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Effects of Mr. Angry (my stammer) in school
- Tries to make fun of me.
- I know the answer but I don’t want to say it.
- I put in the wrong answer so I don’t get stuck.
- Sometimes act like I am thinking then when I am ready to say it I say it.
- In the yard I don’t do it all because I am not worried about him, just concentrating about what I am playing.
Related files
Committee for the Big Stutter Party
Self disclosure/stereotype threat:
- Children can develop a “growth mindset” through learning that success takes effort.
- mistakes are opportunities to learn and grow from.
- This mindset encourages children to seek out new challenges and fulfil their potential.
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Therapeutic practices must adapt to shifts in the conditions of people’s lives.
— Winslade (2013)
It is no longer enough to give people a relationship in which they are free from being judged. What they need is an opportunity to actively deconstruct the normalising judgements operating on them and to push back against the effects of these judgements.
— Winslade, p.8 (2013)
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Committee for the Big Stutter Party
Self disclosure/stereotype threat:
- Children can develop a “growth mindset” through learning that success takes effort.
- mistakes are opportunities to learn and grow from.
- This mindset encourages children to seek out new challenges and fulfil their potential.
<hr>
Therapeutic practices must adapt to shifts in the conditions of people’s lives.
— Winslade (2013)
It is no longer enough to give people a relationship in which they are free from being judged. What they need is an opportunity to actively deconstruct the normalising judgements operating on them and to push back against the effects of these judgements.
— Winslade, p.8 (2013)
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More than two in five adolescents reported often keeping their stuttering secret and a further one in five said they sometimes kept it secret.
— Erickson & Block (2013)
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I wanted to be different, I just didn’t want the difference to be stuttering.
— Client
More than two in five adolescents reported often keeping their stuttering secret and a further one in five said they sometimes kept it secret.
— Erickson & Block (2013)
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I wanted to be different, I just didn’t want the difference to be stuttering.
— Client
Medical Model
- Deficit driven.
- Cure/fix.
- What needs to change (generally a behaviour in this instance speech.
- Who needs to change: the person attending therapy.
<hr>
Social model
- Impairment versus disability.
- Promote/enhance/facilitate.
- What needs to change?
- Who needs to change?
Medical Model
- Deficit driven.
- Cure/fix.
- What needs to change (generally a behaviour in this instance speech.
- Who needs to change: the person attending therapy.
<hr>
Social model
- Impairment versus disability.
- Promote/enhance/facilitate.
- What needs to change?
- Who needs to change?
The Questions we need to ask
Who needs to change? What do they/we need to change?
Acknowledging the natural variation, the unique skills, experiences and traits of neurodivergent children.
— Constantino (2018)
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Client who stutters
What do they understand about stuttering? And their stuttering in particular?
Cons for the Client
- Exposure: "I stutter".
- Risk of failure.
- Lack of acceptance by self and others .
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The Speech and Language Therapist
What do we understand about stuttering? Turn the tables on the process of normalising judgement As therapists we need to enquire into what a person thinks of the judgement they have been assigned. What if stuttering was the norm? If stuttering was cool…
Cons for the Therapist
- Exposing beliefs contrary to the medical model.
- Perceived risk of ‘failure’.
- Lack of acceptance by peers, clients and client's families.
<hr>
Who needs to change?
How do we do this? Is this our responsibility alone?
- Ourselves as SLTs
- Families.
- Parents.
- Teachers.
- Employers.
- School systems.
- Health services.
- Shop keepers.
The Questions we need to ask
Who needs to change? What do they/we need to change?
Acknowledging the natural variation, the unique skills, experiences and traits of neurodivergent children.
— Constantino (2018)
<hr>
Client who stutters
What do they understand about stuttering? And their stuttering in particular?
Cons for the Client
- Exposure: "I stutter".
- Risk of failure.
- Lack of acceptance by self and others .
<hr>
The Speech and Language Therapist
What do we understand about stuttering? Turn the tables on the process of normalising judgement As therapists we need to enquire into what a person thinks of the judgement they have been assigned. What if stuttering was the norm? If stuttering was cool…
Cons for the Therapist
- Exposing beliefs contrary to the medical model.
- Perceived risk of ‘failure’.
- Lack of acceptance by peers, clients and client's families.
<hr>
Who needs to change?
How do we do this? Is this our responsibility alone?
- Ourselves as SLTs
- Families.
- Parents.
- Teachers.
- Employers.
- School systems.
- Health services.
- Shop keepers.
We send a clear message of non acceptance (desire, ability, reasons and need). We become part of a perfectionist society rather than the ‘good enough’ society. We create a dichotomy of success/failure.
— Campbell (2019)
We send a clear message of non acceptance (desire, ability, reasons and need). We become part of a perfectionist society rather than the ‘good enough’ society. We create a dichotomy of success/failure.
— Campbell (2019)
Publication
The action of making something generally known.
— Oxford Dictionary
The format that the text / typeface is packaged in is as important as the textual content or typeface itself. Kind of like how in JJJJJerome’s work, there’s an interesting relationship to song or score sheets, through his use of a publication that is linked to his music. The format of this requires a unique level of engagement from the reader and listener.
