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From: Joe Mirly
Date: 12 Oct 2005
Time: 12:30:36 -0500
Remote Name: 131.107.0.104
Hi Amy - Thanks for taking the time to read my paper. I guess I was lucky in that I wasn't really teased that much in school for my stuttering - and looking back most of the bad feelings that I may have harbored in regard to my speech were self-imposed. There were some instances of teasing - but not many. I had lots of friends and for the most part I was readily accepted. I think however that if the school therapist had a better approach to stuttering it wouldn't have taken me so long to face it, and I may of arrived at acceptance sooner. As it was I did feel fairly isolated (in a stuttering sense) and went to lengths to ignore learning anything about stuttering. What suggestions might I offer school therapists today? That is an interesting question. I think doing something that may help allieviate the misconceptions or lack of knowledge about stuttering and/or speech disorders in general is what is needed. The fluent kids simply don't know anything about stuttering, or lisps, or whatever - so that makes it that much easier to tease. If the therapist worked with the teachers to create a classroom presentation or something where the student body learned about communication issues it might reduce the teasing. Its all about education, isn't it. There is a local high school over here that does something unique - and really very cool. They hold an annual Day of Respect where they invite people in to speak to various social issues. It is really a broad spectrum, from Gay/Lesbian issues to physical handicaps of all flavors. Also included are things like English as a second language, religious differences, and everything else under the sun. Last year there were perhaps 30 different topics. The students rotate around to different presentations throughout the day and then get together to talk about what they learned, and then write papers on subjects of their choice. The students get to learn about a myriad of issues - directly from the source - and that goes a long way toward developing a sense of respect toward people different from themselves. More of this is needed in the schools, and stuttering and other commmunication disorders are certainly good candidates for discussion. I wish you and your daughter well in your journey. If I could say one last thing - it would be support! Support, support, support. Knowing that you are not alone, and that it is ok to stutter, go such a long way in the life of a person who stutters. Check out the NSA to see if there are any youth groups or resources in your area - or take the discussion with me off-line and I'd be happy to assist. jmirly@Microsoft.com. Thanks! Joe