Mentioning disability in SOP?

[echostar]

Hey all, I was wondering if it would be appropriate to mention that I have ADHD in my statement of purpose. Not so much to explain away any less-than-stellar grades (I have a pretty good GPA in my major, so I'm not too concerned about that), but more in the context of how I was lead to my major and interest in my field because it was one of the only things in school I found interesting enough to be able to focus on, and how I used to be embarrassed about it but am now grateful that it's lead me to my academic interests and made me work very hard to be successful and live up to the high standards I set for myself. It's obviously a big part of my life and something that I'm going to be dealing with forever, so should I at least address it briefly in my SOP? Opinions? Anyone else experience something similar?

[ktel]

I think it would all depend on how you word it. For example, when you say "it was one of the only things in school I found interesting enough to be able to focus on", it makes you sound like you're unable to focus on other things, yet I know that's not what you mean to say. It could be worked into your SOP in a meaningful way, I would just be careful how you explain how it's affected you.

[runonsentence]

This thread may be of related interest, in a way, as it concerns personal background factoring into a SoP as well:

I'd say you're not totally off-base, since you want to discuss how it led you to your research interests and informs your work. My advice would be to focus on the "it affects my worldview and how I approach X and Y theories/texts" and not to focus so much on the overcoming-personal-adversity aspect of it.

[remenis]

Here is a thread you should look at in which they specifically discuss ADD/ADHD:

There are definite upsides and downsides to mentioning it. It can show what you've been overcoming and help explain you're background and interests but, it's not strictly relevant and as one of the posters in the thread linked above mentions, not everyone will consider it a positive aspect to your application.

Edited October 20, 2011 by remenis

[Bonkers]

I think it is fine to mention it but only within the frame of how being afflicted with ADHD has influenced your current research interests. I would avoid content along the lines of: "and how I used to be embarrassed about it but am now grateful that it's lead me to my academic interests and made me work very hard to be successful and live up to the high standards I set for myself." This is too sentimental and froofy. Relate it to your work. Avoid borderline self-helpish comments. Good luck!

[habanero]

Did your ADHD lead you to the topic you're interested in going to school for? For example, 'My ADHD..............now I want to study learning disabilities in college students...........my own experiences have given me a unique perspective on this............'