Social Skills Treatment Activities

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Remaining on the fringes of social interaction

From: Alan Badmington
Date: 20 Oct 2012
Time: 10:39:17 -0500
Remote Name: 95.144.98.96

Comments

Hi Diane, I was heartened to read about the activities that you utilize in an effort to improve your clients’ social skills. I have encountered numerous PWS who (despite having gained greater fluency) remain deficient in this area. This is not surprising because many who stutter have tended to remain on the fringes of conversation throughout their lives, thus denying themselves opportunities of acquiring such expertise. Most ‘fluent’ people develop these skills progressively from an early age. I recognise that (as a PWS) I was, indeed, very fortunate. I wore a prosthetic device (the Edinburgh M asker) for more than 20 years. Although it never made me fluent, it gave me the confidence to challenge myself by speaking in situations that (I know) I would otherwise have avoided. By expanding my comfort zones in this manner, I acquired useful interpersonal skills that have held me in such good stead. During recent years, I have, in fact, facilitated social skills workshops for my fellow PWS. Thank you, so much, for sharing. I’m sure that others associated with stuttering (including self-help groups)will glean encouragement and ideas from your paper. Incidentally, will I have the pleasure of making your acquaintance at the upcoming ASHA annual convention in Atlanta, where I have been invited to present? Kindest regards Alan


Last changed: 10/22/12