Hello, my name is Fernando.
I am 16 years old and I am a person that stutters. My experience with stuttering has been like a roller coaster ride. I have days, months, weeks, where my stuttering is not bad at all, but out of nowhere it just starts getting all bumpy. In class, my stuttering was not always the greatest but I’ve managed to control it. One factor that helps with this: overcoming your fear, go up against it. Fear is the number one factor in about anyone’s problems. If you learned to overcome that fear, then you will feel better in the long run and just get better overall. Final thing, just be yourself guys. Don’t try to be someone you are not.
I’d like to give parents, friends, family members, and teachers advice on what to do when they know someone that stutters. When they are stuttering please, I repeat, please don’t finish the sentence for them if they are stuttering. That may hurt a person’s feelings. Also, do not tell them to calm down if they are having a rough time talking. In fact, that might make them feel self conscious. Just listen to what they have to say, we also have feelings. Do not make a person feel inane because of the way they are talking. We need more people to be educated on stuttering and how to help out.
Fernando, 16, from Pittsburg, CA
You Are Not the Only One I don’t mind my stuttering that much.
One
thing I don’t like about stuttering is that people copy me because it’s rude and they might stutter just like I do. I think I stutter because I copied someone in my old daycare.
My stuttering is made up of repetitions and blocks. Repetitions are where you say the word repeatedly. Example: “How-how-how are you?” Blocks are when you can’t get the word or words out. Things that help me are light contact and easy starts. Light contact is where you touch your lips, teeth, and tongue together very lightly when speaking. Easy starts are where you stretch out the first sound or sounds in the sentence slowly and easily. Example: “Aaaaples are my favorite!” My advice for other kids who stutter is to find a speech therapist and work on fluency strategies. Remember, other kids can’t stop you from being in a conversation. You are not the only one who stutters. Don’t be afraid to speak.
Macy, 9, from Yukon, OK Hi, my name is Jessie. I am 8 years old and I am in the 2nd grade. I
go to Horton Elementary in San Diego, California. My birthday is on September 16th
. On my birthday, I played baseball with my
cousins and I made a homer! I have been stuttering since I was 4 years old. Stuttering does not bother me anymore because I have done it for a long time. When I stutter, I use easy starts and that works for me. Keep trying to get better at speaking smoothly and never give up.
Jessie, 8, San Diego, CA 15
NEVER GIVE UP
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