Discussing disability with your supervisor 

Opening the Dialogue: Discussing Your Disability with Your PhD Supervisor 

Discussion Prompt Questions:

1. How comfortable do you feel discussing your disability with your PhD supervisor? What factors contribute to this feeling?

2. What are some strategies you’ve found helpful for initiating the conversation about your disability with your supervisor?

3. How do you balance the need for disclosure with concerns about being treated differently or unfairly?

4. What role do you believe supervisors should play in creating a supportive environment for discussing disabilities?

5. How can supervisors better prepare themselves to handle conversations about disability in a respectful and productive way?

6. What challenges have you encountered when discussing your disability with your supervisor, and how did you address them?

7. How does the dynamic between you and your supervisor change after disclosure, if at all? How do you manage these changes?

8. What resources or support systems helped you feel more confident in discussing your disability with your supervisor?

9. How can supervisors foster an ongoing dialogue about reasonable adjustments, rather than treating it as a one-time conversation?

10. What advice would you give to other disabled PGRs who are hesitant to discuss their disability with their supervisors?