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From: Alan Badmington (to Josh)
Date: 06 Oct 2009
Time: 15:11:07 -0500
Remote Name: 81.77.22.56
Hi Josh, Thank you taking the time to respond to my paper. It’s difficult to recall everyone I met at the NSA Annual Conference in Long Beach in 2006 – I chat to so many people. Talking is now my favourite pastime. Did we discuss anything in particular? It might jog my memory if you could recount the content or circumstances of our meeting. I know (from my involvement within the international stuttering community) that some persons who stutter do not appear to have a desire to change their speaking behaviour, possibly viewing self-acceptance as their principal goal. Others may have suffered heartache as the result of previous unsuccessful therapies, and no longer have a wish to risk further disappointment. I fell within the latter category and fiercely avoided subjecting myself to further therapy for many years. The decision of each individual must be respected. We are all unique and responsible for the paths that we tread in life. Most people wish to conform and be accepted by the persons with whom they associate. Changing one’s way of speaking can certainly create an identity crisis, particularly within a group of people who have a common bond (namely stuttering). Those who choose to seek greater fluency (possibly by adopting new techniques./tools) can, sometimes, then be viewed (or view themselves) as outsiders. It may be considered that they cease to have the same attachment to (or affinity with) the group in question. My personal circumstances were totally different because I did not join a stuttering organisation until AFTER I had come to terms with my communication issues. Consequently, those within the stuttering community have always known me as I am today. It is to my knowledge that some PWS who have decided to change their self-image have experienced difficulties within their personal relationships. When someone becomes more assertive, and insists upon fulfilling speaking roles that were previously carried out by a loved one (maybe ordering meals, or making telephone calls on his/her behalf), then (in the absence of an explanation) the other party might well feel redundant and unwanted. In such cases, it is essential that both parties discuss the reason for the role reversal (namely that the PWS wishes to accept more responsibility and not avoid speaking situations). Josh,it is likely that I will be visiting the Bay area next year. Kindest regards Alan