Cases on stammering

A claimant who spoke fast, and may or may not have had cluttering or a stammer, was held not to have a disability within the Equality Act. Employment tribunal, June 2017. Full decision: gov.uk. The claimant had a speech disorder manifesting as fast speech. A speech and language therapist suggested it was perhaps ‘cluttering’ or … Read moreM v Mitie Aviation Security

The tribunal decided that the applicant’s speech impediment was a ‘physical impairment’ within the DDA. Since it undisputedly met the other requirements to be a ‘disability’, the applicant was a disabled person within the DDA. Employment Tribunal, Case No. S/105914/03, March 2004. The applicant had a speech impediment. This Tribunal decision was a preliminary determination … Read moreB v Servisair (UK) Ltd

Abuse and taunting in relation to a stammer were held to be unlawful discrimination. (Under the Equality Act 2010 this behaviour would be unlawful under different rules, as ‘harassment’.) Employment Tribunal, case no. 1808186/2001, April 2002. The claimant had a severe stammer. The employer accepted that he was ‘disabled’ as defined in the Disability Discrimination … Read moreB v John Edward Crowther Ltd

An existing employee applied for a job as a signalman. He failed a ‘competence-based interview’ as he did not provide enough examples and evidence of his competencies. The tribunal held that his stammer was a disability. However, it held there was no breach of the duty to make reasonable adjustments because the employer could not … Read moreS v Translink

An employment tribunal originally decided that a job candidate with a stammer should have been allowed to give written responses to interview questions, by way of reasonable adjustment. The Employment Appeal Tribunal reversed the tribunal decision, largely on the ground that some findings of fact by the tribunal could not be supported. Employment Appeal Tribunal … Read moreHM Land Registry v Wakefield, EAT decision

THIS EMPLOYMENT TRIBUNAL DECISION HAS BEEN REVERSED ON APPEAL, in the light of the evidence in the particular case. This page summarises the original Employment Tribunal decision – but it is important to look also at the appeal decision. The Employment Tribunal decided that a person with a stammering problem in interviews should have been … Read moreWakefield v HM Land Registry, Employment Tribunal decision

A lawyer with a stammer was turned down for a job. His DDA claim failed on the grounds that the stammer did not have a ‘substantial’ effect. It was acknowledged that all the other requirements for the stammer to be a disability were met. Employment Tribunal, Case no. S/401513/99, February 2000. Facts The applicant was … Read moreS v The Lord Advocate

The EAT considered a case where stuttering was one of the symptoms of a mental impairment. Employment Appeal Tribunal, 2006. Full judgment: bailii.org. The claimant was employed by an NHS Trust. In November 2002 she was suspended from work following an incident involving a patient. In March 2003, her GP noted her ‘low mood’ but … Read moreHeatherwood & Wrexham Park Hospitals Trust v Beer

A person who stammers claimed she had been turned down for a job as a wages clerk because of her stammer. The appeal was on a procedural point, and so does not determine the outcome of the case. Employment Appeal Tribunal, 2006. Full decision: bailii.org. The claimant worked as a general assistant in a petrol … Read moreS v Tesco