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Just got home from our meeting. There were about 12 people there, with three graduate SLP students. We started out with our routine 5 minute meditation (thanks for putting up with me, guys), then transitioned into a discussion about how to persevere when we are having a hard time. Mark W. asked the group how we maintain our confidence in the face of increased physical struggle. There was no clear answer, but it seemed that reminding ourselves that we are doing the “right thing” by continuing to speak our minds in spite of the struggle can help. After a short listening exercise, the meeting took a bit of a darker turn…

More than one member shared an experience in which they had been let go or threatened to be held back at their job explicitly because of how they speak. I think it is safe to say that this is either a nightmare or painful memory that all people who stutter share. And it is bullshit, fueled by dangerous misunderstandings of stuttering and people who stutter. One of the members that shared is a medical doctor who has worked hard and proven himself to get where he is, and is now putting up a brave and difficult fight for his career and for what is right. The law (and this group) are on his side, so we are sure he will win. But this issue will come up again and again for many of us, so its important to share these experiences with each other.

StutterTalk has recorded a number of shows about workplace discrimination and the American Disabilities Act (ADA), which has important implications for our community. Check out this link to find out more.

If anyone has stories of their own they would like to share with the group, please feel free to email it out to all of us! Together we are strong, right?

Until March…