Sitting in a job interview waiting room, you might wonder whether to mention your ostomy. It's a personal decision, and there isn't one right answer. Here's what you need to know.

What the Law Says

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in the USA and the Accessible Canada Act (ACA) in Canada, you are not required to disclose your ostomy during the interview process. Employers legally cannot ask you about it.

They can ask if you can perform the essential functions of the job, but they cannot ask about medical conditions or disabilities during interviews.

My Experience with Disclosure

I have been in a job interview since getting my ostomy, and luckily, it was virtual, so I wasn't too worried about mentioning it. I felt like it was a clean slate to start at a company that didn't know about my previous health challenges. I didn't feel it necessary to disclose that I had an ostomy because it wouldn't impact my job position in any way.

I have had other challenges in the past with my medical condition, so normally, what I would do is I would have the interview, and once I was hired, I mentioned that I do have to get IV medication every month or two. My employer at the time was fairly supportive of that. I did run into challenges with other accommodations I was asking about, but for the most part, I made my disclosure decision after I was hired because I felt more comfortable.

Moving forward with my ostomy, I would only bring it up if I thought it was necessary for accommodations to do the work to the best of my ability. Most of the time, it's honestly just something that I live with, so it's very easy to get by and just go about my day-to-day when I'm working.

How My Anxiety Has Changed

I think my anxiety has definitely lessened since it's been almost five years now since I got my ostomy, so it just feels like a way of life. If I were to disclose in an interview, I would just say that I do have an invisible disability and it doesn't impact my work. I'm able to do all my tasks, but I wanted to mention that in case there are any appointments or other checkups I need to get. That's all I would say. I don't think I would go into detail about other things.

Being an Advocate

I kind of like being an advocate for people with diseases, illnesses, or disabilities. One of the things I did to kind of feel like I was giving back at my previous company was joining the accessibility committee. I felt like I was sharing my perspective and helping others ensure that our facilities and the company as a whole were inclusive. That was one thing I did to help myself know that I was being an advocate for that.

I think certain words that I use, I just want to feel empowered and make sure that it's known that it isn't a bad thing in any way. We are still able to work and still able to do things, even though it is an invisible disability.

You're Also Interviewing the Company

I think when you go to an interview, you are also interviewing the company. It says a lot when you do disclose or say something like this, when you can see the company or the hiring manager's reaction. That will tell you a lot about how this company presents itself. If they're inclusive, if this disclosure even phases them. I think that says a lot about the company that you want to work for, and you want to be respected and valued. That's a very good indicator of whether you want to work there.

My Advice

If a young person with an ostomy asked me, should I tell the employer during the interview? I would say you should do whatever works for you. I think the important thing to consider is that if your ostomy does not impede any of the work tasks that you would have to be doing for this job position, then you wouldn't have to mention it.

But if you are worried about something small that would limit you, you might want to mention it. You don't have to go into too much detail; just gauge it and see how you feel.

The most important thing is to choose the approach that feels right and comfortable for you. There's no wrong answer, just what works best for your situation and career goals.