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From: Alan Badmington (to Sze)
Date: 23 Oct 2006
Time: 12:02:26 -0500
Remote Name: 84.64.23.186
Hi Sze, Thank you for your kind comments. You are correct when you state that I was removed from operational duties because of my speech. Certain supervisors felt that it was better for me to develop my skills in other areas, where speech was not so important. I had to respect that decision – in those days (around about the time that the wheel was invented) it was not possible to challenge the decision. ;-) I subsequently came to be acknowledged as a skilled administrator/organiser, so I suppose every cloud has a silver lining'. ;-) After wearing the Edinburgh Masker for several years, I convinced my employers that I could fulfil an operational role with far less difficulty, and returned to outside duties. Wearing the Masker for 20 years undoubtedly gave me greater self-confidence, as I was able to venture into situations that I would (otherwise) have avoided. Expanding comfort zones certainly assists personal growth. When you achieve something that you, hitherto, considered impossible, it causes you to reconsider your self-limiting beliefs. If we conquer something that has challenged our advancement, we grow in stature. It opens our eyes to possibilities that we could never have imagined. I did not receive any therapy whilst wearing the Masker, so I didn’t really have any other options. You may gain a better insight into my situation by reading the following articles that I have written: (1) 'Stuttering is not just a speech problem’. http://www.mnsu.edu/comdis/kuster/Infostuttering/badmington.pdf ; or http://www.stammering.org/conf2001_alanbadmington/index.html (2) ‘How I changed my stuttering mindset’: http://www.mnsu.edu/comdis/isad8/papers/badmington8.html (2) 'STEP OUTSIDE: (3) ‘Why expanding comfort zones can improve our stuttering and lead to more fulfilling lives': http://www.mnsu.edu/comdis/isad6/papers/badmington6.html I wish you every success with your studies at the College of Saint Rose. Please give my best wishes to Joe Klein, whom I met earlier this year. Kindest regards Alan