January 27th, 2021

Post date: January 4, 2021

We had a great meeting! Six of us arrived "on screen" and we welcomed new member, Andy Lynn, who has recently moved to Maine. Welcome! And, again, why didn't I remember to take a screenshot?! Someone needs to remind me next month! 

We started off the meeting with some basic introductions to help Andy get to know us a bit. This led into discussion of past therapies and all THAT entails. Therapy seems to be a mixed bag for all of us... sometimes sending a too strong message that "fluency is the BEST (and only?) option". However, we also agreed (I think) that a better approach is when we understand that "stuttering is OK, it is who I am and I like me" and that therapy tools are ours to CHOOSE to use when I feel the need to talk easier and more fluent.  In the worst case scenario, we all had sympathy and support for those who told us about horrible experiences of being punished and made to feel that stuttering was unacceptable. We referred a few times to the article published on the ISAD Conference website I sent around before the meeting written by Michael Boyle, "Reflections on the Process of Looking at Stuttering Differently."