Some Stutter, Luh‪!‬ The Communication Collaborative

Description:

This bilingual episode of SSL! Podcast narrates Mounah Bizri’s inspiring journey who overcame disabilities like dysgraphia, dyspraxia, stuttering, and ADHD. Mounah founded “Eloquence de la Différence” in 2019, a nonprofit organization that offers a public speaking platform for individuals with disabilities to communicate freely and authentically. Mounah highlights the importance of self-acceptance and embracing one's strengths.

 

Notes:

Through his personal experiences, Mounah emphasizes the significance of loving oneself, acknowledging limitations. Despite facing bullying and challenges in his youth due to his disabilities and differences, Mounah pursued higher education and a successful career, eventually founding the “Eloquence de la Différence”. The program started in Paris and has since expanded to 5 cities, welcoming individuals with various disabilities such as stuttering, Down's syndrome, autism, and deafness, blindness, since they focus on people not disabilities. The program provides support for individuals to improve their communication skills and embrace their unique way of speaking. Mounah’s story exemplifies the transformative power of self-acceptance, resilience, and the importance of embracing diversity in communication initiatives.


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Greg chats with Carolina and Sang, a long distance couple who were brought - and kept - together by stuttering.


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S5E3: Sean BW Parker 

Description:

In this episode, Some Stutter, Luh! welcomes Sean BW Parker, a British writer, artist, musician, and academic specializing in cultural theory and justice reform to discuss his recently published book, "Compelling Speech: The Stammering Enigma." Sean shares his personal experience with stammering, highlighting the challenges he faced and the various therapies he underwent over the years. Sean expresses his pride in the unique aspects of his personality that come with stammering and he believes in a kind of natural fluency in which there is no need to hammer the stammer!  

Notes:

Following his 2013 Ted Talk on stammering and creativity, Sean BW Parker was inspired to write his autobiography on the subject, titled "Compelling Speech: The Stammering Enigma”.  Using a fun language in this book, Sean tracks the social and cultural-political context of communication differences through the cultural lens. Sean discusses the origins of his stammer, attributing it to a mix of genetic factors, upbringing, and personal experiences. Pointing to his personal journey with stammering, he reflects on the interplay between nature and nurture. Defining natural fluency as the ease of communication, Sean suggests that if one can stammer easily, it can be considered a form of fluency. Through the concept of "Stammering Pride," he explores how confidence and directness can, at times, reduce stammering. Sean believes in the multifaceted nature of people who stammer and encourages individuals not to limit themselves based on their speech impediment. Discussing reviews of his book, he particularly values feedback from Jack Nicholas and Joann Williams, appreciating reviews that acknowledge the complexity and interest in his writing rather than providing simplistic praise. Finally, Sean emphasizes the importance of embracing the present moment, minimizing expectations, and the value of thinking less.


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Today, October 22, 2020 is International Stuttering Awareness Day (ISAD).



I’d like to take a few moments out of your time to share a recent experience that happened to me when I was asked about the significance and importance of ISAD.  



My name is Greg O’Grady. I am Chair of the Newfoundland and Labrador Stuttering Association, Host of SOME STUTTER, LUH!. I am also a professional stutterer, who specializes in covert stuttering. 



I introduce myself this way, as a professional stutterer, who specializes in covert stuttering to remind myself of my many yesteryears and attempts at camouflaging or hiding my stutter out of shame and humiliation. I desperately wanted to be accepted and approved, and to gain access to fluent, abled-body privileges. I am a person who stutters, and those privileges are not mine. 



On October 17, I attended a City of Mount Pearl Public Council meeting to accept and speak to the Newfoundland and Labrador Stuttering Association's request to have October 22 Proclaimed as ISAD in the City of Mount Pearl. City Councillors and other community individuals were in attendance. 



While standing beside the Mayor of the City of Mount Pearl, David Aker, listening to him proclaim ISAD in my city, I felt myself becoming overwhelmed with emotion.  Once Mayor Aker finished reading our Proclamation, he handed me the microphone, and asked me to share the significance and importance of ISAD.  As hard as I tried to choke down and to control my emotions erupting within me, as soon as I attempted to speak, the flood gates opened.  For what seemed like and eternity, I struggled through my tears attempting to articulate the importance of ISAD.  As I looked around the room, I saw in the eyes of those in attendance, looks of discomfort, surprised, and yet, looks of caring and compassion. 



