Talk to A PWS
Hello! My name is Allison and similarly to others in this forum I am a current speech-language pathologist graduate student. My colleague, Emma, and I are currently in a stuttering course and are trying to learn more about the experience of stutters. After discussing, we were curious if any adult stutters had advice for older clients. For example, how may we best support those going in for job interviews? Is there any literature or resources outside of the conference pages here you would recommend?
Hi Allison,
Thank you for your question.
There are actually quite a few resources for PWSs in terms of preparing for job interviews. Here are just a few:
From the NSA, online mock interviews and tips from an HR employee who stutters:
https://westutter.org/careersuccess/mock-interviews/
https://westutter.org/wp-content/uploads/ace_your_next_job_interview_july2019.pdf
Here are seven tips to prepare for a job interview from The Stuttering Foundation:
https://www.stutteringhelp.org/content/7-tips-preparing-job-interviews
And this is from Stamma (UK):
https://stamma.org/get-support/at-work/job-interviews
Many more resources out there but hopefully this helps get you started.
Ryan
Hi Allison,
In addition to Ryan’s recommendations, you can get more material about mock interviews for PWS at the 50 Million Voices website: https://www.50millionvoices.org/
Best,
Elias
Hi Allison and thank you for your great question
You already got great resources with websites providing material, and an amazing group of people who prepare PWS and employers for job interviews.
There are also groups who help and mentor each other. F ex Stamily(.org) has a special Whatsapp group for university students. I think Stamma has some practice/support evenings as well.
And of course check out @withVR, a VR tool to use when practicing being in a certain environment.
You role could be to practice with the client, but also to help the client with his self-worth. As a job interview is so tough on everyone, even more for us, I’d never apply for a job I wasn’t sure if I could do it. And with me being used to always be a snippit better, to fight harder, work harder, employers found out that having a PWS in fact can be an asset! So practice and let your client present himself with all his skills, his personality, explaining what stuttering is and where it affects, and not affects, the workplace.
I practice piublic speaking with a group of PWS, challenging each other with hilariously funny exercises, but also practicing phone calls, job interviews, interrupting each other, using different personalities, etc. So practicing with a group of peers might also be an option.
Good luck and keep them talking
Anita