I've often heard that I should tell my employers that I'm ADD so that they will be aware of my condition.
There have been jobs where they thought I was stupid and daydreaming because I did'nt tell.
There have also been jobs where I've been open and honest about it and been turned into the company "Let's blame it all on her,she's a retard".

So how do I go about this?
It would be nice if I could tell people I have a disability without them blaming their mistakes on me.
I've tried to function in silence but either way I'm still a flake in someones eyes.

The only people you really, truly need to tell are the HR people and your boss, if you choose to tell. If they are real professionals, they'll keep it confidential.

This arrangement also allows you to request accomodations to make things easier on you, if you choose.

Mental disabilities are tough to deal with in more ways than one. Nobody expects a person who is permanently in a wheelchair to be able to climb stairs, and noone blames them for it. With mental conditions, the perception is that you can "just do it." People don't understand thatis the definition of a mental disability -- you can't "just do it."

I think what I'd do is make sure HR and your direct superiors are all informed, and share the information with only those other people you trust.

For myself, I don't really care who thinks I'm a flake. :) So, it doesn't matter as much to me.

For myself, I don't really care who thinks I'm a flake. :) So, it doesn't matter as much to me.

Working this one backwards I am in total agreement with Exeter on this as I dont care either who thinks what of me.


Regarding the employer when I told my supervisor and the boss I also trained them to focus on my extreme extra abilitys and to take advantage of them and not to get upset about my disabilitys.

So far it is working for all of us

I had a similiar problem, what you do is, along with saying you have ADD, tell them how they can make you more productive. For example, I request that I don't answer the phones, for it distracts me. And they did that. Understand there are things that you really have to watch out for if you are ADD, for example Internet or email. I restricted myself to the internet during my lunch only. For I had almost an OCD thing with checking my posts on different boards and not doing my job, this upset my Boss so we came up with that at lunch I can go on and they won't bother me during my lunch. :) If you bring to the table suggestions to improve your performance, they won't look at your ADD as a liability, especially if you show them the speed you work at or the problem solving you do. What ever is your talent. :)