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From: Ken St. Louis
Date: 19 Oct 2006
Time: 08:57:48 -0500
Remote Name: 157.182.15.42
Dear Kathryn, If you read my replies, you'll see that I don't quite agree with your conclusion. Yes, some stutterers are going to tell us which term they prefer. In general, we will almost certainly comply, but there are no doubt exceptions. If a stutterer told me that he was "disfluent" but did not "stutter," I probably would respectfully disagree. And tell him why. If on the other hand, he said that he did not regard himself as a "stutterer" but a "person who stutters," I would probably say, I understand the distinction, and I'll try to remember to refer you that way to others, but I am going to address you by your name. I would continue and tell him that I am a stutterer, and I prefer the name "stutterer" for myself. I would assume that my being empathetic, sensitive, knowledgable, experienced, concerned, etc. will communicate amply that I know there is more him than the fact that he stuttered. Ken