How to Explain a Disability in a Cover Letter
When and how you disclose a disability to a potential employer is up to you. Your main options are mentioning this in your resume, cover letter, or during an interview. Using your cover letter may work to your advantage, as some employers hire those who are disabled to meet a contract that requires hiring disabled, according to the Job Accommodation Network, so it will be helpful to inform an employer in advance, since it may spark an interest in you. If you choose to use your cover letter as your way of informing your potential employers of a disability, you can refer to the following guidelines.
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Instructions
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Start your cover letter as you would normally, opening with a paragraph about your interest in the job and your goals.
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Introduce your disability in the second paragraph, along with your experience and skills, explaining your specific strengths as a result of, and limitations due to, this disability.
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Explain how you will perform the basic functions of the job, despite a disability.
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Submit your cover letter with your resume.
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Tips & Warnings
You may want to staple your cover letter to the back of your resume, so your potential employer will read about your experience and abilities before learning about your disability, according to the University of Delaware Career Services Center.
ProvenResumes.com suggests that you do not open your cover letter by describing your disability.
