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From: Beth B
Date: 07 Oct 2012
Time: 18:57:37 -0500
Remote Name: 71.246.249.138
I love that definition of stuttering because it addresses all of the aspects of it and its causes and effects. And it is one of many disabilities that are "hidden" or non-apparent. That is, until we open our mouths. And I think that it may be BECAUSE of the hidden nature of stuttering that causes many of us to drive it underground and go covert. And for some, the label of 'disability' will not help that desire. However, I think that disclosure is a very important part of raising people's awareness and educating them about stuttering. The more people that understand what it is - and what it isn't - the better it will be for everyone who stutters. And I've found that once we accept it ourselves, it makes it easier to talk about and stutter more freely and easily. And it actually helped me to stutter less. I felt less blocked up and worried about actually stuttering, and thus stuttered more freely and even stuttered less. And accepting it as a disability was part of that process because I didn't see the term "disability" as negative or stigmatized.