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From: Christine Simpson
Date: 10/10/02
Time: 3:48:42 PM
Remote Name: 158.152.55.93
Kari, Vanna, Brett and Nora I was so moved by your papers about WWS. I particularly wanted to talk about WWS in the world of work. I have a particular interest in employment issues for people who stutter and you have refocused my thoughts about being a woman who stutters in the work place. It’s so important to know about other women’s experience. I’d like to tell you a little about me.
I’m Christine Simpson I live in London, UK with my partner Allan. I work as a Senior Customer Services Officer in a public library service in the suburbs of London. I’m responsible for the customer service in an area group of 6 libraries and I manage a team of customer service officers, I also manage a team of 15 staff at the library I am based. My job entails a lot of communication and I have a stutter which can be severe at times. This can be challenging but I’m lucky to have a lot of support from my workplace and my partner.
Last year the British Stammering Association (BSA) compiled an employment pack - http://www.stammering.org/employment.html - which contained a leaflet aimed at employers, explaining stuttering, giving practical suggestions to help PWS in the workplace and quoting case studies of PWS in the workplace. It includes a case study by the Head of the library service I work for about me. He was then asked to speak about what it’s like to employ a PWS at the launch of the employment pack. In that speech John made some excellent points about good communication not being just about fluency. In fact his speech could provide some good answers to Kari’s student who made the comment about a mechanic with no hands. An article based on John’s speech is available on the BSA website http://www.stammering.org/employment_launch_john.html
John’s support of me as a WWS helps a lot when I get negative comments about my speech from our customers as I do sometimes. It boosts my confidence enough to not let the adverse comments really upset me. I do think the workplace can often be particularly challenging for PWS for all sorts of reasons. My experience of the workplace has by and large been a very positive one, I hope other women will find my experience useful and I’d really like to hear from other women about their experiences. Please feel free to email me on red_squirrels@yahoo.co.uk