commentr/StutterMarch 17, 2023

Content

First of all, you should be proud of yourself for stepping outside of your comfort zone and facilitating these webinars. I am in the same situation. I'm a National Trainer for hospitals, and I speak, give presentations and webinars for medical professionals. Before I start anything, I make a disclosure: "Good morning, I'll be your Trainer/Speaker for today, and I have a speech impediment........I have a stutter. If you hear me block on a word, just give me 8 hours, and hopefully, the word will come out (hold for nervous audience laughter). If you know what I'm trying to say, help me help you help me because I believe that teamwork makes the dream work". After I disclose, I get it out there so that everyone knows what to expect and THEN I can focus on my presentation material. The best part is that when I do block and they KNOW what I'm trying to say, I get audience participation. After my presentation/training session, I get a huge applause 👏 and positive feedback sent via survey. Do not put too much pressure on yourself. I am at the point in my life where I don't care if I stutter; I don't focus on it. I've lived 35 years in Fear because of my stutter and now I'm in charge, not my stutter. Please do not forget how f@#$%% AMAZING we are! We are courageous, creative, resourceful and resilient. If you love your job, you go out there and you smash it! If you stutter, oh well, it happens. For me, my stutter is moderate and random. I'm going to keep being F#%%^^ AWESOME, stutter and all.

Themes

Social & RelationshipsAnticipation & AvoidanceEmotional ExperienceIdentity & Disability

Subthemes

Disclosure & Telling OthersAvoidance & SubstitutionHope & MotivationIdentity & Self-Perception

Codes (1)

public_speaking