Concluding Joe and Carl’s conversation, Joe talks about life after the intensive program.
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Life after the AIS intensive stuttering therapy program |
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Joe talks about fluency in the AIS intensive stuttering therapy program |
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Joe talks about growing up with stuttering and choosing to go to therapy |
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Stuttering in children: Kristina talks about her daughter’s stuttering therapy |
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Stuttering doesn’t stop Susan from taking on a challenge |
The last time we heard from Susan, she was quizzing strangers in the airport about stuttering. Now, she just sent us some incredible news. Here’s the news in her words:
Hey Chamonix and Carl,
Hope you guys are doing well. I have something funny to tell you. So, I got into a grad school program, which I’m pretty excited about, and I’m most likely going to go. Part of the offer they gave me is that I have to teach a couple classes. Not TA, but actually teach my own class! And hold office hours!! I just think it’s majorly funny and exciting because it’s such a stark contrast from college, where I never, EVER even uttered a word in class. And these classes were tiny, usually about 10 to 20 people. When we had to read our work in classes, someone else had do it for me. It was awful.
Anyway, I had a phone interview with the program director before I was accepted, and I stuttered pretty bad, with all my stupid ums–I’d just been sick and hadn’t practiced for a week, and it really threw me off. In fact, I’m still a little thrown off from not practicing for a week. I feel like I’m just so prone to stutter that if I don’t practice constantly, my speech really gets bad. During the conversation, he asked how I felt about teaching and there was a later email exchange about it, too. I had to kind of sell myself a little, and I explained in a later email that my speech isn’t usually as bad as it was on the phone and I’ve been working on it, and that I would like to teach. Now I just hope I actually can!! Yikes!
–Susan
Congratulations, Susan, on getting into grad school and for taking on the challenge of teaching a class! You refuse to be held back by stuttering and we love it!
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Stuttering therapy: Sam talks about the power of visualization |
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Dr. Lee Reeves: Accepting stuttering does not mean giving up |
Dr. Lee Reeves is the former Chairman of the National Stuttering Association and currently serves as its Membership Chairman. He is a veterinarian in Dallas and a close friend of AIS.
Lee recently wrote an excellent piece on the acceptance of one’s stuttering and gave us permission to reprint it here.
Acceptance is a frequently discussed concept by those affected by stuttering. Because it is an abstract and often very personal concept, discussions can bring out strong emotions and opinions. Some have suggested that accepting one’s stuttering is tantamount to giving up or giving in and thus deciding to remain locked in a world of fear and limited opportunity. Others have stated that acceptance means that it’s not only OK to stutter but that stuttering could and indeed should be worn (or spoken) like a badge of honor. Still others believe that acceptance is a necessary first step for change to occur.
Through my own journey with stuttering I have come to believe that acceptance is reaching a state of mind in which we acknowledge both externally AND internally that our inability to speak with the spontaneity and fluidity of others is real but is not our or anyone else’s fault; that while stuttering is part of who we are it does not define or limit us. The concept of acceptance does not mean that we are destined to remain at or even be satisfied with the condition in which we find ourselves. It does mean, however, that we have reached a point where we can make clear decisions on our own behalf without the baggage of the past holding us back or the blind optimism of the future jading our expectations for “perfect” speech. The decision to change the way we speak requires personal risk and will be met with both success and failure. However, with a foundation of acceptance, success is more sustainable and failure is less destructive.
Simply put, we cannot change the way we speak for any appreciable period of time until we become comfortable with the idea that we are more than our stuttering and that we alone have the power to determine what to do about it. Accepting stuttering does not mean giving up. It is not the end but rather, the beginning!
Many thanks to Lee for sharing with us. We’d love to hear your thoughts on personal acceptance of stuttering.
In what way, if any, have you accepted your stuttering?
photo: NSA
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Stuttering in the military: Steven explains what it’s like to be a Marine who stutters |
Steven’s story is one of stuttering severely and enduring, doing what you want to do in your life anyway, even if it is hard. It’s about survival.
After a rough time in school with his stuttering, Steven came to AIS. All he wanted to do was to be in the Marines. Now he is.
In April, we hope to connect with Steven for a video. In the meantime, I asked him a few questions for the blog. Here are his answers, slightly edited for clarity.
1. What has been your experience of being someone who stutters who is in the military?
My experience has been both bad and good. I have great support within my unit and they all look out for me, of course. Like any other job, you have your a**holes, but the positives outweigh the negatives.
2. What has been the most fulfilling part of being a Marine?
The most fulfilling part about being a Marine is being able to help out people halfway around the world. I enjoy helping people and serving my country.
3. What challenges have you faced?
The Marine Corps is a very macho environment. Any sign of weakness or disability, you are instantly made a target. I’ve been called names and mimicked, but that is nothing new to me; I take it as if it is nothing. Everyday is a challenge, but I accept the challenge and overcome it.
4. What advice would you give to younger guys wanting to be in the military who also stutter?
It’s not easy stuttering and being in the military. The challenges you are going to face will sometimes feel unbearable, but if you get through, you will become a better person. Having confidence is a major plus; remember to keep your head up.
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Help someone seeking advice for her friend who stutters |
We recently got this message from a woman in Europe asking for advice on how she can support her friend who stutters. We figured that the best advice would come from people who stutter, so we’re passing it along.
i have a very good friend who has a mild stuttering. He is a great man, he is looking good but i hate that he doesn’t has any selfconfidence. He’s everyday is about hiding his stuttering. He is running away from situations where he has to speak with unknown people, he is running away from talking on the phone, he is running away from himself, even his stuttering isn’t sever at all, in normal situations he is speaking fluently, he hasn’t any blocks, only when he is really nervouse, than he could have even a 10 sec. block.
i would like to make him accept himself, but i don’t have any succes:( … we aren’t speaking about his stuttering at all. i just simply hate, when he is staying with the phone in his hand, and finally running away from making a call, or when he likes a girl, but he doesn’t makes the first step to her….
can u give me some advice?
What is your advice for this woman concerning her friend who stutters?
photo: laughlin
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Raj Patel: Anointed messiah due to a moment of stuttering |
We believe that stuttering doesn’t have to hold anyone back from achieving success. In one case, stuttering actually ushered one (reluctant) interviewee into deity status! With tongue firmly planted in cheek, here is a brief review of the story of Raj Patel, an academic, activist, and author of New York Times best-seller The Value of Nothing.
According to this NYT article, on Jan. 14, a religious sect called Share International announced the arrival of a deity named Maitreya, who is to be a leader for all faiths around the world (who some say is the second coming of Buddha). Maitreya was not identified, but these clues to pinpoint him revealed that he would:
- have been born in 1972
- have traveled from India to London in 1977
- be dark-skinned
- speak with a stutter
Patel was in the public spotlight in January during his book tour for The Value of Nothing. He also happened to meet criteria 1–3. Then, during an interview on the popular Comedy Central show The Colbert Report, he stuttered. Share International had found their Maitreya.
Patel refused the notion that he is a spiritual leader, but that has only encouraged followers since they believe that Maitreya will deny his divinity. It looks like Patel is stuck being a teacher of all faiths of the world for now, and he has a moment of stuttering to thank for it.
Here is Stephen Colbert, in his usual sardonic character that holds nothing sacred, reporting on his role in Patel’s case of mistaken iden-deity. Sadly, this is also a strong example of how stuttering is still viewed as less of a disorder and more of a punchline.
source: NYT Bay Area blog | photo: Jan Sturmann
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