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From: Alan Badmington
Date: 21 Oct 2004
Time: 17:46:52 -0500
Remote Name: 81.79.205.66
Hi Rebecca, I guess I became more open about my stutter as I grew older (I suppose it came with maturity) ;-) However, the major change has occurred during the past 4 years - when my dear wife persuaded me to make one final effort to come to terms with my speech difficulties. The programme that I selected to assist me ecourages a holistic approach - including self-acceptance, openness and desensitization. This involved speaking to complete strangers in the street; on public transport; at airports; in restaurants - indeed anywhere - and telling them about my stuttering history. As I gained in confidence, I took part in television and radio interviews - as well as talking to other sections of the media. I also commenced an extensive programme of talks to community groups in an attempt to further increase public awareness about stuttering. Today, I no longer think about stuttering - I do not experience any embarrassment or hang-ups. And what's more, I have found that people are genuinely interested in what stuttering involves. Being open is to our mutual advantage. May I wish you every success with your studies. Participating in events such as this will prove invaluable. Thank you