Voluntary ADA question on applications

I have applied for a couple of jobs at local state universities and on the applications is a page to volunteer information about my disability status as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act. It lists all of my "disabilities" under the status lists.
So far, I have chosen to check the box that says I will not disclose, even though the reason the application gives is that the state agencies must hire a certain number of people with disabilities. I wonder if my chances truly would be better if I disclosed, or if I would be flagged in the entire state as someone to avoid hiring.
Has anyone had any experience with this type of question, or any experience of using the ADA as a defense when your employer is treating you unfairly due to your condition? The situations at work that I put up with currently is what leads me to search out other jobs; however, I think there is very little chance that I would have in getting another position due to the fact that I don't believe I would receive a good recommendation from my principal-all because of the trauma that she has created in my life over the past three years.
I am trying to get out before I end up in the hospital again. I can't let this job be the death of me!
Bluemountains

I personally would not disclose. As you know I fully understand the feeling of a job killing you! I’m counting down the months till the end of the school year!

Yes, I know you're stuck like me.
The latest in my principal's bag of tricks is to have "help" in my room and then have this person take out a timer or writes down notes while I am teaching. And how will this boost my level of performance?!? Yes, paranoia gets me, but these are real actions, and every detail is reported back to the principal. If I didn't have to pay college bills for the next four years, I would be out of there and finding some type of hourly work, but this is it for now, and you're right disclosure can't be a good thing.

I think it possibly can get you a job. But there still is no guarantee. Maybe they have already met their quota. I do not know how this specifically works. However, I think at a later time it can hurt you. So I do not think you should disclose. You can always make that decision again when you think it is beneficial to you for disclosing to your boss. Or not.

I would not disclose... keep focusing on finding something that suits you better.

Sorry you even have to ponder this situation

Omg that’s horrible! That’s like a permanent evaluator in your room! I would be sick with anxiety every single day!

Disclosing is a hard question. I would not disclose unless you have a need for a reasonable accommodation under the ADA. To answer your question, I have a current lawsuit pending against a former employer because I had disclosed my disability (I have a service dog and had to disclose to request a reasonable accommodation to have him at work), and I was discriminated against and fired from my position because of my disability. It was clear, blatant, and I have hard evidence showing it was the case.

I would not disclose unless you need a reasonable accommodation under the ADA to complete your job. I hate to say that, but it's just true, especially with mental health disabilities, that employers blatantly and flagrantly discriminate.

Seesaw

In listening to all of you and thinking about it, I realize it would be a really dumb thing to do. Last year I consulted with a lawyer just to try to get a different placement in order to get away from my current principal, and even with all of the crazy things that had happened, I was told that it would be my word against hers, so it probably would not happen and cause me more trouble in the long run-so much for accommodations! She did back off some after I came back from my last hospital stay. I know officially HR isn't supposed to tell your immediate supervisor any information under the family medical leave act and that might not have happened, but there is one teacher who knows my diagnosis because her father and I see some of the same providers, and juicy news travels fast. I found out recently that the principal had questioned her about how I was doing at that time, so I think she got tricked into sharing some things about me.
All of this is why I need to get out. Once they know your diagnosis, there is no peace!
Bluemountains

I used ADA accommodations in school and it was constantly used against me. I no longer ask for accommodations for anything and am doing fine. I have to admit without ADA accommodations I would not have been able to finish professional school though. However, I believe I would have rather flunked out instead because in the end I quit the field due to my illness. ADA accommodations only go so far. And, nobody wants to hire people with ADA accommodations unless they really have to do so.

I asked a similar question here when going through the same situation a while back and I decided to go with the "I have no disability" option. Lying? Yes, but I need a job where my boss knows I can handle things and I just feel like saying I dont want to disclose is essentially a "yes, but I dont want you to know about it."

I tend to disclose to my work only when necessary. For a while the police were disclosing my Mental Health Act apprehension so I did let my prospective employer know about my bipolar. I was moderating here at the time, as well as leading the bipolar chat, so I was able to discuss that in my interview. I work in mental health care, so I could play off my personal experiences as an asset. All that being said, i only disclosed because I knew it was on my Police Information Check.

I have checked that I do not wish to disclose on two applications, now I wish I had checked the no disability box! Oh well, if there is no interest I can only wonder.

I chose "I do not wish to disclose" on my application for my current job. It's no biggie. It made no difference to me because I got the job anyway. Besides, if absolute worst comes to worst, it gives you the opportunity to "come out" if you desperately need to. I haven't come out and I don't think I ever will, but I guess if I'm on the path to getting fired, I'd come out as a last resort to saving my @ss. I mean, if I don't come out, then there's a 100% chance I'll get fired, but if I do come out, there's a 50-50 chance I'll get to stay.