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From: Chris Roach
Date: 21 Oct 2004
Time: 22:01:51 -0500
Remote Name: 205.188.116.130
Brett, Thanks for your note. I'm going to refer you to an earlier ISAD paper I presented entitled, "Nobody Wants to Hear About Your Stuttering...They Want to Hear About You." The entire gist in a new work environment is to reach a point as soon as you can in which you acknowledge and reference your stuttering to your new co-workers. As we said in the interview, acknowledge it in a way as to what you do WITH your stuttering. Once that's out of the way, you'll sense that they sense you're confident, normal and open with this one (of many) aspects of who you are and what makes up your personality. THEN, get on with the normal things in life in a work environment to find acceptance -- participating, volunteering, sharing, joining, staying late, pitching in to help others in crunch time, learning, signing-up, etc. You understand. Sure, you stutter, but you're also someone with a lot to contribute, offer and support on the team. THAT's what your co-workers will see. Hard work, compassion, decency, core values, etc. The stuttering will never matter as long as you put it at the back of the line, where it belongs!! Good luck and thanks again, Chris