Disability Disclosure

The act of revealing information about one's disability to others, whether voluntarily or through necessity. Disclosure decisions are complex, involving considerations of privacy, safety, accommodation needs, social acceptance, and legal protections. People with invisible disabilities face particular challenges around disclosure, weighing the benefits of receiving accommodations against risks of stigma, discrimination, or changed social dynamics. Disclosure may be selective (telling some people but not others) and contextual (sharing in medical settings but not at work). Use of assistive technology often constitutes an implicit form of disclosure.