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My name is Helga Sigridur and hail from Reykjavik, Iceland. I am a person who stutters, sometimes overtly, other times covertly but perhaps increasingly proudly. I have been on a stuttering journey, both personally and within the stuttering community. I started out in 2011, a bright-eyed young woman, looking for answers and while I still have many questions, I have certainly gained a lot of insight on the way, both from within as well as from other people who stutter, across the globe. |
Because of the stuttering community, I haven’t been held back by stuttering. I have learned to not only see it as a strength but actively use my voice as a person who stutters and as a former chair of the Icelandic stuttering association. Advocating on my own behalf, privately and in interviews and speaking up against discrimination against a friend, a former university student who stutters.
I don’t know who I’d be if I didn’t stutter. Or if I didn’t have my stuttering community to inspire me. Even though I’ve stepped down from volunteering and working in the stuttering world these last few years, I always cherish my community. There is space for everyone within the stuttering community, no matter how I stutter or how much I actively volunteer, it’s enough just to be me. That’s definitely what I felt during the last world congress in Rovaniemi, Finland. And actually, that’s all I wanted back when I was a shy 23 years old, at my first stuttering meeting – I wanted to belong. And now I know that, no matter how many years go by, I always will.
In this video I talk about how I have been impacted by the stuttering community. In the last part of the video, I am interviewed by Saad Almunajem about what stuttering means to me.
‘Staying with my stuttering’ … lovely. Like you, I felt inspired by all those wonderful people from all over the world in Rovaniemi. We have a great community. That little interview at the end is amazing, full of courage and hope.
Thank you, Cam. I nearly didn’t share it, felt so revealing and raw. Then I decided, no, it should be shared.
Hello Helga!
It’s inspiring to hear how you’ve turned your stuttering into a strength and found your voice through advocacy. Your journey shows how much a supportive community can change how we see ourselves and our challenges! Can I ask, how did your role in the Icelandic Stuttering Association shape your view of stuttering and yourself?
Thank you!!
Hi Helga – although I recall you as Sigga from when we first “met” back in the day. I am so glad to see your contribution to this year’s ISAD conference.
I love how you say “I wouldn’t know who I would be if I didn’t stutter.” And that there is space for everyone in the stuttering community.
I too have stepped back a bit from my involvement as I have new challenges to face. But the strength we find from stuttering helps us in so many other aspects of our lives.
Thank you for sharing.
Pam