03/09/2026
What if reducing stigma starts with questioning what we think we know?
In this edition of ICOS Ambassadors, Halil Tayyip Uysal - a speech-language therapist, Certified European Stuttering Specialist, researcher and faculty member at the Ankara Yildirim Beyazit University in Turkey - explores one of the most important challenges surrounding stuttering: public stigma.
Stereotypes and misconceptions don't simply shape how people who stutter are perceived but they can influence attitudes, interactions and the way differences are experienced in everyday life.
Halil and his team are developing a framework for destigmatization built around a few essential steps:
🔎 Examine what we think we know about stuttering
🧠 Challenge misconceptions and stereotypes
📚 Replace inaccurate information with evidence-based knowledge
🌍 Consider the role of culture and learned beliefs
🤝 Connect stuttering with a broader understanding of human differences
Destigmatization is not just about knowing more, it's about changing the way we understand difference and creating space for greater empathy, acceptance and inclusion.
🎥 Watch Halil's message and discover more about his team's work on reducing public stigma around stuttering.
💬 What is one misconception about stuttering you think we need to challenge?