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From: Bob Quesal
Date: 10/3/02
Time: 8:52:49 AM
Remote Name: 143.43.201.67
Hi Kevin:
Thanks for the kind words.
What to do about those who don't get it? Hmmm.... A gun comest to mind, but that seems a bit drastic. ;-)>
As I tried to point out in the essay, I can forgive those who have a reason to be clueless. People can't be expected to understand everything about every difference and respond appropriately, so I think people who are offensive because of lay ignorance should be cut some slack. Someone said on one of the stuttlists a few years ago (I forget who, but it's a great quote) "Nowadays, more offense is taken than is given."
I suppose you could take that quote and say "Isn't that exactly what you're doing in this ISAD essay?" My reply would be that our colleagues don't get off as easily. SLPs should have a basic understanding of the disorder ("the behavior varies" is probably sufficient in many cases) and, I believe, a basic tolerance for stuttered speech. I think we as a profession can do more to help SLPs understand stuttering. Of course, as scope of practice grows, that may become more and more of a challenge.
But as far as folks like the one I quote in this essay, I'm afraid it's a lost cause. I have heard from a few people that this individual expressed sentiments similar to those in his letter to me to Dean Williams at a meeting in the early 1970s. On the one hand, I'm honored that I am deemed worthy of the same criticism leveled at my mentor. On the other hand, anyone who has been using the same shtick for over 30 years is clearly not going to change. I just hope to God that he is an isolated case and does not speak for some larger segment of fluency professionals who are hiding under rocks out there.
We just have to keep fighting the good fight. Although to be honest, some days I keep thinking I should just open a donut shop.
;-)>
BQ