Since I created the first issue of Dysfluent, I have been thinking about how the format of a publication defines the intent behind the work. It made me think about while there is a certain power to publication, there is also a quietness and consideration to it. At least from a design or artistic perspective, it requires a great deal of engagement from the viewer.
<hr>
Protest
A statement or action expressing disapproval of or objection to something.
— Oxford Dictionary
Recently I have been thinking of this concept of display, or posters, or for lack of a better term, protest.
Protest to me is really interesting from a creative or design stand point. For a person to display a poster, it is a deliberate act of reflecting an inner voice or identity, for the world to see.
I think of teenagers pinning up posters in their bedrooms, and of people marching on the streets voicing concerns. There is a certain passion or aggression (maybe not the right word?) to the idea of posters.
How does the idea of protest or display speak to earlier discussions on stigma?
I was interested to see what Fiona showed earlier in our talks, that banner where children visualised their stammer. There is something really nice there in terms of displaying their dysfluency.
It gets me thinking then. What is the content of the posters? What do they say? Do they need to say anything? or can they just be visualisations of dysfluency?
Publication
The action of making something generally known.
— Oxford Dictionary
The format that the text / typeface is packaged in is as important as the textual content or typeface itself. Kind of like how in JJJJJerome’s work, there’s an interesting relationship to song or score sheets, through his use of a publication that is linked to his music. The format of this requires a unique level of engagement from the reader and listener.
Since I created the first issue of Dysfluent, I have been thinking about how the format of a publication defines the intent behind the work. It made me think about while there is a certain power to publication, there is also a quietness and consideration to it. At least from a design or artistic perspective, it requires a great deal of engagement from the viewer.
<hr>
Protest
A statement or action expressing disapproval of or objection to something.
— Oxford Dictionary
Recently I have been thinking of this concept of display, or posters, or for lack of a better term, protest.
Protest to me is really interesting from a creative or design stand point. For a person to display a poster, it is a deliberate act of reflecting an inner voice or identity, for the world to see.
I think of teenagers pinning up posters in their bedrooms, and of people marching on the streets voicing concerns. There is a certain passion or aggression (maybe not the right word?) to the idea of posters.
How does the idea of protest or display speak to earlier discussions on stigma?
I was interested to see what Fiona showed earlier in our talks, that banner where children visualised their stammer. There is something really nice there in terms of displaying their dysfluency.
It gets me thinking then. What is the content of the posters? What do they say? Do they need to say anything? or can they just be visualisations of dysfluency?
Sveinn Snær Kristjánsson, Malbjorg (National Stuttering Association in Iceland).
- Sveinn Snær Kristjánsson. My Photo Project Shows That Stuttering Should Not Be Ashamed Of.
You have to see yourself in society to be a part of that society
Visual activism to confront and challenge societal preconceptions:
Look → Think → Act
Simi Linton (1998) in Claiming Disability: Knowledge and Identity quoted by Rosemarie Garland-Thomson: "We wield that white cane, or ride that wheelchair or limp that limp” … luxuriate in that stammer?
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The portrait invites us to stare, engrossed perhaps less with the “strangeness” of this woman’s disability and more with the strangeness of witnessing such dignity in a face that marks a life we have learned to imagine as unliveable and unworthy, as the kind of person we routinely detect in advance through medical technology and eliminate from our human community.
— Garland-Thomson (2009)
Flaunt the visible marks of disability. The relish with which disabled people can live their identity and present themselves to the starees.
You have to see yourself in society to be a part of that society
Visual activism to confront and challenge societal preconceptions:
Look → Think → Act
Simi Linton (1998) in Claiming Disability: Knowledge and Identity quoted by Rosemarie Garland-Thomson: "We wield that white cane, or ride that wheelchair or limp that limp” … luxuriate in that stammer?
<hr>
The portrait invites us to stare, engrossed perhaps less with the “strangeness” of this woman’s disability and more with the strangeness of witnessing such dignity in a face that marks a life we have learned to imagine as unliveable and unworthy, as the kind of person we routinely detect in advance through medical technology and eliminate from our human community.
— Garland-Thomson (2009)
Flaunt the visible marks of disability. The relish with which disabled people can live their identity and present themselves to the starees.
Stammered Gaze. Portrait of Patrick Campbell Stammering. Oil on board 9 x 12 inches. Painting by Paul Aston.
Patrick is a Doctor and a co-author of 'Stammering Pride and Prejudice, Difference not Defect'. Here are Patrick's thoughts on the painting:
'I wanted this portrait to tell my story of stammering. Stammerers do not always get the chance to tell own their story. We are typically type-cast into the role of tragedy, inspiration or clown depending on what seems to best fit the occasion. The gaze of fluent people often decides how we are seen and perceived. Here, I wanted stammerers to take control of the lens/paintbrush.
I chose the location. A local park I love with cute dogs. I tried to stammer on the letter ‘P’. The letter has been a source of anguish over many years as I introduced myself, but these days I try to see stammering as a part of myself, a part of my identity. ‘P-P-Patrick’. I chose a jumper that (in theory) I own but my girlfriend spends more time wearing than me. This reflects that stammering is a shared experience, sometimes an intimate one, with others.
