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From: Grant Meredith
Date: 06 Oct 2009
Time: 19:04:00 -0500
Remote Name: 141.132.193.1
Hello Amanda, Thanks for the "Dr" title but I am not a PhD yet. I am working on it though :) . I do truly think that the lack of awareness and information found does indeed relfect the general public's view of the intellect of a stutterer amongst other myths and misbeliefs. This of course is not aided by the media's shocking portrayals of stutterers in film, books and all forms of popular media in general. That is why we, the PWS, must ourselves take the fight up and educate and push for change and awareness. I think the general public is incredibly ignorant of stuttering and related issues, but they have been conditioned to it. As for careers ask yourself...how often do you see a successful stuttering professional speaking out in public in any shape or form? Very rarely. If we are not seen and heard then the general public will remain blissfully unaware that yes people sho stutter can have successful careers and happy, productive lives. Look at how much campaigning is done for conidtions and disabilities that affect for less of a % of the population compared to stuttering. the gap is huge. Now for you digression :) University courses which require verbal interaction should simply be open to alternative assessment methods. This is a requirement at least in Australia. Alternative assessment can be negotiated and must be implemented in most cases. Unless there is a very big reason argued for it not to occur. The question in my mind at the moment is the quality of alternative assessment methods to the course and the indiviudal though. Are the methods being offered actually helping the quality of all parties involved? For example of late I am finding that for the very few students who stutter that are aksing for assistance the alternative methods go against what they have been taught in therapy or recovery programs, basicly hiding from talking, yet the student seems at least satisfied to do so without any real arguement. They also are indicating the the disability officers seem to have little education in stuttering matters. The whole story will start to present itself when I have all my data :)