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From: John Wade
Date: 10/9/03
Time: 2:08:15 PM
Remote Name: 129.237.191.219
Christina,
You raise a very tough issue - how to get people to attend support groups. Obviously, there is no easy answer. For the past several years attendance at group functions in general has been declining. Also, I think that the idea of attending a meeting with a group of other people who stutter to discuss stuttering seems threatening to many people, at least initially. But I think that is exactly why participation in a support group can be so beneficial - to confront the fears directly and become more comfortable in social situations. Many active members of the National Stuttering Association can readily attest to the power of the support group - feeling accepted and understood, positive role modeling, etc. But I agree with you, I think that the person's readiness is a major factor. Attending a support meeting involves at least some willingness to openly acknowledge oneself as a person who stutters.
I would certainly appreciate hearing other people's ideas and feedback on this topic.
John