In the background, you may notice a magpie or two sitting among the birch trees. I wanted my northern routes to be a part of the picture as well as my stammer. The magpie is Paul’s representation of this (the symbol of Newcastle United Football Club). The birch trees are Paul’s idea too. A pioneer species that often starts off a new woodland. Make of that what you will, apparently the original black pines of the park were too difficult to integrate into the portrait.
The scene for the portrait is designed by a stammerer; photographed and painted by stammerer; of a stammerer stammering. The stammered gaze.'
- Campbell, P., Constantino, C., Simpson, S. (Eds) (2019) Stammering: Pride & Prejudice. Surrey, UK: J & R Press.
Self portrait stuttering. Oil on board 23 x 31cm. Painting by Paul Aston.
I have a stutter that has helped to shape my life in several ways. Recently I have started to accept my stutter as an integral part of what makes me who I am and feel really happy about it . I've been trying to find positive portraits of stuttering in art history and have drawn a blank so far so I thought I'd make my own. The inspiration came from Giovanni Bellini's 'St. Francis in the Desert' in the Frick collection. In this painting the saints head is thrown back while he receives the stigmata. It has a strangely familiar quality to me - that temporary loss of control over your body which looks similar to the experience of stuttering. I've attempted to create the atmosphere of this temporary loss of control in this piece.
Stammered Gaze. Portrait of Patrick Campbell Stammering. Oil on board 9 x 12 inches. Painting by Paul Aston.
Patrick is a Doctor and a co-author of 'Stammering Pride and Prejudice, Difference not Defect'. Here are Patrick's thoughts on the painting:
'I wanted this portrait to tell my story of stammering. Stammerers do not always get the chance to tell own their story. We are typically type-cast into the role of tragedy, inspiration or clown depending on what seems to best fit the occasion. The gaze of fluent people often decides how we are seen and perceived. Here, I wanted stammerers to take control of the lens/paintbrush.
I chose the location. A local park I love with cute dogs. I tried to stammer on the letter ‘P’. The letter has been a source of anguish over many years as I introduced myself, but these days I try to see stammering as a part of myself, a part of my identity. ‘P-P-Patrick’. I chose a jumper that (in theory) I own but my girlfriend spends more time wearing than me. This reflects that stammering is a shared experience, sometimes an intimate one, with others.
In the background, you may notice a magpie or two sitting among the birch trees. I wanted my northern routes to be a part of the picture as well as my stammer. The magpie is Paul’s representation of this (the symbol of Newcastle United Football Club). The birch trees are Paul’s idea too. A pioneer species that often starts off a new woodland. Make of that what you will, apparently the original black pines of the park were too difficult to integrate into the portrait.
The scene for the portrait is designed by a stammerer; photographed and painted by stammerer; of a stammerer stammering. The stammered gaze.'
- Campbell, P., Constantino, C., Simpson, S. (Eds) (2019) Stammering: Pride & Prejudice. Surrey, UK: J & R Press.
Portrait of Ramdeep Romann stammering. Oil on board 12 x 12 inches. Painting by Paul Aston.
Here are Ramdeep’s thoughts on his life with a stutter and this portrait collaboration.
“I have spent most of my life hiding my stammer, deeply ashamed of how I would be perceived by my peers if I were to block on some dreaded sound. This irrational and toxic fear was borne from a life seeing stammerers being portrayed in the most insensitive way possible on virtually every form of media I have ever watched. I cannot count the opportunities I turned down or denied myself; too many times I hid in silence instead of speaking my mind for fear of humiliating myself with this disability. For too long I thought a competent doctor should not stammer.
But finally meeting other stammerers and realising there is a whole community campaigning for our stuttered voice to be heard made me realise that I have nothing to be ashamed of, nothing to apologise for. My stammer is a part of who I am, WHAT I say is more important than HOW I say it, and I will never allow it to silence me again.
This beautiful painting by my friend Paul shows me finally turning away from the darkness and facing the light, with a stammered word etched on my face but my gaze still turned forward and upwards, unashamed and uncowed. The hospital scrubs represent my new found pride in embracing myself as a doctor who stammers.”
Self portrait stuttering. Oil on board 23 x 31cm. Painting by Paul Aston.
I have a stutter that has helped to shape my life in several ways. Recently I have started to accept my stutter as an integral part of what makes me who I am and feel really happy about it . I've been trying to find positive portraits of stuttering in art history and have drawn a blank so far so I thought I'd make my own. The inspiration came from Giovanni Bellini's 'St. Francis in the Desert' in the Frick collection. In this painting the saints head is thrown back while he receives the stigmata. It has a strangely familiar quality to me - that temporary loss of control over your body which looks similar to the experience of stuttering. I've attempted to create the atmosphere of this temporary loss of control in this piece.
Giovanni Bellini St. Francis in the desert. Painted c. 1480 in Venice. Frick Collection, New York.
'I became fascinated by the expression on St. Francis's face in this painting by Giovanni Bellini. It seemed to mirror my experience of the temporary loss of control over my body while stammerin.' – Paul Aston.