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From: Pamela Mertz
Date: 04 Oct 2011
Time: 19:00:50 -0500
Remote Name: 67.248.218.106
Hi all - I know there are many camps on this issue, but I have a variation on the theme. I know many people who stutter do not consider themselves disabled bu their stuttering, myself included. I felt most disabled when I DID NOT speak due to fear of stuttering and negative judgement. Then, there are many who rightly so do consider their stuttering disabling. They may have severe blocks or secondaries which makes every effort at speech a struggle. Here's my question though: ready? I had a boss recently who insisted on referring to my stuttering as a disability, even though I do not. I found it quite offensive actually. He would go as far as to mention to other colleagues that I might be the best one for a particular task since I have a disability and experience with disability issues.Because the relationship with this authority figure was power-based, I found it hard to tell him how offended I felt when he was running around telling people I have a disability. Shouldn't that be my choice? How would you advise someone coming to you looking for guidance with an "insensitive" (putting it nicely) person?