Not even the most accepted language in recruitment carries negative connotations and continues to reinforce societal norms.
Disclosure is often used in the context of disclosing a disability. Disclosure is associated with revealing a secret and therefore can bring the feeling that disability should be a secret and something to be hidden.
There are other words with similar acceptance for widespread use but have negative sentiment, another example would be accommodations.
I am disabled and I must admit I hadn't consciously registered the meaning behind words, but I have felt the negative sentiment on many occasions.
The language we choose to use sends powerful messages, with great power comes great responsibility. Our responsibility is to have conversations, learn about each other's perspectives and adjust accordingly.
Take, for example, a word that is commonly used in the recruitment process for disabled candidates – “disclosure,” principally the disclosing of one’s disability. Given its association with secrets and revelations, “disclosure” is hardly an apt term to reflect the proud assertion of one’s identity. At best, this use implies a necessity to confirm that one is different when contrasted with accepted societal norms.
unknownx500
