For people who stutter, speech disfluency is often not the most critical part of the condition. Instead, the impact that stuttering has on their lives causes the most concern. In this article, Ability Central will address your long-term care and support questions for people who stutter, including the following:

• Does the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) cover stuttering?
• What medical and financial aid programs assist people who stutter in the United States?
• What mental health issues often accompany stuttering?
• What support groups are available for the people who stutter and their loved ones?
• Where can I get more information about stuttering?

Does the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) cover stuttering?

According to the American Institute for Stuttering (AIS), if you are a stutterer who is “substantially limited” in the major life activity of speaking, you may be considered disabled under the ADA. 

The ADA prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in several areas, including:

• Employment
• Transportation
• Public accommodations
• Communications
• Access to state and local government programs and services 

In addition, you may qualify for ADA protection if your employer discriminates against you because they believe your stuttering is an impairment. ADA protections apply regardless of the accommodation tools you use in your everyday life. For example, if you use an app or wear a device that helps with your stutter, your disability status will be determined without considering those devices. This means that your current accommodations won’t impact whether or not you’re legally considered disabled, which can be a critical determination in discrimination cases.

To learn more about the ADA, see the government website. To understand your workplace rights under the ADA, see the Job Accommodation Network (JAN).

What medical and financial aid programs assist people who stutter in the United States?

While costs vary around the world, the average speech-language evaluation ranges from $150 to $400, and a single 30-minute therapy session may cost $65 to $175. Luckily, there are multiple forms of assistance available.

Health insurance can help offset the costs of some of these visits, but some healthcare plans do not cover speech therapy. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) offers step-by-step guidance on how to determine if your private insurance covers language therapy and how to file claims. Both Medicare and Medicaid often cover speech therapy as well, particularly if a person who stutters deals with severe communication complications that impact their ability to get or keep a job.

In addition, nonprofits who provide funding for speech therapy or stuttering devices include:

• The American Institute for Stuttering (AIS). AIS provides varying amounts of financial assistance for services provided by the organization, as well as information about state-funded resource programs. Learn about the application process on their website.
• The Orange Effect Foundation (OEF). OEF’s goal is to ensure everyone can communicate, and they do this by providing grants to families and healthcare providers to cover things like speech therapy and assistive speech devices. See their website for funding options.
• The United Health Care Children’s Foundation (UHCCF).  UHCCF provides medical grants for children under 16 years old whose families match certain income requirements.  UHCCF provides financial assistance to offset medical costs not covered by private health insurance. Their programming is available for a wide range of medical conditions, including stuttering and other speech disorders.

What mental health issues often accompany stuttering?

Almost 40% of teens who stutter also have conditions like anxiety or depression, sometimes in response to the social impacts of their communication difficulties. Adults who stutter are twice as likely to develop anxiety or depression and three times more likely to develop a personality disorder.

The AIS suggests finding a therapist who understands the complex, variable, and paradoxical nature of stuttering. They provide a list of questions to ask to make sure you are working with a professional that meets your needs, including:

• Can you share your background and training regarding stuttering?
• Can you share your level of experience in working with people who stutter?
• What approaches have you taken when working with people who stutter? 

In addition, Ability Central offers a searchable database to help you connect with nonprofits that work with people who stutter. The organizations in our database provide a wide range of services, including financial, medical, and legal assistance for people with speech fluency disorders. 

What support groups are available for the people who stutter?

For the person who stutters, a support group can offer a safe space to share their experiences and empathize with people who understand what they’re going through. Support groups are a great way to make connections and develop a support network outside of one’s immediate family. 

Additionally, support groups can be an excellent source of connections, information, and resources for a person who stutters’ family or loved ones. 

Speech therapists often have a list of local support groups, and there are a large number of online communities and forums to connect people who stutter. You can also find information about support groups through friends, colleagues, and nonprofit organizations:

• The American Institute for Stuttering (AIS) offers support groups both online and in person.
• The National Stuttering Association (NSA), which offers a database of local chapters.
• Friends, also known as The National Association of Young People Who Stutter, is a nonprofit organization that brings together young people who stutter and their families through virtual and in-person groups, as well as one-day in-person events and their annual conference. 
• The Stuttering Association for the Young (SAY). SAY has groups in New York and DC, as well as some virtual options.
• Stuttering Community is an inclusive, international group hosted on Facebook.
• Stutter Social, another Facebook community, hosts virtual gatherings for people who stutter.
• Stutter With A Group (S.W.A.G.) is an international group on Facebook for those who stutter.
• Stuttering Therapy Support Group is a Facebook group hosted by board-certified stuttering specialist Mark Power.

In addition, Ability Central offers a searchable database of nonprofit organizations devoted to stuttering and other communication disorders. Use our Service Locator to find an organization or provider near you.

Where can I get more information about stuttering?

Ability Central offers a series of articles to further your knowledge about stuttering. See:

• 7 Facts You Might Not Know About Stuttering
• How To Recognize the Early Symptoms of Stuttering
• What Happens After a Stuttering Diagnosis?