Many disabilities stay hidden until an employer asks. HR should ask ADA and FMLA questions, while managers and coworkers need to create space for people to share their needs without broadcasting it. Focus on what people can do, not what they can't.
Now, for many disabilities, you won't know until you ask. So those of us in HR, we do know how to ask those questions for the ADA and FMLA. But what do our managers and coworkers say to each other? Let's create an open communication environment, a culture of inclusion where we focus on what people can do and not on what they can't. Let's ask employees about their own experiences and needs, but let's keep it confidential. Not everyone wants to share their disability with everyone.
