The Ghana Stammering Association (GSA) has called for greater understanding and inclusion of people who stammer, urging Ghanaians to create spaces where everyone can communicate without fear of ridicule or discrimination.
In a statement marking International Stammering Awareness Day 2026, the association said the varied experiences of people who stammer must be recognised rather than reduced to a single narrative.
The association is joining the global stammering community in awareness activities throughout October under the theme, “Shades of Stuttering — What’s Yours?”
According to GSA, the theme highlights that stammering does not look or sound the same for everyone, and that some experiences may be less visible than others.
“Some people may openly repeat sounds, words or phrases, stretch sounds, or get stuck when speaking — this is often described as overt stammering,” the statement explained.
Others, it noted, may conceal their stammering by substituting words, avoiding particular situations, pretending not to know an answer or choosing to remain silent. These experiences are often described as covert stammering.
The association said people also adopt different approaches to navigating their speech. While some use speech techniques, others focus on accepting their stammering, with many experiencing a combination of approaches.
“These are all different shades of stammering, and every experience is valid,” GSA stated.
The association said the observance offered an opportunity to acknowledge both the difficulties people who stammer face and the positive experiences that can emerge from their lives.
It identified stigma, bullying, discrimination, communication barriers and pressure to speak fluently as challenges that people who stammer may encounter.
At the same time, GSA noted that many develop greater self-awareness, resilience, empathy and advocacy skills, while building meaningful connections with others through their experiences.
The association encouraged people who stammer to share their stories to deepen public understanding and demonstrate that there is no single way to stammer or to experience life as someone who stammers.
“We encourage people who stammer to share their experiences and help others understand that there is no single way to stammer and no single way to experience life as a person who stammers,” it said.
GSA also appealed to parents, teachers, employers, speech and language therapists, researchers, policymakers and the wider public to listen to people who stammer and consider how to make their environments more inclusive.
The call places emphasis on enabling people to participate and express themselves without facing judgement about how they speak.
As part of the observance, the association invited reflection on individual experiences, the lessons people have learnt and the collective action needed to improve inclusion.
“What is your shade of stammering? What have you experienced? What have you learned? And what can we do together to create a more inclusive world for people who stammer?” the statement asked.