Disclosing means telling others that you have a disability or specific learning difficulty. At the College of North West London we will give you opportunities to disclose (for example when you apply for a course, or when speaking to your tutor), but you can disclose to whoever you want to, whenever you are ready to. It's your choice.

Reasons to disclose

• If College staff have a good understanding of your disability or difficulties, and any support needs that you have, it will enable to provide you with the best possible support. This may include applying for special arrangements in exams, offering you extra support in or out of class, adapting learning materials to support your needs, or any other adjustments that may make learning easier for you.
• If your employer or work placement provider is aware of your disability or difficulty they will be able to make sure that you are given the right support to learn new skills and carry out your job to the best of your abilities.
• Disclosure can happen on a 'need to know' basis - ie only people working directly with you may need to know.
• You can be sure information about you will not be passed on without your consent.
• You may find it difficult to succeed in your course or job without additional learning support.
• Course tutors and others can be very supportive and work with you to achieve your goals.
• You are protected by law against discrimination by tutors or employers under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) if you disclose your disability or difficulty.

Reasons not to disclose

• Disclosing information about your disability of difficulty can be extremely sensitive and not easy to do.
• You may feel that you will be discriminated against by tutors or employers.
• You may not want to discuss your disability or difficulty with a stranger.
• You may feel that your disability or difficulty has no direct affect on your ability to do your course or job.
• You may feel that other students or co-workers will tease, harass, or discriminate against you in other ways.
• You might think that if you tell one person everyone will find out about your disability or difficulty.
• You are not protected by law under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) if you do not disclose.

Remember - it's your choice