Based on your experience and your knowledge of the literature, discuss the advantages and disadvantages of a student disclosing a disability to th...

Whenever the word 'disability' is brought up, I am sure most people will conjure up an image of a person sitting in a wheelchair in the first place . Besides physical disabilities, students have a right to disclose any minor and invisible disabilities such as dyslexia, diabetes and epilepsy to the university if they feel they require education related adjustments to enable them to undertake the tasks associated with study. Moreover, a disclosure may create an opportunity for educating others about disability and its impact to avoid misunderstanding and labelling by others. However, disabled students are likely to encounter discrimination and be excluded from certain activities after disclosing a disability. On top of that, not every university is able to provide enough resources to fulfill the needs of disabled students, if so, what difference does a disclosure make?

As 'disability' is the main theme of this essay, I would have to define such term before moving on to explain the dilemma of disclosing a disability to the university. A disability can be either a mental or physical impairment which has an adverse effect on one's ability to carry out normal daily activities which has lasted for at least 12 months . Therefore impairments such as dyslexia, diabetes and epilepsy are treated as a disability. If I take dyslexia as an example, without doubt it can be improved through academic training, however it can never be cured therefore it remains an example of disability.

The dilemma of disclosing a disability to the university normally takes place before students submitting their degree application. The following questions will be considered by students before disclosure. 'Do I need to disclose my disability', 'when and how do I...

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...r to their arrival are entitled to the advantage of having special arrangements with the university. Timetable and location can be arranged in advance and appropriate Disability Service will be provided by the university. Disabled students may also be in the position of having extra working time in examinations to compensate their disabilities. On the other hand, disabled students would not be able to enjoy such advantages without a disclosure to universities. However some students with minor disabilities choose not to disclose because of the fear of discrimination and being excluded from social activities. I hold the opinion that disabled students should disclose their disabilities to the university if they feel they require extra help despite any disadvantage that it may conduct. However disclosure of disability remains a personal decision and a debatable notion.