About the author:  Bruce Imhoff is a PWS from Australia and has been involved with organisations for PWS since about 2006, both locally, nationally and internationally.  Bruce is currently serving as Vice Chair of the International Stuttering Association, working with a great team of people in the International Stuttering Association. Bruce also works with the International Stuttering Awareness Day Online Conference team, delivering the conference since 2013.  He works in the local health department managing a software application used in public health.

A message of pride in a community of people who stutter (PWS) can be a difficult concept to understand.  Society is changing, but there has been much history of exclusion, segregation, even the murder of people who do not conform with, or are different to, the majority.

We still have a long way to go.  It is hard to believe that only seventy years ago, during World War II, over ten million people were murdered because of their beliefs, ancestry, sexual orientation, or because they had a disability.  In some countries we think we’re making progress (although still with undercurrents of intolerance), and yet in other countries, intolerance is actively encouraged, even by governments.

Different minority groups are gaining ground, and rights, for themselves, by challenging discrimination and working with international groups such as the United Nations to formalise those rights.  The Universal Declaration of Human Rights has helped change to happen.

Why does all this matter?  Depending on the country in which you live, as people we have certain rights.  As people who stutter, we may also have certain rights, depending on the disability legislation in force.  But having those rights and actively applying those rights are very different things.

For example, a US citizen travelling from another country into Atlanta was detained as a direct result of her stuttering and they failed to believe her explanation about stuttering.  While she complied with the requests of the officials, she was, for good reason, disappointed with the outcome and launched a media blitz to educate others that this happened, and worked with the Stuttering Foundation of America to develop the ‘I Stutter Card’ that PWS can use to help identify themselves and explain stuttering.  But we don’t often hear about these types of positive outcomes coming out of such a negative incident.

So, back to the subject, what is Stuttering Pride?

Stuttering is still not clearly understood.  There is still much research to be done. But it is clear that much can be done to educate the public about stuttering and to prevent discrimination against, and misunderstandings with, PWS.

But it is us, people who stutter, who need to advocate for change, to be recognised, to get the respect of others and keep our dignity.  To be proud of who we are.

The interpretation of the theme for the online conference, this year, Stuttering Pride, is left up to participants in the online conference.  There are often many different interpretations, adding interest and different perspectives to the content of the conference.  Some people have made an interpretation to suggest it is ‘anti-treatment’.  Others have spoken about their belief that it is ridiculous, and they can’t possibly be proud that they stutter.

My interpretation is that we can be proud because we are people who stutter, not because we stutter.  If I stutter, I’m not going to spend the next ten minutes worrying what other people think of me because I stuttered.  I might acknowledge my stutter but I will move on, doing what I do, being who I am, and not mentally punishing myself because I didn’t speak fluently.

I’m going to take pride in my achievements, which were made possible, partly through my path as a person who stutters, but not because I stutter.  I’m going to take pride in all the friends I’ve met through communities of people who stutter, not because they stutter, but because I like them and I enjoy their company and friendship. I’m going to enjoy my life as a person who takes pride in my career, not because I stutter, but because my path as a person who stutters has lead me to the career I am in.

I challenge readers to share what makes you proud to be a person who stutters!

Like those pioneers in the LGBTI community, we need to stand proud as a community, to fight injustice and discrimination against PWS, and to stand up for each other.  Nobody else is going to do it for us.

I was lucky to have the opportunity to visit the Centre for Civil and Human Rights while at the World Congress in Atlanta.  While I found it emotionally challenging, it was a rewarding experience and one I will always cherish.  There was a lot that resonated with me, particularly statements from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights including;

• All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law.
• Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression.

Let me finish with a picture and a quote from the Centre for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta while I was there for the World Congress, with my friends and colleagues in the online conference Hanan and Anita.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.”

Margaret Mead

At the Center for Civil and Human Rights with Hanan (left), Anita (centre) and Bruce (right).