A few years ago at my former job, I was asked about my stutter by those who were genuinely curious. This inspired me to ultimately create something called "The Stuttering Playbook".
Over the past year, I worked on "The Stuttering Playbook", adding and tweaking the project to be the best it could possibly be. Then, on November 8 during the CSA's annual conference in Kingston, I presented it for the first time -- this as part of my keynote speech.
Overall, what "The Stuttering Playbook" entails is a plan for those who stutter to reveal their speech impairment with colleagues and employers. "The Stuttering Playbook" begins with the DIBI method (Declare, Instruct, Brainstorm, Invite) followed by examples of each area. It is then followed by facts and myths about stuttering, some important reminders to repeat aloud, (i.e. "I will be taken seriously," and "I will be treated with respect"), as well as some icebreakers to ease the mood.
Believe it or not, "The Stuttering Playbook" began as nothing more than a fun idea. However, it quickly turned into something I can not only use to my advantage but also to help others who stutter to their own advantages.
I plan on using "The Stuttering Playbook" in future presentations, whether it be at conferences or at schools to future speech-language pathologists.
This is an initiative I've worked hard on and have become proud of. I hope you enjoy it.
Ryan Cowley has been a sportswriter, podcaster, and is an author of five books, including his debut memoir, All the Right Words: My Journey as a Sportswriter Who Stutters. In addition to his writing, Ryan is an accomplished public speaker who has addressed over 100 post-secondary institutions across North America, primarily engaging SLP programs to help prepare future practitioners. He also speaks at camps for children who stutter, using storytelling to challenge stigma and empower others in the stuttering community to embrace their voices with pride.