International Stammering Awareness Day 2025: A Diverse Stuttering Community Meeting Challenges with Strengths

October 22 is International Stammering Awareness Day (ISAD), and with this year’s theme being “A Diverse Stuttering Community: Meeting Challenges with Strengths”, we are encouraged to reflect on the individuality and resilience within the stammering community.

Embracing Diversity in the Stammering Experience

Stammering, also known as stuttering, affects people of all ages, backgrounds, and walks of life. No two individuals experience it in exactly the same way. For some, it may involve repetitions or difficulty getting speech out at all; for others, it may be more about the hidden aspects, such as avoiding certain words or speaking situations, and the impact this has on their self-esteem and participation. Environmental, linguistic, and social factors all play a role in shaping how stammering is experienced and perceived.

In the past, we turned to numbers in an attempt to understand and categorise stammers, assuming the goal would be for everyone to speak fluently all the time. However, our understanding has evolved to acknowledge that stammering is so much more than how many times a syllable or sound is repeated. It is far more insightful to consider the impact of a stammer on the individual by exploring their experience. In doing this, we have seen that regardless of the type or frequency of dysfluent speech and the way it may change over time, the experience of stammering is uniquely shaped by each individual’s background, personality, and environment. Recognising this diversity is essential. It allows us to better support individuals by acknowledging that their needs, goals, and strengths are unique, and that is something to be celebrated.

Facing Challenges with Strength and Self-Advocacy

People who stammer often face challenges not because of the stammer itself, but because of how society reacts to it. Misunderstanding, stigma, and lack of awareness can create barriers in education, employment, and everyday communication.

Yet within these challenges lie remarkable strengths. Many people who stammer develop exceptional listening skills, creativity in communication, persistence, empathy, and courage. These strengths are often built over years of navigating a world that does not always accommodate different ways of speaking.

As Speech and Language Therapists, we are offered the opportunity to empower individuals, children, young people, and adults to build confidence in their communication, embrace their identity, and advocate for themselves in a world that has historically valued fluency over authenticity.

Celebrating Successes as Told by Words First Therapists

Ahead of ISAD, we took time to reflect on the successes of the children and young people we support as Words First Speech and Language Therapists (SaLTs). One of our SaLTs, Claire Lekenne, shared a story about a child who, on initial meeting, mostly avoided conversing with friends or teachers as she felt ashamed of the way she spoke. After a couple of months of working together, which included taking ownership of her speech by giving personalised names to each type of dysfluency she experienced, this child felt confident enough to create and deliver a presentation to her class and has continued to educate her peers.

Tamlyn Laubscher, another one of our SaLTs, shared a similar story about a young person who initially presented with significant anxiety from her stammer, which kept her voice quiet and her confidence low. With steady support, she built a presentation, practised until the fear softened, and stood before her entire year group to deliver it. Later, she even read a poem aloud. Now, when she stammers, she pauses, breathes, and carries on. If someone laughs, she says, “That is about them, not me.” Her greatest success is not about fluent speech, but the power she has found in her voice.

Another Words First SaLT, Vhahashu Ramudzuli, shared a story about a child she recently worked with who went on to compete in a debate competition and came out victorious, winning two out of three rounds.

Vhahashu shared:

“This achievement was not overnight but a beautiful example of collaboration, preparation, and immense student courage. I worked closely with their teacher to ensure they had the tools, strategies, and support needed to thrive in such a high-pressure speaking environment. Additionally, I created a personalised information and guidance sheet for the debate panel, ensuring the student was understood, respected, and empowered throughout the competition.

This student truly reminded me why I do what I do. Communication is not about fluency; it is about connection, confidence, and courage. And this student embodied all three.”

Amplifying Voices and Raising Awareness

Awareness days like ISAD are vital opportunities to amplify the voices of those with lived experience. Whether it is a young person speaking up in school, an adult advocating in the workplace, or someone sharing their story online, each voice matters.

We encourage everyone to listen, learn, and make space for different communication styles. Inclusion starts with understanding that fluent speech is not the only measure of effective or valuable communication.

How Can You Support?

• Listen patiently without interrupting or finishing sentences.
• Educate yourself and others about what stammering is, and what it is not.
• Encourage open conversations about stammering in schools, workplaces, and communities.
• Promote self-advocacy by supporting individuals in expressing their communication needs.
• Celebrate achievements that go beyond speech fluency, recognising the resilience and skills developed through lived experience.

On this International Stammering Awareness Day, let us honour the strengths, identities, and contributions of everyone in the stammering community. Let us continue to build a world where all voices, fluent or not, are heard, respected, and valued.