SLU Expert Leads Push for New Speech Alert on Missouri IDs

SLU Expert Leads Push for New Speech Alert on Missouri IDs

ST. LOUIS - A new designation on Missouri driver's licenses aims to protect individuals who stutter during interactions with law enforcement and first responders.

The medical alert notation, which went into effect in late August, is the result of a multi-year advocacy effort led by Christine Rose, a speech-language pathologist at Saint Louis University, and Jamie Saunders-Anglin, an alumna of SLU's School of Social Work and parent of a child who stutters.

"This designation is a critical step toward equity," said Rose, an educator and advocate with the National Stuttering Association. "Verbal and nonverbal diversity has long been overlooked in public safety systems. This alert sends a clear message: speech and communication differences are real, they matter, and they must be respected-especially in moments where misunderstanding can cost lives."

The initiative began with a powerful moment at the DMV, when Saunders-Anglin took her daughter Octavia to apply for a state ID.

"She often has difficulty saying her name and date of birth," Saunders-Anglin recalls. "I asked the clerk if we could include an alert stating that she has a stutter. The clerk searched every disability category-but found nothing. She looked at me and said, 'You're right. There should be something for that.' I told her, 'When we come back for her driver's license, it will be there.'"

That moment sparked a statewide effort involving Rose, Saunders-Anglin, Matt Kraus, an adjunct professor and clinical supervisor of the University of Missouri-Columbia's Speech and Hearing Clinic, and members of the Missouri Speech and Hearing Association. Rose reached out to Missouri Representative Melanie Stinnett, a fellow speech-language pathologist, to propose a bill modeled after one in Texas. Ultimately, the team determined legislation wasn't necessary and worked directly with the Missouri Department of Revenue to implement the change.

The medical alert notation is optional and available to any Missouri resident with a qualifying speech and communication difference. Qualifying conditions may include autism spectrum disorder, Alzheimer's or Dementia, and other neurological or developmental disorders that affect verbal and nonverbal communication. It can be added to both driver's licenses and state IDs.

"When you're the parent of a child who stutters, there's a unique determination to control everything around them," Saunders-Anglin said. "You can't control the stuttering. You certainly can't control how the police or others will react if they don't know she has a speech difference."

If selected, the medical alert symbol will appear on the front of the license. This provides law enforcement and emergency personnel with quick, essential information -especially for individuals who may be misinterpreted as evasive, intoxicated, or non-compliant due to their speech and communications patterns.

To add the notation, residents must submit a physician's statement verifying the diagnosis to the Missouri Department of Revenue. There is no additional fee beyond the standard transaction cost for a new, renewal, or duplicate license.

The team hopes this initiative will inspire other states to adopt similar measures and raise awareness about verbal diversity.

About Saint Louis University

Founded in 1818, Saint Louis University is one of the nation's oldest and most prestigious Catholic research institutions. Rooted in Jesuit values and its pioneering history as the first university west of the Mississippi River, SLU offers more than 15,300 students a rigorous, transformative education that challenges and prepares them to make the world a better place. As a nationally recognized leader in research and innovation, SLU is an R1 research university, advancing groundbreaking, life-changing discoveries that promote the greater good.