SELF-ADVOCACY AND DISCLOSING YOUR DISABILITY ON PLACEMENT
If you have provisions for disability related adjustments in your EIP that cover your clinical placement or practicum, you will need to make the placement coordinator and LIC aware of this. You may choose to make a time to speak with them in person and provide a copy of your
EIP or contact them via email and attach a copy of your EIP.
Remember: The disability adviser will not distribute your EIP or relevant information on your behalf. This is your responsibility and where your self-advocacy begins.
The placement coordinator will do their best to accommodate your requirements when arranging your placement; however they will not disclose information about your disability to the placement organization. This is held in confidence. Hopefully, with the recommended adjustments in place, you will have a smooth and successful placement.
However, on occasion circumstances may arise where the student may be faced with the question of whether to disclose information about their disability. If a student chooses to do so here are some important points to consider:
What should I disclose?
Students should do some preparation prior to disclosing their disability. It is vital that the information is communicated in a concise and professional manner. Often you do not need to disclose detailed or personal information, but only that which is relevant to the placement or practicum.
It may be helpful to break the information down into the following points:
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What is my disability or simply the impact(s) of my disability?
Why am I choosing to disclose this now?
What work related adjustments would I find helpful?
Some examples of how these adjustments have assisted me to succeed in the past?
To Whom Should I disclose?
It is important for students to identify the right person to disclose to. The most appropriate person to disclose to will be your direct supervisor. If you do not feel comfortable disclosing to your supervisor you may need to contact your placement coordinator at ACU to identify an alternate contact or to obtain assistance with this.

What to do next?
Once you have identified what information you feel is appropriate to disclose and who you will disclose to, try to make a formal time to discuss this. This will allow you to communicate all the relevant information and ensure there will be minimal interruptions as you convey this important information.
Some conversation starters include:
“Hi … (supervisor’s name)… I am really enjoying the placement, thank you for supervising me. I was hoping we could make a time to discuss how it is going so far and how I could improve my participation and learning. When would be a suitable time for you?”
OR
“Hi …(supervisor’s name)...Some things have come up for me on placement and I am concerned they may affect my performance. I’d really appreciate some time to meet with you and talk about some strategies to help me get the most out of the experience. When would be good for you?”
Once you have made a time you can then use the previous points under “what should I disclose” to discuss your needs. Here is an example of a student on a social work placement disclosing information about a back condition to their supervisor:
“Thanks for meeting with me. I wanted to let you know I have a back condition. Normally it is well managed and I did not think it would affect me on placement. However, as I am spending more time at my desk than I anticipated, I can feel it flaring up. I don’t want to miss a day of placement so I was wondering if there might be an ergonomic chair available for me to use. If not I have an exercise ball that I use at home and I will bring that in to the office if that’s okay? I find this is really helpful and as long as I get up and move around every 20 minutes I shouldn’t have any more problems.”
In this example you will notice that the student has offered solutions and strategies on how to manage their disability in the workplace. The student is taking ownership of their needs and is an “expert” on their disability and what they need to succeed. Remember that your placement is not only a learning tool; it is also a great opportunity to practice how you will manage your disability in the workplace once you have graduated. Practicing the skill of self- advocacy now will stand you in good stead for a long and happy career!