International Stuttering Association

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Re: Informing the public

From: Jaan Pill
Date: 10/13/01
Time: 2:52:58 PM
Remote Name: 154.20.70.40

Comments

From an Internet article at http://www.usnews.com/usnews/issue/010402/stuttering.b1.htm here's still another way to say the same thing (about what non-stutters should "do" when in conversation with a person who stutters).

I've spent the last 14 years spending quite a bit of time (especially in the early years) writing press releases each time we had a CAPS (Canadian Association for People Who Stutter http://www.webcon.net/~caps/) national conference.

Between 1975 and 1980 I had worked as a freelance writer. That's the best possible experience for anyone who wants to get into the public relations field. Because I knew how to write press releases, all of the early CAPS conferences got extensive media coverage. Since then, thanks to the fact that CAPS conference organizers have brought in public relations professionals to help with press releases, the media response has been even more extensive.

At other times, rather then responding to press releases, the media in Canada would simply contact me for interviews, because they were familiar with my volunteer work on behalf of people who stutter.

In the early years, the message that got the biggest play (in TV and other interviews) was my comment that stuttering is one of the few disabilities that is still the butt of jokes. It's really important to say something that producers, editors, and listeners or readers can relate (emotionally) to at once.

When an interview has been set up, I advise the interview subject to rehearse three points that they want to get across. These days, I would be advising them to think about the points listed below with regard to the etiquette guide to speaking with stutterers (and points listed in the ASHA and BSA guidelines, referred to in earlier messages).

One bit of advice would remain the same as before: If a person is in a TV panel discussion, or in any kind of an interview, I would advise that person to stick to their message, no matter what questions are asked. In that way, you maintain control of the interview. Otherwise, the interview can end up with the interview subject confirming the message (which in some cases can be erroneous and misleading) that the interviewer had in mind when the interview began.

Here's the item from US News & World Report:

An etiquette guide

How to make conversation with a stutterer a less frustrating experience for everyone involved:

Patience and pacing. The cardinal rule is never finish a stutterer's sentence. It's insulting and even worse when the completed sentence is wrong. Also, use a relaxed pace in your own speech, but never so slow as to sound unnatural.

Body language. Use natural eye contact and facial gestures to show you're listening. Also, be aware of the special difficulty of phone conversation, in which such cues are missing.

No advice. Avoid remarks like "slow down," "take a deep breath," or "relax." Such simplistic, often demeaning advice doesn't help a stutterer.


Last changed: September 12, 2005