A question.

We attend a vocational institution for an apprenticeship that receives funding from the United States government. We did rather well in our first year of this five year electrical program, but this scholastic year we are lacking, due to hospital stays and issues regarding our diagnoses. In Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1965 (I believe), it mentions that reasonable accomadations shall be made in the case of a disability, and beyond that, no discrimination based on disability can occur. We have missed quite a lot of work and school because of issues regarding diagnoses. Some Inside believe it is in our best interest to make good on this Act, and perhaps tell the apprenticeship board a very broad explanation of what is occuring, so as to not lose our place in either the afore-mentioned apprenticeship, or the union.

My question is this: Do these diabilities include those of a psychiatric nature? And is it best to tell the apprenticeship board, or to try and continue keeping all of this secretive? My worry is that apprentices, such as myself, are tested and interviewed prior to acceptance into the program. It is a rigorous and highly selective program, with thousands (literally) on a waiting list. Therefore, because of these facts, I am worried that they may find a reason to dismiss us from the program.