International Stuttering Awareness Day (Oct 22): History & Facts

International Stuttering Awareness Day (ISAD) happens every October 22. It's a day to raise public understanding of stuttering, celebrate people who stutter, and connect a community of roughly 70 million people worldwide. In the UK and Ireland it's also called International Stammering Awareness Day, the same day under a different word. See stuttering vs stammering.

A short history

• 1998: ISAD is first marked on October 22, with early activity in the UK and Ireland, and the first ISAD online conference goes live.
• 1998–2012: The online conference is hosted by the Stuttering Homepage, with contributions from people who stutter, clinicians, and researchers worldwide.
• 2013 onward: The International Stuttering Association (ISA) runs the online conference with a volunteer team.

ISAD is a joint project of the ISA, the International Fluency Association (IFA), and the European League of Stuttering Associations (ELSA). National associations and local self-help groups run events, media interviews, and talks.

Quick facts about stuttering

• About 1% of adults stutter, around 70 million people worldwide.
• Stuttering usually starts between ages 2 and 5. Many young children recover, but for some it continues into adulthood.
• It's neurological and strongly genetic, not caused by nerves or parenting. See is stuttering neurological?.
• It's not linked to intelligence.
• Many people who stutter avoid words and situations, so the stutter you don't hear can still have a big impact. See overt vs covert stuttering.
• Stuttering can count as a disability for workplace protections. See is stuttering a disability?.

How to take part

If you stutter:

• Join the ISAD online conference from the International Stuttering Association (isad.isastutter.org). It's free and open to everyone.
• Find a local self-help group. Many national associations hold ISAD meetups.
• Share as much or as little as you want. Even telling one person counts.
• Do one thing you'd usually avoid: make the call, ask the question, say your name first.

If you're a friend, family member, or colleague:

• Learn the basics above and share them
• Ask the person who stutters what's helpful for them, rather than guessing
• Practice good listening (below)

If you're an employer:

• Review interview formats: avoid rigid timed oral answers where they aren't essential
• Normalize accommodations like chat during calls or written options
• See workplace stuttering support

If you're an SLP or student:

• Share accurate, non-cure messaging
• Point adults toward peer support as well as clinical services

How to be a good listener

1. Wait. Let the person finish, however long it takes.
2. Keep natural eye contact. Looking away signals discomfort.
3. Don't finish their sentences or guess the word.
4. Skip the advice. "Slow down," "relax," and "take a breath" don't help and often feel dismissive.
5. Respond to what they said, not how they said it.
6. On the phone, give extra time before assuming the line dropped.

Share-ready lines

Feel free to copy these for social posts today:

• "Today is International Stuttering Awareness Day. About 1 in 100 adults stutters. The most helpful thing you can do? Wait, and let them finish."
• "Stuttering is neurological and genetic. It's not nerves, not a lack of confidence, and not linked to intelligence. #ISAD"
• "If someone stutters, don't finish their sentences. Listen to what they're saying, not how. #InternationalStutteringAwarenessDay"

Keep going after October 22

Awareness days end. Practice doesn't have to. If you're an adult who stutters and wants a private daily habit for phone calls, meetings, and feared words, StutterLab is a short daily practice program designed by an SLP. It's not therapy or a cure. You can start with a free two-minute baseline, no account needed.