Emirati Advocate to Establish Abu Dhabi Centre Fulfilling Childhood Dream to Support Stutterers

Farah Al Qaissieh, an Emirati advocate, is planning to establish a dedicated centre in Abu Dhabi aimed at assisting individuals who stutter. This initiative stems from a deeply personal journey, shared with her younger brother Mansour, who also stuttered. Growing up, they experienced firsthand the challenges of teasing and social awkwardness associated with the condition. While Mansour was more outgoing, Ms. Al Qaissieh found herself withdrawing from situations that required speaking.

A particularly impactful memory for Ms. Al Qaissieh occurred around the age of 11 when her social studies teacher interrupted her attempt to read aloud, telling her to sit down until she knew how to read. This incident, which she hadn't previously considered a problem, led to her being teased by classmates. She began to intentionally limit her participation in large groups and found solace in online gaming for social interaction without verbal communication.

"I was becoming someone I didn’t want to be because of how the people around me outside the house were reacting to me," the 36-year-old Emirati shared. The siblings often discussed their differing experiences with stuttering. Despite a more severe stutter, Mansour actively engaged with friends and pursued his education, even discussing the idea of starting a support group at New York University. His sister eagerly awaited his return to collaborate on this shared vision.

Tragically, Mansour passed away 11 years ago. However, Ms. Al Qaissieh is now realizing their shared dream by leading a support network called the Stutter Community and is determined to create a specialized centre in Abu Dhabi to aid a broad spectrum of individuals.

The journey towards this goal began in 2013 when Ms. Al Qaissieh, then 23, met another person outside her family who stuttered. This encounter led to regular meetings with a colleague to share experiences, culminating in the creation of a Meetup.com page. Initially, the group saw little engagement, but after about eight or nine months, media coverage significantly boosted attendance. By 2015, their first awareness event drew approximately 85 participants, with subsequent gatherings attracting up to 200 people, including parents seeking support for their children.

Mansour died in 2015 at the age of 23, shortly after completing his studies at NYU. Ms. Al Qaissieh's own stutter reportedly worsened following his death. In the same year, she organized an International Stuttering Awareness Day event, vowing to continue their work. "It took me 23 years to meet another person who stutters," she reflected. "Imagine if somebody who is seven, 10 years old, or in their teens could meet people who have been through it. It helps them realise they’re not alone."

The Stutter Community currently comprises about 33 regular members from various nationalities. Ms. Al Qaissieh aims to reintroduce in-person meetups and initiate specific gatherings for children and teenagers in 2027. Her ambitions extend beyond community events to establishing a comprehensive hub in Abu Dhabi. This centre would unite speech therapists and psychologists to provide support for individuals who stutter and their families. Ms. Al Qaissieh also envisions collaborations with schools, universities, and employers to combat the exclusion often faced by people who stutter in academic, professional, and social settings.

"We can work with families, individuals, schools, universities, workplaces, to make everywhere as inclusive as possible," she stated. The proposed approach would tackle the fear, anxiety, and frustration associated with stuttering, alongside speech therapy. Securing a physical space and funding remain the primary challenges.

In parallel with her work with partners at SpeechCare Centre, Ms. Al Qaissieh is collaborating with researchers at Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence on projects leveraging technology for stuttering research. These include developing AI tools for improved diagnosis and treatment frameworks, as well as a tablet-based game, Chatty Check, designed for early screening of developmental language disorders in young children.

Globally, approximately 1% of the population stutters. Statistics from the US National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders indicate that 5-10% of children experience stuttering for a period, with about 1% or fewer adults affected. Many children overcome stuttering naturally. While treatments can help manage the condition, no specific drug has been FDA-approved for stuttering.

International Stuttering Awareness Day, observed on October 22, highlighted the diverse experiences of stuttering under the theme "Shades of Stuttering: What’s Yours?". Ms. Al Qaissieh cautioned that exclusion can begin at home, with parents sometimes limiting children's participation in family events due to concerns about reactions. At school, students might be excluded from oral assessments, or teachers may misinterpret speech difficulties as a lack of understanding. In the workplace, individuals who stutter can be overlooked for opportunities or excluded from meetings due to assumptions about their competence.

Rutuja Deshpande, a 26-year-old who identifies as a stutterer who sings, shared how music and writing have provided her with avenues for expression when stuttering presented barriers. Despite facing workplace bullying and being passed over for opportunities in the events industry, leading to severe depression, she now works part-time with Ms. Al Qaissieh on social media and the community blog, and also within her father's company.

Malik Al Shehhi, a 33-year-old Emirati aircraft engineer, recounted how he used to apologize for stuttering, feeling he was inconveniencing others. An awareness event in Abu Dhabi in 2023 helped him feel more comfortable connecting with others who stutter. "I’m not sorry. I stutter. This is me," he stated. He now informs new colleagues about his stutter and requests additional time in meetings, and has encouraged his family to avoid finishing his sentences or looking away while he speaks.

Reece Waldron, a cultural strategist and researcher, noted that a listener's response significantly impacts a person's comfort level when speaking. Patience, maintaining eye contact, and relaxed body language can facilitate conversation, whereas rushing or showing impatience increases pressure. "It takes two," he emphasized, referring to the interaction between the person who stutters and the listener.

Ms. Al Qaissieh's ultimate goal is to foster inclusion for people who stutter in all aspects of life – at home, in educational settings, and in the workplace. She hopes that children will be able to participate fully in classroom discussions, select their fields of study, and be evaluated in job interviews based on their intellect and knowledge, rather than their speech delivery. "The interviewer should judge them on what they’re saying, their intellect and their knowledge," she concluded, "not on how they’re saying it."