#HearThePerson Campaign From Scotland
This video from the Scottish Stammering Network has gone a bit viral, and for good reason. John McIntosh of Glasgow chose not to speak at his own father’s funeral. 28 years after his dad died, John, now 58, finally decides to “tell” his dad why he chose not to speak up that day.
In the emotional film John Macintosh says:
“I let that whole day pass me by without a word, and worse, I pretended it was because there was nothing really to say. Why was I so completely unable to do what had to be done? Because of my stammer. I let it beat me again”
(The Chair of the Scottish Stammering Association, James Stewart, kindly gave permission for this important video to be shared here. The Scottish Stammering Association intends to release similar personal videos once per week leading up to October 22, which is of course ISAD day.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=13&v=xveNpAU9gaM
This video was extremely moving and motivating as a speech-language pathology student. Your desire to speak at your dad’s funeral but holding it in, is the struggle that I as a professional want to provide comfort in. While I cannot personally understand the struggle you have gone through in the aftermath of these emotions and not speaking that day, I can say that you should not feel guilt or shame for this event. I find it very courageous for you to speak out in this emotional event in your life.
As a speech-language pathology student, it is amazing to hear your story. You are making a difference in the lives of many people who have similar challenges with fluent speech and I’m sure your father is proud. For those who hear your story, I hope you inspire them to do courageous acts and to join your campaign.
I also found it inspiring to learn that you became a teacher 5 years after you lost your father. What motivated you to teach? What is the number one thing you hope your students learn from you?
Thank you for sharing your story. I look forward to hearing from you!
Thank you for sharing this. I loved listening to how you have taken an unfavorable moment from your past and have turned it in to bringing awareness to the situation and saying now what you wanted to say then. Your quote in the video, “…because with stammering, the more important the thing you want to say, the more important the occasion, the worse your stammer will be.” This was very eye-opening to me in the sense of understanding that PWS are strongly effected when it comes to events (speaking at these events) that are charged with emotion and weigh heavily with importance. Thank you for being open and sharing your story.
Thanks for sharing this, John. Not only is it very emotional and I cannot even imagine the thoughts that cross your mind. But sharing this with the world is extremely important, as it might help others to not let stuttering interfere with the most important events in life, such as funerals, but also weddings, as there are many pws who are afraid to say their vows, so rather not get married, simply because of their stutter.
When I wanted to become a mother, I was doubtful. Would I be a good mother? Could I read bedtime stories? Would I speak up at parent meetings? Would her friends want to come home to us? ANd even: what would I call her, as I didn’t want to stutter on her name. And guess what: nothing, not even my stutter was more important.
I spoke on my father’s funeral, despite my stutter. And I was the only one, as my siblings were to afraid to speak in public!
I hope your important message will be rings on the water, so that others won’t let stuttering stop them from making the most important speeches ever, and let their hearts speak instead.
Happy ISAD and keep talking.