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Tayo & Orla

Getting Help With Stammering At University & College

Read about the support available in further or higher education if you stammer, and how to get it.

When going to college or university, the prospect of having to speak on your course can be a major worry. It's usual to take part in discussions during tutorials, ask questions and give opinions. You might be asked to do a presentation, or the dreaded 'let's go round and introduce ourselves' thing.

The good news is that you can get help to make things easier and less stressful.

Reach out to the university/college

If you're willing to tell the college or university about your stammer, they can support you. If you talk to them early enough, support can be put in place before you start your course.

Reach out to Student Support Services. Or they might have a Disability Service or Student Wellbeing Service. These are there to make sure changes are put in place to support you. 

You might feel weird about going to the Disability Service if you don't see stammering as a disability. But if it affects your life at college or university, you're still entitled to support.

Chat with them in person or download and fill out our template letter below to make first contact. Or you could talk to your personal tutor and show them our Guide For University Staff. 

Explain to them how stammering affects you. Then ask them to make 'reasonable adjustments' (see below) to help you make the most of your course. 

I wish I'd spoken with the Student Support Service earlier, as it could have saved me a lot of worrying.

Read Kyle's story.

Getting 'Reasonable adjustments'

You're entitled to support thanks to a piece of law called the Equality Act. Or the Disability Discrimination Act if you're in Northern Ireland. These are there to make sure you aren't at a disadvantage because of your stammer. The Acts mean that universities are obliged to make 'reasonable adjustments' for you. These are changes or adaptations to how things are done to accommodate your stammer.

Below are some examples of reasonable adjustments you can ask for. For more ideas, download our 'Reasonable adjustments for students' guide further down.

Making introductions

Lots of people who stammer find it hard to say their name. If you're worried about this, you could ask for reasonable adjustments to:

  • get the tutor to make the introductions for everyone
  • wear name tags in first sessions
  • let you choose the order in which you want to introduce yourself 
  • pair up and introduce the other person instead of yourself. 

Tutorials, seminars & lectures

You may fear speaking in front of a large group. Or you might be reluctant to contribute or read out your work. You could ask for reasonable adjustments to:

  • agree with your tutor on the best way for you to contribute
  • give you the option of asking someone else to read out your work
  • work in pairs or small groups instead
  • use software where people can type questions.

Presentations

Doing presentations in front of a group might be especially difficult. If so, you could ask for reasonable adjustments to:

  • video your presentation beforehand instead of doing it live
  • let you co-present with someone else
  • read from a written script, if you'd prefer
  • give you extra time (if it's being timed)
  • let you practise in front of a smaller group beforehand
  • give presentations in a less formal way. Eg sitting around a table instead of standing in front of a group
  • adapt the format to include written elements
  • arrange to submit a written or visual piece of work instead
  • let you use an app to help with stammering or an electronic fluency device. (See Apps & Devices). You might be able to get funding for this. See 'Getting Funding Support' below.

One thing which has helped is requesting reasonable adjustments. I was allowed to record presentations, so I had plenty of time to practise it in my own time.

(Keelan, via Facebook)

Oral exams

You may be put at a disadvantage if oral exams are judged on being clear and concise. You could ask for reasonable adjustments to:

  • give you extra time
  • incorporate a written element into the format
  • let you use an app to help with stammering or an electronic fluency device. (See Apps & Devices). You might be able to get funding for this. See 'Getting Funding Support' below.
  • give examiners information about stammering before the exam.

Other reasonable adjustments

You could get other types of adjustments such as:

  • having a support worker in the room, if appropriate. They can support you with any spoken elements
  • a review of the college or uni's assessment criteria. If it gives marks for 'fluency', this could be replaced with 'effective communication'. It should instead focus on your ability to convey thoughts and ideas logically. Not being fluent doesn't mean you aren't an effective communicator. 

Medical evidence

Your college or university might ask you to provide medical evidence that you stammer. Here are some options:

  • You could ask your GP to provide a letter — they may charge for this (around £30).
  • Or contact your local NHS speech & language therapy department. Ask for an assessment — they should be able to provide a letter at no charge. See Adult therapy & courses for details of how to contact your local service. 

The letter needs to confirm that you stammer and describe the impact it has on your uni or college life. Check with Student Support Services what they need from you. 

Getting funding support

You might be able to get funding for things that could help you. This is through Disabled Students' Allowances (DSAs). For example, you might be able to get DSA funding for: 

  • going on a stammering course or attending private speech & language therapy sessions
  • going on a course to develop public speaking skills
  • an electronic fluency device, if you know this is something that would help you. (See Apps & Devices.)

These costs could be covered by your college or university under the Equality Act. They would receive this from the Education and Skills Funding Agency. It's usually called Learning Support.

Applying for funding for these will depend if you're in further or higher education. See below for more:

Further education

Learning support should be available from your college. See Student Services or the Disability Service. Or your training provider, if you're on a traineeship or apprenticeship. You can also apply for Access to Work towards extra work-related costs. For more information, see gov.uk's Access to Work page.

Higher education

Contact the Disability Service, or Student Support Services, to ask about DSAs. In England, you can apply online for DSAs when making your university application. You can also download the form from the Student Finance section on gov.uk. You can apply before you have a confirmed place at a college or university.

Read more about Disabled Students' Allowances at gov.uk.

Disability Rights UK has a range of factsheets on their website all about the law and the benefits you could get. Or phone their Student Helpline on 0330 995 0414 or email students@disabilityrightsuk.org  

Bullying

Any type of bullying is unacceptable. All colleges and universities have a zero tolerance policy towards this. Report any bullying immediately to someone you trust so that action can be taken.

Contact us

If you want to discuss anything, get support or just chat, get in touch.

Links & resources

More support at uni

Disability Rights UK

Disability Rights UK provides free information and advice to disabled students, their parents, carers and key advisers about opportunities in 16+ education and training. This includes apprenticeships. Phone their Student Helpline on 0330 995 0414 or email students@disabilityrightsuk.org 

Stammering support

Resources

Depressed or in crisis?

If you're feeling worried, anxious or depressed, you're not alone and there's help available. Sometimes things can get so overwhelming that it can all seem black. It needn't be like that. 

If you reach a point where your feelings boil over, there are people out there who will listen, confidentially and anonymously. Many of the helplines have the facility for webchat or email, so you won’t even need to talk.

Student Minds run peer support groups for students experiencing mental health difficulties. Get access to a supportive environment where you can talk about university and keeping life on track.

The Mix: The UK's leading support service for young people. There for any challenge – mental health, money, finding a job, break-ups, drugs and more. Free, confidential, anonymous. Talk to them online or call 0808 808 4994, open daily, 4pm to 11pm.  

CALM: The Campaign Against Living Miserably, for men and boys hitting crisis or feeling down.  Confidential, anonymous, free. Phone: 0800 58 58 58 (daily, 5pm to midnight) or use webchat at thecalmzone.net

Samaritans: You can talk to someone, any time of the day or night and they'll listen, on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org

What next?

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Tayo & Bhupinder
A speaker on stage at STAMMAFest 2023

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