UK disability discrimination law and stammering / stuttering
Starbucks’ policy of asking customers for their names has created particular difficulties if one has a stammer. Following a day of action against it, and discussions with STAMMA, Starbucks has now introduced mandatory training for all its baristas in the UK about serving customers who stammer. Video, September 2026 This short video talks about the … Read more
A TikTok influencer who stammers @mimidarlingbeauty says she was left feeling humiliated after Borussia Dortmund used video of her. A post by the club showed her stammer transitioning into a dance track played over footage of one of its footballers. A triathlon organiser also posted a similar video. More: Influencer “mocked” for stammer refuses Dortmund … Read more
The customer had stammered when asked to give his name in Starbucks. He complained to the manager in the shop, and then emailed Starbucks. He also shared it on social media. He said “It made me feel like I was inadequate, like I had been discriminated against and it ruined the rest of my day.” … Read more
The consultant requested a double slot for the next appointment of a patient who stammers. However, this did not happen. A patient who stammers had a positive experience with an NHS hospital consultant. The consultant really listened as the patient explained about her stammer and what was helpful for her. The consultant suggested that she … Read more
A senior staff nurse burst out laughing when a visitor stammered asking to see her granddaughter A woman who stammers was visiting her granddaughter in hospital. She stammered when saying her granddaughter’s name to the senior staff nurse, who burst out laughing. After seeing her granddaughter, she sought out the senior staff nurse, who was … Read more
Many users of iPhones and iPads found that a ‘woozy face’ emoji automatically appeared when typing the word “stammering” into messages. Stamma (the British Stammering Association) said in a July 2021 press release: “This is demeaning and damaging. Stammering is how some people talk. Treating it as a joke is stigmatising. It can leave people … Read more
A woman who stammers says that a staff member at a Costa in Wakefield laughed twice as she stammered when ordering a tea. She says that ordering a tea with lactose-free milk, she got stuck on “lac” and the staff member did a little laugh to herself. When the customer went to speak again, she … Read more
A BSA member showed that complaining can make a difference when he tweeted about an insensitive advert. A NatWest advert read: ‘Making sure your start-up doesn’t stutter’. A British Stammering Association member put on it on Twitter tagging @NatWest_Help. The tweet invited feedback from people who stammer, which was negative. Natwest responded: ‘Following your feedback … Read more
A civil servant claims that staff at a Sainsburys petrol station mimicked his stammer when he had difficulty pronouncing his pump number, and laughed at his speech. According to him one of them said: ‘Why don’t you have another beer?’ and they didn’t seem too bothered when he said he had a stammer. It was … Read more
A bus company in Staffordshire apologised to a customer after one of its drivers laughed at her as she tried to buy a ticket. She said the driver put his head down and started smirking and laughing at her. She said to him, ‘Do you think it’s funny to laugh at people with disabilities?’, and … Read more