News  Disability and employment: Frequently asked questions

The Massachusetts Office on Disability’s (MOD’s) Disability and Employment FAQs video series answers 4 of your most frequently asked questions about disability and employment:

1. When do I have to tell my employer that I have a disability?
2. What is a reasonable accommodation (RA)?
3. How do I request a reasonable accommodation (RA) at work?
4. When can my employer legally deny my reasonable accommodation (RA) request?

Here are four key points from the series:

1. Disclosure is a personal decision. It's your choice whether, when, and how to disclose your disability at work. You only have to disclose that you have a disability if you’re facing an obstacle at work related to your disability and are requesting a reasonable accommodation.
2. You have the right to ask for a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job, interview for a job, do the essential functions of your job, or enjoy the benefits and privileges of employment, like a staff retreat or work sponsored event.
3. Focus on your functional limitations when you make a reasonable accommodation request. Your request should clearly show the link between your functional limitations (how your disability is negatively impacting you at work) and the need for the accommodation. You do not have to disclose your specific diagnosis.
4. Your employer can legally deny your reasonable accommodation request in some circumstances. It's important to include specific relevant information and be careful about how you word your request.