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From: Kessa (Graduate SLP student)
Date: 20 Oct 2012
Time: 21:05:43 -0500
Remote Name: 75.100.191.247
I think you metaphor about "how do you learn to swim if you never get in the pool" in reference to individuals needing to be comfortable stuttering and with the fact that they do stutter is right on the money. This is a great metaphor to tell clients about a process like this that may help them to feel more in control. We may also need to help some of our clients through these steps at first until they are comfortable doing some of them on their own. I also think it is important that if the client wishes to work on speech control techniques after this that we do it. If a client can successfully use techniques to reduce the amount of stuttering that would be incredibly empowering for them. Then they are choosing when they are okay with openly stuttering and when they want to have more control of it. On a more personal note, as a person with a physical disability I found it really empowering to speak on a panel of college students with disabilities to other students. I have to say I consider myself to be very open and accepting about my disability, and I don't think I could do the subway experience (and my disability doesn't even affect my speech!). I am wondering if something like a question-answer session or panel would be more comfortable for many clients (at least as a step before the subway experience) because it would be individuals who were interested in knowing more about stuttering. Just a thought! Thank you so much for your insight; it was very helpful!