Stuttering and Graduate Applications - Accounting

suited-aces

I'll probably dip in and out of this thread for general reasons, but I'm starting it for a specific reason. I'm applying to the NI Audit Office for a job as a trainee graduate accountant. I've got a stammer which has played up on me in two interviews already, for accounting firms. (I won't start claiming it was because of the stammer, they were fiercely competitive and there were simply better candidates.)

Anyhoo, this job pays very well, and I'm doing all I can to give myself the best shot at it, be better prepared for this than the previous ones. What I'm wondering is, should I make use of the rigid equalities legislation they have in place, and declare my stammer in advance, to level the playing field somewhat? Here's the excerpt from the applicant information.

The Disability Discrimination Act defines disability as a physical or mental
impairment which has a substantial and long term adverse effect on a person’s
ability to carry out normal day to day activities.
A long term effect of an impairment is one which has lasted, or can reasonably
be expected to last at least 12 months. Where an impairment stops having a
substantial adverse effect on a person’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day
activities, it will be treated as continuing to have that effect if it is likely to recur.
..........................
...................

Speech impairment: For example, being unable to speak, or having difficulty in
speaking.

Would a stammer fall under this? It can be intermittent, awful one day and fluent the next. And should I answer anything to this question?

If you have a disability please give details of any special arrangements you may require at our interview and test centres.

I've never viewed it as a disability per se, just an inconvenience, so don't want special treatment, just a level playing field. So how do I best approach this?

dmg24

I cannot find any case law on stammering and the DDA, but would be surprised if you passed the substantial requirement in the criteria. Nonetheless, there is nothing to stop you detailing it on the application form if you think it would help that the interview panel were aware of it beforehand.

Edit: There are some Tribunal decisions on the subject, but they appear to be split. It very much depends on the severity of the stammer.

suited-aces

One of the declarations is for the anonymous equalities monitoring form, the other is asking do I have any special requirements for the interview. If I'm mentioning it just to make them aware of it, what would be the best way to word it?

alias123

I dont normally read this forum but I wanted to comment. I've known people both personally and professionaly who stammer. And I've found that the more you make people aware of your stammer, the worse it becomes.

Any rightful person/employer will see past your stammer and consider you on your professional merits. Only if you consider you're being discriminated against because of your stammer then should you declare it a disability if you so wish??

The whole point of the disability act is for employers/professional bodies to 'disregard' any disability and treat the person as if he/she were equal to any able bodied human, NOT for the disabled to gain a sympathetic advantage.

suited-aces

I'm not trying to gain sympathy here, I just feel disadvantaged to begin with. All I want is a level playing field.

Savvy_Sue

Is there anything they could do to help reduce your stammering? Is there anything they should be aware of?

For example, with a hearing impairment you might ask that you're sat at an angle to the panel rather than face on, and in a good light, to make lip reading easier.

But if there's nothing they can do to help, I'm not sure if I'd mention it or not.

suited-aces

Perhaps just ask for a bit of patience? I'm really not sure. For my first two interviews I just ignored it and it didn't really work out.

alias123

Sorry I wasnt implying that you were.I was just stating that the disability act works in a round-about way.

If you feel your stammer to be an impediment/a disability then declare it.

I dont know how you would ask for 'patience' other than to mention in passing or conversation.

suited-aces

Fair dos, I didn't think you were implying that, just making it known to anyone who may have read it and thought I was. It's definitely a hinderance, but it's a big step declaring it as a disability.

nzmegs

My daughter also has a stammer and I do see it as an impediment (not a disability however) to your interview. I feel you are quite within your rights to ask for a special case to made for your interview.

I feel that if you declare it up front you will feel more relaxed and able to control it more.

Tick the disability form and say in the explanation box something along these lines.

"as I suffer from a speech impediment (stammer)I may require a longer period of time to answer some questions if my speech is affected on the day of the interview".

Any employer would appreciate knowing about this in advance to save everyone any embarrassment on the day.

I don't for one minute think that you are trying to gain an unfair advantage. If you had dyslexia you might also declare this but it might not be seen as a disability. The app form is asking for anything which might affect your interview and this definitely would.

My daughter is just 8 and very bright (consdiered "gifted" in fact) - but I do fear that her future employment prospects may be affected by her speech which is such a shame. You have every right in the world to have some consideration made by the interviewer.

TheGreatMaster

Of course it is an impediment not disability. One must discuss such issues, because you might get a chance, and of course you are not gaining any favor by doing so, since it is your right.