Changing Your Stammering Perception – Delhi SHG Report, 30-07- 2017

The theme for this self-help meeting in Delhi was ‘Changing Your Stammering Perception’. The agenda was designed in a manner which would help participants gain understanding about stammering i.e. finding answers to- under what circumstances they stammer more, different emotions that trigger stammering, misconceptions relating to cure (rather, management) of stammering, how does stammering affects effective communication and many other interesting questions. The meeting was hosted by Aashima and Jagriti.

The meeting started at the scheduled time in conference room, Natya Ballet Center. Fifteen members,
including coordinators, host and co-host attended this self-help meeting. First and foremost, meditation
was conducted using guided mindfulness audio clip. Mindfulness meditation is the gentle effort to be
continuously present with experience. It was such a relief, as shared by participants. Post meditation,
techniques for controlled stammering and introduction of The Indian Stammering Association (TISA) was
shared to create space for new participants.

Following the agenda, impromptu speech was conducted. Each participant gave speech for 1-1.5 minutes. The topics included- effective communication v/s fluency, jealousy v/s motivation, finding a job when you stutter, stammering conferences are awesome, stuttering and films, conquering the telephone calls and many other brainstorming topics. All the speakers delivered their speech with confidence and some of them used techniques very well. A few used hand gestures very nicely. Stammering and self-worth speech given by Abhinav Atrey, new comer, was highly appreciated. Abhinav’s positivity and confidence overpowered content of his speech.

Further, stage play attracted much enthusiasm from all participants. There were four teams with 3-4 members in each team. Teams performed on topics- stammering makes good friends, responding to reactions while you stutter in a restaurant, stammering advice for parents and siblings as well as vital importance of stammering awareness. During stage play, each participant spoke for nearly 2 minutes. Participants were relishing the positive environment. Each play was filled with good humor and great inspiration.

Moreover, since announcement pertaining to national conference 2017 requires urgent attention, therefore Mr. Harish, TISA’s national coordinator, was taken on call with all participants present in the meeting. Mr. Harish shared all necessary details regarding the conference and invited all of us for the same. Due to these unavoidable things, the agenda pressed for time.

Further, group discussion was done. The group discussion topic- ‘The more you resist, the more it persists’ invited great motivational thoughts from almost all participants. Madhur Sharma shared, why is it so much important to not only manage your stammer by using TISA techniques, but also learn about it so that people who stammer (PWS) accept their stammer. His thoughts were taken very positively by all participants. Every participant used 1-1.5 minutes to speak. Prior to end of meeting, feedback cards were collected from participants. These cards contained feedback by a participant for all fellow participants in the meeting. The content in the feedback cards was communicated to all participants the next day through WhatsApp.

Participants came out with happy faces. Their eyes were shining with hope. It was a beautiful
experience.
A moment during stage play!!

Report By: 
Aashima Gogia