Today in class we were assigned to simulate stuttering to people we didn't know. This is so we can see what it is like to have a disability in our communication.
My husband and I went to Pizza Pie Cafe for dinner, and I went to the cash register first. With my stutter I said, "Two Aaaa...adults please." I then proceeded to ask for drinks and asked about sizes and pricing. As I stuttered the clerk tried to finish my sentence for me, but I finished it. They were also trying to guess what I wanted instead of letting me finish. They looked like they felt bad for me. It was hard to have them look at me like I was helpless when I was perfectly capable of finishing the sentence and I knew what I wanted. I just wasn't telling them as quickly as they wanted.
We then went to Walmart and I asked someone who worked there where I could find some pumpkin in a can. Then I asked if it would work for pies, and cookies. This worker did not react like the clerk at Pizza Pie. They were somewhat patient, and didn't try to finish my sentence, but they made certain to hurry and finish our conversation.
I can see how people who have communication disorders have a hard time keeping their spirits high as they know what they want to say, but they can't in the manner they would like to. It is so amazing to me that they are able to get used to it and find ways to cope. I was watching a video of a man who had a stutter, but he sang beautifully with out one. This was his coping strategy and it made him really happy. I learned a lot from this simulation about how I treat people with disabilities. They are smarter in ways we sometimes do not realize.
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