Rights and Responsibilities
A person who stutters has the right to . . .
1. stutter or to be fluent to the extent he or she is able or chooses to be
2. communicate regardless of his or her degree of stuttering
3. be treated with dignity and respect by individuals, groups, groups, companies, governmental agencies, organizations and arts and media
4. publicly available and accurate information about stuttering
5. equal protection under the law regardless of his or her degree of stuttering
6. be informed fully about therapy programs, including the likelihood of success, failure or relapse
7. receive therapy appropriate for his or her unique needs, concerns, and characteristics from professionals trained to treat stuttering and its related problems
8. choose and participate in therapy, to choose not to do so, or to change therapy or clinician without prejudice or penalty
A person who stutters has the responsibility
to . . .
1. understand that listeners or conversation partners may be uninformed about stuttering and its ramifications or that they may hold different views of stuttering
2. advise listeners or conversation partners if one needs additional time to communicate
3. participate in therapy of his or her own choice, and to do so in an open, active and co-operative manner
4. do whatever one can to overcome life handicaps that have occurred because of stuttering, including developing a realistic appraisal of his or her strengths and weaknesses and perhaps a healthy sense of humour about himself or herself
5. regard and treat others who have, problems, disabilities, or handicaps with fairness under the law and with dignity and respect, regardless of the nature of their conditions
6. be conscious that he or she has power to promote awareness about stuttering and its ramifications
