Stuttering: Stigma and perspectives of (dis)ability in organizational communication

There is a general consensus regarding the essential nature of effective communication in the workplace. However, in practice, there seems to be a narrow and specific definition of communication effectiveness that goes above and beyond the ability to deliver information. This perpetuates stigma surrounding communication disorders such as stuttering, and helps drive negative employment outcomes for those who stutter. In this paper, we develop a model of Stuttering Stigma in Organizational Communication (SSOC) in order to better understand the complexity surrounding communication, stuttering, and stigma. We discuss implications for organizations and strategies for stigma reduction. •Interdisciplinary theoretical model exploring stigma development in response to stuttering in an organizational context.•Stigma develops over time amongst interlocutors when at least one of them has a communication disorder such as stuttering.•Factors influencing stigma development include personal characteristics, interpersonal history, and cultural context.•Stigma has implications for outcomes such as speaker evaluations, communication strategies, behavior, and attitudes.