Few people understand how stuttering can  have devastating educational, emotional and psychological, social, physically, spiritual,  and vocational affects on children, adolescents, adults and seniors who stutter throughout life.  



Based on my years of lived experience, living with a severe stutter, I feel that stuttering is TRAUMA. 



As I reflect now on struggling to articulate the significance and importance of ISAD, what I considered an embarrassing and humiliating experience, was in reality, my “VOICE” when I could not speak.  



Those tears ARE my VOICE. 

 

My TEARS communicated so clearly and echoed loudly, the TRAUMA associated with stuttering - more than any words possibly could. 



My TEARS gave VOICE to our global community of people who stutter; raising awareness, education, understanding and acceptance of stuttering.   



And so, I sincerely want to thank Mayor David Aker, the City of Mount Pearl Councillors, and others in attendance, for providing me an opportunity and a safe space to able to articulate through TEARS, the TRAUMA that stuttering can inflict on approximately 1% of the population; the 70 million people worldwide who stutter.   



Happy ISAD!

Greg



   


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Transcript: S5E2 Kellina Powell.docx

Description: In this episode of Some Stutter Luh! we welcome Kellina Powell, a writer, professional coach and advocate specializing in mental health and empowerment for young adults with disabilities. Kellina shares her journey and lived experiences as a hard of hearing individual. She became a coach to empower young adults with disabilities, especially in the deaf community. So, be all ears to DEAF QUEEN BOSS who believes that we must live life to the fullest!

Notes: Kellina Powell is a passionate advocate for people with disabilities, particularly in the deaf community. She became a professional coach and advocate specializing in mental health and empowerment for young adults with disabilities due to her personal experiences and a desire to make a difference.

Kellina believes communication is about being flexible in order to really understand a person’s voice. In her book "Every Day I Am Just Deaf: Life in a Hearing World with Deaf Queen Boss," Kellina shares her daily experiences as a deaf individual in a hearing world. The book discusses various aspects of her life, including relationships, mental health, and the challenges of communication. It aims to raise awareness and promote understanding of the deaf community's challenges and abilities.

As a professional coach and advocate specializing in mental health and empowerment, she can provide valuable support to individuals in the stuttering community. She can assist them in building self-esteem, improving mental health, enhancing employment opportunities, and boosting overall quality of life. Kellina uses techniques like role-playing and goal setting to help clients gradually become more comfortable with communication, including phone calls.

At the end of the interview, Kellina emphasizes the need for better support systems and government policies to assist people with disabilities and mental health concerns. She also encourages people to live life to the fullest, let go of negativity, and have fun.

Kellina's book is available here: https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/everyday-i-am-just-deaf-life-in-a-hearing-world-with-deaf-queen-boss/9781778112102.html


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This special episode of Some Stutter Luh! welcomes individuals who stutter from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Maryam and Greg engage in a discussion centered around an interview with Parsa, a bilingual Persian-Kurdish individual living in Iran, who also stutters. The conversation commences by addressing the significance of speaking about stuttering in various societies and cultures. While stuttering itself possesses consistent characteristics, it is the cultural context that influences the unique experiences of individuals with stuttering. So, let’s look at stuttering through the lens of cultural differences!

The discussion delves into how different cultures define disability, offering explanations and examples that elucidate how cultural norms and laws can influence the acceptance of certain disabilities within society. Greg and Maryam also discuss the ongoing debate within the stuttering community regarding whether stuttering should be classified as a disability, considering the impact it has on individuals' lives.

One of the key highlights is Maryam's personal experience connecting with Parsa, an individual who stutters, emphasizing the significance of acceptance and support. Parsa's journey and comfort with stuttering offer a unique perspective on embracing one's identity.

As the episode concludes, Maryam and Greg express their commitment to exploring the diverse cultural facets of stuttering, underscoring the importance of raising awareness and advocating for the rights of individuals with disabilities worldwide.

The book mentioned in the episode is: Disability in Different Cultures: Reflections on Local Concepts, available at https://www.amazon.com/Disability-Dif...


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