Transitions
Transitions is a project that is being led and developed by the ASC Youth Panel (subject to funding). Many young people who stammer go through different transition points throughout their lives where added stress and uncertainly can affect their stammer e.g.
- Primary to Secondary School
- Secondary School to College/University
- Starting the World of Work
The ASC Youth Panel is made up of a group of young people who stammer from across the UK. All members are at different stages of life and have experienced different situations relating to their stammer, with some in the early stages of secondary and others at university or starting their first jobs.
As a result, their experiences have been invaluable in understanding those transition points, and the best way for other young people who stammer (ASC Youth Ambassadors) to deal with these situations. The ASC Youth Panel are looking to secure funding so they can put together a resource for both teachers and other young people to read and use. However, some initial tips are listed below:
Starting Secondary School
“The key thing is being open about my stammer. When you keep it in it becomes this huge thing, but when you tell people you realise how much it isn’t at all.”
“I think it’s important to tell people, especially teachers, so that hopefully if they have students who stammer in the future they’ll be able to help them better.”
Starting College/University
“The key thing is being open about my stammer. When you keep it in it becomes this huge thing, but when you tell people you realise how much it isn’t at all.”
“One thing I’ve come to understand is that people don’t really care if you have a stammer, and the ones that do aren’t worth your time anyway.”
“I think it’s important to tell people, especially teachers/lecturers, so that hopefully if they have students who stammer in the future they’ll be able to help them better.”
“When I went to uni I had to give presentations and I was really scared. But after the first time it built my confidence and I felt so much better.”
Interviewing and Starting your First Job
“The key thing is being open about my stammer. When you keep it in it becomes this huge thing, but when you tell people you realise how much it isn’t at all.”
“When I got an interview for a job, I told the HR person before the interview that I have a stammer, and may take longer to get my answers out. As a result, they understood that I may take a bit longer to answer the questions. There was not awkwardness, and I got the job. My tip is to own your stammer, don’t be embarrassed, be open and people will understand.”
