[ Contents | Search | Next | Previous | Up ]
From: Alan Badmington
Date: 16 Oct 2006
Time: 10:03:14 -0500
Remote Name: 81.77.9.43
Hi Michael, Thank you for writing to me. It’s great to receive feedback – it confirms that our papers are being read ;-) I truly believe that it would be useful for other persons who stutter to examine their use of technology. I am also a strong advocate that we are all unique. Incidentally, did you read my poem, ‘Everyone’s Different’, that I wrote for the 2005 ISAD Online Conference? Here is the link: http://www.mnsu.edu/comdis/isad7/papers/badmington7/badmington27.html Although I now realise that I could probably have done more to reduce my avoidances in the past, I refuse to chastise myself for not doing so. My course of action appeared appropriate at the time because I did not understand the implications of avoidance (namely that it fuels the fear). I am what I am today because of my past experiences in life. I cannot change what happened. It is history, so I refuse to waste time even thinking about it. Instead (during the past six years), I have focussed my energy and efforts on things over which I have the power to influence/change (self-limiting beliefs, self-image, mindset, behaviours etc). With regard to your question, no-one prodded me during the years that I wore the Edinburgh Masker, because I was not receiving therapy throughout that period. However, I feel that I did a great deal (as a result of my own initiative) to challenge myself in those decades. (For example, I even volunteered to give poetry readings of my own work). However, I now know that I could have made greater efforts to counter avoidance of words/sounds. Sadly, I did not gain an understanding of the implications of such strategies until May 2000, when I joined a specific Programme. From that date, I readily accepted advice/guidance/suggestions as to how I might deal with my stuttering. I chose to adopt a policy of total non-avoidance – and have not wavered from that path in the past six years. If (as a speech-language pathologist) you suggest a particular course of action to a client, then I feel it is imperative that you also explain the reasons why you are recommending that he/she treads that path. It is not merely sufficient to ask clients to do something, even though you may consider it to be in their best interests. They are far more likely to cooperate (and come on board) when they have an understanding of the purpose of the request. Michael, I greatly appreciate your participation in the threaded discussion, and the generous sentiments that you expressed. Kindest regards Alan