Website updates November to December 2023

Regulations to retain some EU case law The government has published a draft of regulations which would preserve the effect of some EU case law after the end of 2023, particularly on the meaning of “disability”. Discussion: Retained EU Law Act 2023>Draft Equality Act 2010 (Amendment) Regulations 2023. Adjustments in health services Added Examples of … Read more

Website updates September to October 2023

Examples of adjustments by service providers New page Examples of adjustments and discrimination: service providers, including material shifted from the ‘For businesses’ section of this website, and taking in examples from new STAMMA resources for service providers. Transport Major update of Transport page, including trains, buses, ships and air travel. Harassment Update of Harassment of … Read more

Stammering Awareness Day 2023

22nd October is International Stammering Awareness Day (ISAD). STAMMA has published a video and guidance for healthcare providers, and a “Don’t be a knob” video ad and guidance for service providers more generally. Write to your GP STAMMA (the British Stammering Association) is encouraging people to write to your GP (stamma.org), to help make booking … Read more

F-Bomb blog: oracy in schools

Claire Tupling’s excellent blog Starmer’s ‘F-Bomb’ (educationandsociety.wordpress.com) warns that “oracy” should accept that speech may be dysfluent. Labour has pledged to put oracy at the centre of its plans to reform education. However oracy and “good communication” is often wrongly equated with fluency. Claire warns that children who stammer should not be told that the … Read more

Booking a GP appointment: removing barriers for people who stammer

STAMMA (British Stammering Association) is urging changes in GP appointment booking systems nationwide. A survey by STAMMA showed that phone-only systems and lack of staff training caused people who stammer to face physical and mental distress, delayed appointments, and late diagnoses. More: GP bookings: change is needed (stamma.org), 8 August 2023. STAMMA proposes GPs offering … Read more

Website updates July to August 2023

STAMMA Advocacy Service STAMMA Advocacy Service (stamma.org) now launched, including for poor treatment by employers and service providers. Added to Sources of help and advice>STAMMA/ British Stammering Association. GP bookings: campaign STAMMA (the British Stammering Association) is urging changes in GP appointment booking systems nationwide: Booking a GP appointment: removing barriers for people who stammer. … Read more

Website updates May to June 2023

Retained EU Law Bill Retained EU Law Bill page updated for changes made in the Bill’s passage through Parliament. The Bill would alter the position of EU law in Britain. It may well reduce Equality Act protection and create uncertainty in some areas, particularly from 1st January 2024. Bill of Rights Bill withdrawn The government … Read more

Website updates March to April 2023

OSCE exams for healthcare professionals: new guide on adjustments for stammering STAMMA and the NHS Stammering Network have produced a Job-based oral exam guide (stamma.org), March 2023, mainly for OSCE exams in the health sector. Anyone who is seeking – or supporting a request for – adjustments to these scenario-based professional exams, in respect of … Read more

M v Manchester Rusk Co

The employment tribunal found that the claimant’s stammer was not a disability within the Equality Act. The burden of proof was on the claimant, and he had not presented sufficient evidence to show that his stammer had a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. That was supported … Read more