The One & Only Record from 1971

I have virtually no contemporaneous notes written at the time about how I got better, except one I located decades ago.  For decades, I had no intention of ever going public with the details of my stuttering as I felt too ashamed.  In the meantime, I lost track of the details in this note. But finally, on Wednesday September 27 2023, I carefully studied word for word this note written in a scribbler on November 22 1971. In its own quiet, beautiful way it describes one example of the entire healing process the day after it happened.

Stuttering in the Workplace: To Whom does Human Rights Legislation Apply?

In this Article, we are addressing the issue of the scope of applicability of human rights legislation in the workplace arising out of the Supreme Court of Canada’s decision in  BC Human Rights Tribunal v. Schrenk (2017 SCC 62).

Why do we love singing in the shower, at concerts, or during cultural celebrations? Well, there are many reasons​​ –– and researchers around the world are shining a light on some of them. It turns out singing –– and in particular, singing with others –– can do a lot for our health and wellbeing.

Growing up in Nigeria, I was a very chatty child. But everything changed before the age of 10 when I became aware of my speech. I began to stutter a lot, which made me increasingly reserved because every time I spoke, my classmates would laugh. My parents never really addressed it—perhaps they thought it was something I’d outgrow. 

As far as I can remember, I’ve stuttered. I think that I know why, but let’s put a pin in that and we’ll come back to it later. I don’t know if I stuttered from birth or not. My father stuttered, so it could be genetic. 

Duty to Accommodate, Reasonable Accommodation, Undue Hardship and Bona Fide Occupational Requirements

In this Article, I examine considerations around stuttering as a disability and discrimination. 

Is stuttering a disability? 

Good question. I take the position that it is.  

You may have heard or been told that stuttering is (or perhaps) is not a disability, especially in the context of someone “overcoming” or “conquering” their stutter. Some may consider that a stutter must be severe to be considered a disability, or your stutter is not severe enough.  

I met Peter Holleley fourteen years ago, when running a Toastmasters Group for People who Stutter in Toronto. In his early 60s, he was older than most people attending the group. He liked to talk, as a lot of people who stutter do. We heard about his childhood growing up in Britain, his Ten Month Great Adventure hitchhiking as a young man in North, Central and South America, his business ventures, and his three children. Given his age, I was surprised to find out that two of his children, a son and a daughter, of whom he was a single father, were still in their pre-teen years.

This is a controversial question, there is no right or wrong answer. It is a matter of personal preference and risk tolerance. Personally, I have always disclosed my stutter on job applications. In instances where an employer sought candidates from employment equity groups, disclosing my stutter assisted me to receive an interview, or  progress in the recruitment process or competition.