Should You Tell Your Boss About Your ADHD?

Legal and professional considerations for adults with ADD who are seeking ADHD accommodations at work.


Filed Under: ADHD and the Law, ADHD Accommodations, 504s, IEPs, Talking About ADD

Preventive Disclosure

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Preventive Disclosure

Some of my clients have used preventive disclosure when telling the boss about their condition. When setting up the meeting, ask if an ADHD coach may attend the meeting, to educate the boss about ADHD symptoms and to answer questions. I've found that preventive disclosure will increase the odds that your boss will see ADHD in a positive light.

One of my clients, an attorney, disclosed her ADHD, and then asked her boss if I could attend her performance review to answer questions about the condition. After our meeting, the boss agreed that she could move from a noisy cubicle to a smaller, quieter office, with a door, that was currently being used for storage. She had asked to use this space before, and her boss had denied her request. When I explained the causes and symptoms of ADD, the boss changed his mind and granted her the new office.

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This article comes from the Summer 2009 issue of ADDitude.

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