The Professional Is In

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Re: Touching the stuttering itself

From: Ed Feuer
Date: 06 Oct 2012
Time: 10:47:38 -0500
Remote Name: 207.161.157.111

Comments

If they're defensive, Pam, it's because there's much to be defensive about, given the stagnation. Let's remember that crucial elements of the stuttering problem and its treatment have not been solved. That’s why what's very much needed is forthright, critical examination of the profession and its practices. And that would, of course, include healthy and invigorating debate, which the profession should not fear but welcome. That's what science and human progress are all about. With that in mind, you will see from past conferences that I offer criticisms and I offer ideas. I interpret the lack of response from the professionals as indicating they cannot defend the indefensible and most of them just don't like the ideas because of the inconvenience to them that implementation would bring. For some, taking advice and criticism on treatment delivery from PWS (some of the time) is viewed with the same disdain they'd have in taking advice and criticism on treatment delivery from aphasics or people with swallowing disorders — with all due respect to people with aphasia and swallowing disorders. Those who do like my ideas are inhibited from saying so by what I've described as a code of silence. I want to encourage the idealistic, progressive-minded students and newly minted SLPs to think outside the box before they become invested in the status quo. Above all, I want to encourage critical thinking which I often think has left the building. Finally, Pam, let us heed the words of Jim McClure, NSA board member and consumer representative on the ASHA specialty board of fluency disorders, who posted the following on the Stutt-L listserv on Dec. 20, 2010: “Consumers generally get what they demand if significant numbers of them are organized and persistent enough to make their presence felt in the marketplace and legal arena. So far, unfortunately, people who stutter have been less than demanding.” Pam, we need to be more demanding. — Ed Feuer edfeuer@mts.net


Last changed: 10/22/12