Dallas TWST Raises Stuttering Awareness

In honor of National Stuttering Awareness Week, the Dallas TWST (Teens Who STutter) Chapter activity included activities relating to “how to educate listeners about stuttering.” The following list of information was created by the chapter members, including teens who stutter, their parents, several SLPs, and an adult who stutters.”

Facts about Stuttering

Stuttering is a communication disorder
It is NOT a nervous disorder
Many famous and successful people stutter
More boys than girls stutter
3 million Americans stutter
There is NO CURE for stuttering
(our group thinks that stinks)
Stuttering is different for everyone
There is NO EASY FIX for stuttering
Early intervention is key
Stuttering doesn’t hold you back
Different strategies can be used to help stuttering
Tension makes it harder to get words out

What Listeners Can Do

Don’t fill in words or finish sentences
Keep eye contact
Don’t laugh at stuttering
Don’t mimic stuttering
Give the person time; don’t interrupt

Personal Insights from Teens
 

Stuttering is not something we can “help” or just “stop”
Teasing hurts our feelings
It’s OK to stutter!

Personal Insights from Parents

My child is not broken, we don’t need to “fix” him or her
Accept my child for who he/she is
I recognize my child’s strengths
Stuttering doesn’t need to limit anyone’s potential
I don’t want stuttering to hold my child back