As far as a hook goes,
URM
First generation
Etc…
I was wondering is being deaf a hook? The fact that I’m deaf means that the school will have to accomadate me, so will that hurt my chances of being selected among peers? I know I bring diversity to the campus, but at the same time I’m forcing colleges to make sure I’m well accomadated to thrive in class.
A little dilemma here… Any answers would be great!
A ‘hook’ is something that a college has decided that they want more of. Some of the usual hooks (such as URM or First Generation) became a thing to address charges of ‘elitism’. Others (such as legacy and major donor) reflect financial objectives. Athletes for school pride (and donations). And so on.
So far, colleges have not shown a particular focus on recruiting students with physical (or mental health for that matter) challenges: most emphasis has been on lowering barriers to entry (driven by ADA rules as much as anything).
Until diversity of physical ability becomes a cultural expectation it is unlikely that colleges will see a physical limitation as a hook.
On the other hand, in the same way that your needs as a student are individual, your story as a student is individual. You would not be the first person to use a challenge that you have met and mastered to show colleges what you are made of- if that is the part of your story you want to focus on.