I now have been looking for work for over a couple of months but before I started looking, the question I had in my thoughts was wher\ther or not to tell my employer I'm schizophrenic. In my mind, I thought it would be the right thing to do. I mean they are going to find out when I need to apply for insurance, aren't they? I sure do want them to know how to help me in the case of a relapse. I myself already have self-identified just by making this blog as well as being open about it to everyone I know and Facebook.
Come to find out, most employers now do ask you to self-identify. They plainly ask you just right after asking you if you have received food stamps, what race you are, and whether or not if your a protected veteran. There is a part where they ask you to disclose whether or not you have a disability. they then give a bunch of examples of what a disability is considered and low and behold Schizophrenia is on there. I then have to check the box that I in fact do have a disability and hope it doesn't lessen my chances of being interviewed or hired. Now not everyone asks but I'm finding more corporations do. I did though apply for Allan Hancock College and they asked as well. Now if I'm in denial and don't claim that I am what then happens when you try to get health insurance with them?. See there that's the thing. So like a good girl I checked yes I do have a disability. Now Social Security has denied me twice now and is still in an appeal where have I will probably have to go to trial. I'm going to explain this to the judge especially if I haven't been hired yet. See they think I'm capable of working but what if it's stacked up against you and you don't get a chance because maybe the company will consider you a liability. These are the things I think about and will have to be discussed when I go to trial. My hope is that I'm given a fair chance because of my experience and at least get an interview. I have had a couple of interviews now and during it they did not ask me any questions regarding my disability. So maybe it's just for Human Resources information. Who knows really. I'm just wishing for the best in my job search and to you as well.
Funny that I wrote this because I was just talking about it to my cousin and she sent this article to me.
I do have to agree with it but I don't think the people who wrote it have been looking for a job online lately. It plainly asks you and I suppose you could deny but yet again what happens when you want to get insurance. I have never been asked during the interview process and if I was I would be open and honest. I honestly don't think I ever will be either just like they don't question your race when you put down what it is. There is stigma and probably always will be, I just hope that we can only get better.
