TISA: What were your experiences as an academic in University?

Beata: At the beginning, the students were a little bit surprised. It is not very common that professor or assistant lecturer stammers! I believe their first reaction was a result of confusion between the image of who should a person who stutter should be like and actually seeing one. So it wouldn't be awkward, for them and for me, we talked about my speech impediment. Because I'm not ashamed of the fact that I'm a PWS, it is not difficult for me to talk about my stuttering. After that, they accepted me just fine - or at least most of them. Most of my co-workers know me for many years, because I was their student.

TISA: What are your future plans?

Beata: Until the end of this year I'm planning to finish my second children's book, also about stammering. For a long time I wished to establish an activist group whose members would raise the awareness in the society. Because of the stigma and unpleasant social reactions, people are afraid to speak up. So I'll continue to do all the activities alone and keep hoping that someday other PWS will join me.

TISA: How has your family responded to your problem?

Beata: For many years I never talked about my problems and I kept them to myself. I didn't want to upset my mother, because she was always saying that she would do anything to help me. She was trying her best. She is the one who taught me that it is not important how am I talking but what am I saying. My family is very supportive and proud of my decision to never look for an excuse and give up just because I stutter.

TISA: What sustained you during those difficult years?

Beata: It is said, that if you cry because the sun has disappeared from the sky, the tears will prevent you from seeing the beauty of the stars! I'll never talk without stutter and I won't become, for example a movie star, but I still can achieve so many things in my life. There is nothing wrong if you are a person who stutters but it is very wrong if you are trying to deny it.

TISA: Is stammering a different experience for women versus men? why?

Beata: Although the experiences of people who stutter are very similar, there are two exceptions. First, if you stutter since early childhood for unknown reason, people think of you as stupid, lazy and incapable. But if the speech impediment is consequence of a disease or an accident, even a shock, the person is seen as a tough hero who made it through difficult experience and only stuttering is reminding him and others of terrible disease/accident or simply bad luck he's been through. Second, if a PWS is tall and strong man he'll face less problems, like mocking and teasing, compared to a woman PWS. The reason why it is so, is very simple – who would make fun of somebody who is taller and stronger than you?

Also, our society is very much into person's appearance. Being beautiful means two very different things for women and men. Just see a Bob Dylan's song “Ugliest girl in the world”. The title alone speaks for itself, but the lyrics of the song is even more offensive toward women who stutter. The song is about a girl, who is supposed to be the ugliest girl alive. She got a hook in her nose, her eyebrows meet, she walks with a hop, she got two flat feet, her knees knock together as she walks, she cracks her knuckles and snores, and as if this in not enough, she stutters too! So it seems, being a beautiful woman means: do not have a speech impediment!

TISA: What is the state of self help group movement in your society? why?

Beata: In Slovenija we have plenty support groups for almost every disease and condition. But there is only one support group for people with speech impediments and that is run by a person who stutter. People are very open minded toward support groups as long it is for something that is acceptable to the society. Because nobody talks about stuttering and problems of those who stutter, people think we don't have problems and that's why there is no need for support group! The name of my support group is Moj govor-moja posebnost, which means “My speech – my particularity” in the sense that my speech makes me special, unique. It was established in year 2007.

TISA: Would you like to end on a lighter note by sharing some funny incident connected with stammering, in your life?

Beata: I remember one situation from few years ago. I was a student and I arranged an appointment with a professor of mine. In my head I had prepared whole speech that I wanted to tell her about the research I was planning to do and ask her for help. But at the moment as I came through the door, I felt spasm down my throat and all I was able to say was: »Hello, are you free?« !!

TISA wishes Beata Akerman and her pioneering work all the best and conveys greetings to all the PWS in Slovenia through her!