Stuttering and Employment

By Cathy Stout, Ninfa Martin

71% of the people surveyed at National Stuttering Association Conventions in 2000 and 2001 believed their stutter decreased chances of being hired.

Americans with Disabilities Act

1. Prohibits discrimination “against qualified individuals because of a disability, in regard to job application procedures, hiring, advancement, discharge, compensation, job training, and other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment.”

2. Disability

a. physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of such individual

b. record of such an impairment

c. being regarded as having such an impairment

i. Supreme Court states “society’s myths and fears about disability and disease are as handicapping as are the physical limitation that flow from actual impairments” –EEOC, II-10

In The Case Discrimination Occurs:

1. The victim should file a complaint with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or comparable state agency, usually within 180 days of alleged discriminatory act (EEOC, X-3).

a. Filing has no cost, and does not require a lawyer

b. If the charge is filed with designated state or local fair employment practices agency, it must be filed within 300 days of the discriminatory act

City of Columbus v. Liebhart, 86 Ohio App.3d 469, 621 N.E.2d 554 (1993): Stuttering may qualify as a disability entitling an individual to protection under anti-discrimination laws

Detko v. Blimpies Restaurant, 924 F.Supp. 555 (S.D.N.Y. 1996): The plaintiff must present facts showing that his stuttering comes under one of the statutory definitions of a "disability" as set forth in the ADA.

Job Interview Suggestions for Employers (Job Accomodation Network)

1. Be patient and listen. Do not complete words or sentences for the individual.

2. Be attentive in your mannerisms by maintaining conversational eye contact and focusing on the content of communication rather than the delivery of the communication.

3. Relax and communicate as you would normally.

4. If interview questions can be provided in advance, provide the questions to allow the individual time to prepare and deliver responses effectively.

5. Telephone interviews can be especially difficult for some people who stutter. Consider offering a personal interview as an alternative to a phone interview.

6. Become knowledgeable about stuttering.

Job Interview Suggestions for People who Stutter (Thomas Kehoe)

1. Talk about stuttering, hopefully make person feel more comfortable talking to you. Educate them about stuttering.

2. Say that you stutter and explain what you are doing to overcome stuttering. If in speech therapy, describe techniques or strategies trying to employ. If learned nonavoidance strategies in therapy, explain that although you stutter, you have overcome your fears of talking to strangers, etc. If using a fluency aid, briefly explain how aid works.

3. According to the ADA, the interviewer may not ask any pre-employment questions about the disability. If they do, bring a copy of the ADA and politely explain the ADA.

4. If asks about job skills, explain that you have excellent communication skills and give specific examples.

Stuttering and Employment

By Cathy Stout, Ninfa Martin

71% of the people surveyed at National Stuttering Association Conventions in 2000 and 2001 believed their stutter decreased chances of being hired.

Americans with Disabilities Act

1. Prohibits discrimination “against qualified individuals because of a disability, in regard to job application procedures, hiring, advancement, discharge, compensation, job training, and other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment.”

2. Disability

a. physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of such individual

b. record of such an impairment

c. being regarded as having such an impairment

i. Supreme Court states “society’s myths and fears about disability and disease are as handicapping as are the physical limitation that flow from actual impairments” –EEOC, II-10

In The Case Discrimination Occurs:

1. The victim should file a complaint with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or comparable state agency, usually within 180 days of alleged discriminatory act (EEOC, X-3).

a. Filing has no cost, and does not require a lawyer

b. If the charge is filed with designated state or local fair employment practices agency, it must be filed within 300 days of the discriminatory act

City of Columbus v. Liebhart, 86 Ohio App.3d 469, 621 N.E.2d 554 (1993): Stuttering may qualify as a disability entitling an individual to protection under anti-discrimination laws

Detko v. Blimpies Restaurant, 924 F.Supp. 555 (S.D.N.Y. 1996): The plaintiff must present facts showing that his stuttering comes under one of the statutory definitions of a "disability" as set forth in the ADA.

Job Interview Suggestions for Employers (Job Accomodation Network)

1. Be patient and listen. Do not complete words or sentences for the individual.

2. Be attentive in your mannerisms by maintaining conversational eye contact and focusing on the content of communication rather than the delivery of the communication.

3. Relax and communicate as you would normally.

4. If interview questions can be provided in advance, provide the questions to allow the individual time to prepare and deliver responses effectively.

5. Telephone interviews can be especially difficult for some people who stutter. Consider offering a personal interview as an alternative to a phone interview.

6. Become knowledgeable about stuttering.

Job Interview Suggestions for People who Stutter (Thomas Kehoe)

1. Talk about stuttering, hopefully make person feel more comfortable talking to you. Educate them about stuttering.

2. Say that you stutter and explain what you are doing to overcome stuttering. If in speech therapy, describe techniques or strategies trying to employ. If learned nonavoidance strategies in therapy, explain that although you stutter, you have overcome your fears of talking to strangers, etc. If using a fluency aid, briefly explain how aid works.

3. According to the ADA, the interviewer may not ask any pre-employment questions about the disability. If they do, bring a copy of the ADA and politely explain the ADA.

4. If asks about job skills, explain that you have excellent communication skills and give specific examples.