title: Disclosure, accommodations and self-care at work among adolescents with disabilities.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study is to explore whether adolescents with disabilities disclose their condition and what types of accommodations are requested at work.
  
  
  METHODS
  In-depth, qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 adolescents with a physical and/or mobility-related disability. We also reviewed their self- and staff assessments completed throughout an employment training program in which they took part.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The findings show that most youth were able to disclose their conditions and recognize some of their limitations in performing tasks at work. Youth requested physical accommodations, more time to complete tasks and cognitive accommodations. Youth also performed several self-care tasks to manage their disability at work including personal care, pain management and fatigue.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Within the context of this employment training program, youth were able to disclose their condition to their employer, ask for accommodations and manage their disability in the workplace.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Educators and clinicians should: Assist youth in understanding whether, when and how to disclose their disability to their potential employer. Help youth to understand what accommodations are available to them in the workplace and how to access them, to help them to perform their job effectively. Coach youth on how to manage their disability in a work context, especially with regard to personal care, pain management and fatigue. Encourage and facilitate participation in experience-based opportunities to practice disclosure, requesting accommodations and self-management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto , Toronto, ON , Canada .
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lindsay
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McDougall
authors.forename: Robyn
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sanford
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002170:Canada; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012648:Self Care; D012650:Self Disclosure; D014505:Urban Population; D017132:Workplace