It can be. Under Canadian and Alberta human rights law, disability includes mental disabilities, and ADHD is treated as a disability when it affects how you function, for example at school or at work. That entitles you to reasonable accommodation. Government benefits such as the disability tax credit use a much stricter test, so an ADHD diagnosis does not automatically qualify you for them.
The Alberta Human Rights Act and the Canadian Human Rights Act both protect people with mental disabilities from discrimination in areas such as employment and services. Employers and schools have a duty to accommodate a disability up to the point of undue hardship.
For ADHD, accommodation might look like:
You do not have to disclose a diagnosis to an employer unless you are asking for accommodation. If you do ask, you will usually need to show a disability-related need, which is where a professional assessment and report come in.
Post-secondary accessibility offices and many employers ask for documentation from a qualified professional. A psychologist's assessment report describes how ADHD affects you and recommends specific accommodations, which is usually what those offices need. Some institutions only accept assessments completed within a certain number of years, so check their requirements before you book.
The disability tax credit is a federal tax credit for people with a severe and prolonged impairment. For ADHD, the relevant category is usually mental functions necessary for everyday life. To qualify, the impairment must markedly restrict you all or substantially all of the time and be expected to last at least 12 months.
Most people with ADHD will not meet that bar. Some do, particularly where ADHD is severe or occurs alongside other conditions. A psychologist or a medical doctor can complete the medical certification. An approved disability tax credit also opens the door to other programs, such as the Registered Disability Savings Plan.
Provincial disability income programs, such as Alberta's AISH, have strict medical and financial criteria of their own. Workplace disability insurance depends on your policy and on how your symptoms affect your ability to work. If you are considering any application, a current assessment is usually the first step.
No, although the two often occur together. ADHD affects attention, activity levels and impulse control, while learning disabilities affect specific skills such as reading, writing or math. A psychoeducational assessment can look at both at once.
For many people, it does. Recognizing ADHD as a disability is not a label on your abilities. It is what gives you the right to adjustments that let you show what you can actually do, and it moves the conversation with a school or employer from "try harder" to "what would help."
Our psychologists provide ADHD assessments and psychoeducational assessments in Calgary, Red Deer and Cold Lake, with reports that set out recommended accommodations. Call 1-888-622-8350 to talk about which assessment fits your situation.
We direct bill many insurers, including Alberta Blue Cross, Canada Life, Sun Life, Manulife and Greenshield, and can check your coverage before you book. See direct billing and insurance. This article is general information, not legal or tax advice.
Related reading: How to get diagnosed with ADHD in Alberta, Managing adult ADHD at work and Psychoeducational assessments at school.
