SAY: The Stuttering Association for the Young

At SAY, we believe that all children who stutter deserve to have a supportive community around them, where they will always have a voice. We also know that school can be a tough place for children who stutter. For some, the pressures may be self-imposed, and the child who stutters may go to great lengths to try to hide the fact that they stutter. For others, the pressure they experience may occur in the form of bullying and discrimination. They may encounter bullying and discrimination from their classmates, or even from teachers and other adults who work there.

Many people—students, teachers, and speech therapists—may be misinformed about stuttering. The most important way to support a child who stutters is to build community and educate others about stuttering.

For parents, you (or your child) should bring up stuttering with teachers and others who work with your child at school:

• Send an email
• Have a conversation with teachers or administration over the phone
• Schedule an in-person meeting with school staff
• Invite school staff to see a SAY performance to see a stutter-affirming environment in action!

Here are some things to include when educating others about stuttering:

• People who stutter just need a little extra time to speak. You don’t need to finish their words or help them when they are stuttering – you just need to listen.
• Stuttering is nobody’s fault. Stuttering happens because of subtle differences in the brain’s pathways during speech. It is not brain damage or injury; it’s a variation in the way that some people talk.
• Stuttering is variable. Stuttering changes over time and may be different from day to day, month to month, or even hour to hour! This can be confusing to some listeners (and frustrating for many people who stutter), but remember: this is very typical for people who stutter.
• Stuttering cannot be “cured.” While some young children may outgrow stuttering after 6 months to a year, there are other children who will persist into adulthood.  This is not because of anything they or their family did wrong.  Even though stuttering can’t be cured, receiving support from their loved ones, the stuttering support community, and/or a speech pathologist can help people who stutter make positive changes to how stuttering impacts their ability to confidently communicate.

Talk to your child to learn more about what they want others to know about themselves or stuttering. In addition to teachers, you can look to build community by speaking with speech therapists, social workers, guidance counselors, or coaches. Especially if your child has other learning needs or mental health challenges, getting help from any of these other individuals can make a big difference.

Even if your child is not yet ready to be the one to educate their teachers and school staff, include them in deciding what you say and consider having them there to watch you do it. By educating others about stuttering, you can help school staff better understand what your child is experiencing and how they can help.

Next Up:

Sometimes you may want a more formal plan of support for your child at school. In the next sections, we’ll cover some key options to help ensure the right accommodations are in place:

• Individualized Education Plans (IEPs): Tips for navigating the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) so families can advocate with clarity and confidence.
• 504 Plans: Practical tools for using 504 Plans and classroom accommodations to create inclusive, supportive learning environments.
• Building Resilience: Strategies that encourage confidence, self-advocacy, and a positive outlook in young people who stutter.

Reach out to us with any questions or concerns about stuttering and how to support children who stutter in any setting.

Email: info@SAY.org

Phone: 212-414-9696