Studying or Working?
Navigate stuttering challenges in your studies or career with our supportNavigating study or work environments as someone who stutters can present unique challenges, but we’re here to support you every step of the way. Find resources and tips to help you thrive in your academic journey or career no matter the context.
Entitlements you may not know about
Did you know that you have the right to request ‘reasonable accommodations’ at your workplace or place of study? These accommodations are designed to support you, making you feel more comfortable, included, and helping you perform at your best. They’re there to ensure you have the opportunity to achieve your highest potential.
According to the Human Rights Act 1993, employers must provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. Whether you view stuttering as a disability or not, you are entitled to these accommodations.
Ki te Kotahi te kākaho te whati, ki te kāpuia, e kore e whati
When a reed stands alone it can easily break, but when bound together it is unbreakable
Studying
Your stutter doesn’t need to get in the way of studying and getting the grades you deserve. If you’re finding that that’s the case, or you’re feeling concerned about how your stutter may impact you while studying, let your place of study know. Many tertiary providers have support services available (look for disability or accessibility services on your tertiary provider’s website) to guide you through the process of accessing support.
Alternatively, talk directly with your tutor about how you can access help – you don’t need to identify as having a disability in order to do this. You may need to educate the staff on stuttering and how it impacts you – then together you can come up with some reasonable accommodations while studying.
These may include accommodations for
- Introductions
- In class Q & A and discussions
- Meetings
- Presentations and oral assessments
For more info on: Reasonable Accommodations while Studying
Let us know if you require documentation confirming that you are a person who stutters. You may need to make an appointment with one of our Speech Language Therapists – just let us know that you’re wanting an appointment in order to obtain documentation for tertiary study or for your workplace.
Working
There are many ways that your employer can support you at work – they just need to understand how! If you feel comfortable doing so, arrange a meeting with your employer or manager to discuss how they can better support you at work. You’re entitled to reasonable accommodations – they can make all the difference in helping you to feel more comfortable, heard and included at work.
Consider sharing some information about stuttering with your employer and how your stutter is impacting you at work, and direct them to our website to help them understand their role in providing these adjustments.
See our Employers page for more information on reasonable accommodations.
Molly’s story
“…after two interviews, here is what I found out: that I could actually turn my stutter into an answer for that dreaded “what is your greatest strength” question. I think that it makes me unique and is a point of difference between me and other candidates. This interviewer actually said that it showed that I was empathic and understanding of the different ways others chose to do things in the workplace. And after everything I had been through I thought, why shouldn’t I be able to use my stutter to my advantage? For my second interview, I actually declared my stutter in my job application in the disability/impairment disclosure. I didn’t even remember I had done it until I was at the end of the interview and I apologised for all the pauses and they said that they already knew”
Let’s chat!
If you want to have a kōrero with one of our team about support while studying or working, we’re here to help.
You’re not alone in this – our team is here to support you.