing this incredible story Erin. It takes courage to write honestly about the difficulty and the struggle to overcome fears. I think that we all gain when we share these experiences. Clearly your hope is to help others as they stumble along the job application process and wonder how upfront to be with prospective employers.
All our lives we make choices and hope to do the best we can. Erin writes intimately about her struggle, and has the courage to admit to mistakes along the way.
Freckles, I think judging one disablity against another is a zero sum game.
Isnt it better to help each other and therby gain understanding for each others obstacles?
I believe this was Erins only intention. It is so easy to judge and always so difficult to accept people for who they are.
Cheers to honesty and disclosure and being upfront about difficulties.
great job Erin!
65_KJ
4 months ago
124 comments
Thank you Freckles for the insight and reminder to be aware of different perspectives with adjoining concerns.
eringeld
4 months ago
4 comments
Thank you for your comment, Freckles. Your generous information is terribly necessary for the incredible ignorance regarding the deaf community. I deeply appreciate your adding this dimension to my essay on my individual struggles.
freckles
4 months ago
4 comments
I am responding to Erin Geld’s article “My Disability: To Disclose or Not To Disclose,” in order to point out another perspective. Geld has written about her own experience, with somewhat careless disregard for the experiences of others. I by no means want to discredit Erin Geld’s experiences. They are her own and cannot be “wrong.” I merely hope to point out that while these have been Geld’s experiences, they should not be the expectations for others.
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Geld begins her article by saying that “by the grace of incredible parents and teachers” she was mainstreamed at a very young age. This, she goes on to say, has lead her towards success. However, this same act leads many young children towards frustration and unnecessary failure. Erin Geld has had phone interviews. Perhaps, and I say this without wanting to step on any toes, she should say that she is hard-of-hearing. Those who are profoundly deaf might not even hear sounds with a phone held up to their ear, much less understandable speech. Erin Geld has learned to “talk and ‘hear’ like most people.” For children born profoundly deaf this is not a feasible or reasonable goal or expectation, nor should it necessarily be a priority. The priority should be giving a children access to a language that they can readily and naturally absorb, without strain or struggle. A natural, signed, visual language, such as American Sign Language, creates this opportunity.
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90% of children who are born deaf are born to hearing parents who do not sign. From day one, when other infants are exposed constantly to linguistic input, these deaf babies often receive little or no language input. Babies who are completely, or profoundly, deaf cannot hear the language around them, and if not exposed to a visual/signed language, they receive no linguistic input. Being “like most people” is often at the top of the list of priorities and expectations that parents have for their children. Hearing parents usually want their children to learn to speak and hear like them. However, for deaf children, this parental goal often comes at the expense of the language access at a young age that is necessary for cognitive development. I will not go into the great expanse of research that has been done showing that language and cognitive development are intimately tied together, except to say that this tie has been demonstrated conclusively. Additionally, there is a body of research showing that children whose parents sign with them succeed at or above the level of their peers, and far above the level of their deaf peers who have not been exposed to a signed language.
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The Deaf community is proud of American Sign Language and of their culture. They do not see their “hearing loss” as a disability any more than Erin Geld. They consider themselves to be a linguistic minority. Those “awkwardly squawking half-wits” that Erin Geld referred to are in fact a community of incredibly intelligent, incredibly linguistically capable, incredibly persevering people. If they are ever unsuccessful or misunderstood it is because they have been failed… by our education system, by their parents, and by widespread ignorance and assumptions that prevail in our continuously oppressive and discriminatory society.
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For more information or research: http://www.deafbilingualcoalition.com/
65_KJ
4 months ago
124 comments
Hi Erin: In reading your column I more then smiled upon learning your thoughts on acceptance and the surrounding enigma on ‘ability’ in the work place.
Your rhetoric skills are evident and bringing them forth with your ability in the essay for elementary co-teacher, profound. Your open gift serves as a simple and poignant reminder that each of us has our own unique ability, or gift to share.
To pause and consider one another with veneration, bringing into the light that each of us is a strand in a network that supports the whole reflects a healthy community IQ.
Congratulations and thank you.
I too have ability. KJ_sb
LilaK
4 months ago
108 comments
A beautiful, striking piece of writing and reflection, Erin. As the mother of a little boy with a physical disability, this really resounded with me. I applaud you for seeing what could be an impediment instead as something that has only made you stronger, more well-rounded, and interesting. Congratulations!