25 years of Stammeringlaw

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This autumn, the hugely informative website on British disability discrimination law and stammering, turns 25.

For the past quarter of a century, stammeringlaw.org.uk has been setting out the rights of people who stammer under the Equality Act 2010, previously the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995.

The website interprets the law covering areas such as employment, education and services, and is also a resource for businesses and other organisations who come into contact with people who stammer and are looking to make reasonable adjustments.

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Allan

Established in autumn 1999, Stammeringlaw is the brainchild of STAMMA Member and former solicitor Allan Tyrer, who worked with us when we were the British Stammering Association (BSA), as Webmaster and Editor.

Of its conception, Allan says on his website, "We had the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 but so far as I knew no one had really looked at how it applied to stammering, and indeed whether it did. So I thought I would combine my legal background with my personal knowledge of stammering (including both me and my partner having a stammer) to find some answers. I was also interested in creating a website on something or other, and this seemed a good topic".

Achievements

Since it began, Stammeringlaw has chronicled the development of disability discrimination law in Britain, including rulings from the latest cases related to stammering, and its information has helped people to bring their own claims.

Allan says, "It's good that people sometimes get in touch to let me know the site has been helpful — not just people who stammer but those claiming discrimination in respect of other disabilities. I'd also hope the site raises the profile of stammering as regards disability discrimination. I'm quite proud too that it tackles some legal issues (not specific to stammering) that I've barely seen discussed elsewhere". 

Allan's expertise and influence goes beyond his website. For example, BSA submitted consultation responses based on drafts he'd prepared, that led to the inclusion of an example on stammering in the 'statutory' (though non-binding) guidance on what is a disability under the DDA/Equality Act. More recently, with STAMMA, he played a part in stammering now appearing in the Equal Treatment Bench Book guidance for judges.

Read more about the history of Stammeringlaw. Make sure to visit the site if you have any questions about discrimination law relating to stammering. Also, do contact our STAMMA Advocacy Service if you think you've been discriminated against due to stammering.