Communication appears to be fundamentally important for success in our society. Peers often judge vocabulary, articulation, accent and eloquence as measures of intelligence. Our society idolizes successful communicators, and the idea that public speaking is key to leadership permeates our culture.
When we claim to champion diversity, inclusion and acceptance of people with disabilities, why hasn’t our society embraced speech disabilities in our inclusion efforts?
Approximately 40 million Americans have communication disorders. Many of them suffer from workplace discrimination, unemployment, mental health challenges and social ridicule. The media have stigmatized speech difficulties as comedic. Resources are hard to find, leaving many ashamed of something they cannot control and without access to help or support.
I had the privilege of interviewing Debra Schober-Peterson, who works in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. Peterson is a clinical professor, director of clinical education and a board-certified specialist in child language.
Peterson has spearheaded communication support at Georgia State, directing the Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic, which provides screenings, evaluations, support groups and therapy for individuals with a broad range of communication-based challenges.
Many students eligible for assistance through the SLH Clinic or access and accommodation do not access it. These students are under the impression that it is restricted to those with learning and physical disabilities. Some don’t utilize accommodations because they don’t perceive their speech difficulties as hindrances, are desensitized to their own symptoms or feel uncomfortable addressing that their symptoms stem from a disability.
Speech difficulties are commonly discriminated against in workplace environments because our culture idolizes immaculate communicative abilities.
Peterson explained, “If someone has a speech disability, the number of jobs that might be available to them decreases significantly … people are less willing to hire someone who may not represent their company in the way that they envisioned.”
Mental health is another huge concern. A recent study found that children with speech difficulties are up to nine times more likely to exhibit suicidal behaviors than youth without disabilities. Historically, people with communication disabilities have faced persecution, forced sterilization and even execution out of prejudice and fear that their disability was an infectious disease.
Peterson emphasized, “Speech difficulties have no connection with intellectual ability. They are completely separate, and one in no way influences the other.”
Our society must stop jumping to “erroneous conclusions” and start listening to what they have to say in order to overcome misconceptions and respect people with speech difficulties.
In an article for Knots: An Undergraduate Journal of Disability Studies, disability rights activist Michelle Hewittwrites, “This really is the crux of the matter. Speech, in itself, does not define a person. Speech is one method of externalizing internal thoughts.”
Speech disabilities are not indicators of intelligence and are not bad habits that can easily be fixed. The perception of someone based on their speech has an incredible impact on mental health, employment opportunities and quality of life.
Resources for stuttering, apraxia, aphasia and other speech disabilities need to become more widely available. Our society must stop discriminating against these individuals and forcing them into silence.
