Alan (left) at Santa Clara with Mel Hoffman, member of the International Stuttering Association Advisory Board.

About Alan During the past 10 years, Alan has become an extremely active and highly successful public speaker, winning numerous trophies (in competition with fluent contestants). He regularly addresses community organisations in the UK about stammering, and has undertaken many BBC radio interviews. He has travelled extensively to fulfil speaking engagements, including visiting the US, Australia, and Scandinavia. Alan is engaged as a motivational speaker for personal growth programmes, and has written many articles and poems about stammering.

Increasing awareness for therapists

By Alan Badmington

To celebrate US National Stuttering Awareness Week last May, I completed the 11,000 miles transatlantic return journey from Wales to California to undertake the role of guest speaker at the annual luncheon of the Santa Clara County Speech-Language-Hearing Association. In my talk (entitled 'Lost for Words'), I recounted my lifetime struggles with stammering, while also sharing the many exciting and challenging paths that I have trodden in recent times. I included several humorous personal anecdotes because I strongly believe that laughter can be an important and powerful tool with which to convey a specific message.

My presentation also touched upon the implications of avoidance; the restrictions imposed by our disempowering beliefs and limited self-image; as well as the importance of expanding our comfort zones in order to achieve personal growth. I took the opportunity to tell the audience, which comprised principally speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and students, that, in my opinion, addressing the mechanics of our speech (in isolation) has only limited value. I explained how changing my stuttering mindset had allowed me to enjoy permanent gains. Although our long-established beliefs may be deeply entrenched, it is important to understand that they are NOT set in stone. The realisation that I could reappraise (and adjust) my beliefs was hugely empowering and a cornerstone of the advances I have made during recent times.

Over the years, I have addressed speech-language pathology students at numerous universities in the US. I genuinely believe that such interaction is to our mutual benefit, while it has also allowed me to step outside my comfort zones. I encourage other persons who stammer to seek out similar opportunities, possibly a little nearer to home.

For more by Alan see Accustomed as I am..., including links at end of page.

From the Autumn 2010 issue of 'Speaking Out', page 13