Transfer simply means practicing our new skills in real life situations, moving from simple challenges to increasingly complex and difficult ones. This is an important step in self therapy. There is always the temptation to limit your speech skill practice to self-help Group alone. This is simply no good! It is like a ship leaving the harbor, only to drop anchor two kilometers away in safe waters! But then, this step requires more of the same qualities, which we needed to launch ourselves on this journey: courage and a deep sense of adventure. Here are some practical tips:

1. Take along a friend or senior person who stammers, on the initial transfer assignments. Say, you wish to practice some voluntary bouncing in the local grocery store, having done it many times in the self-help group or just with a friend. Plan the steps, rehearse mentally and then take a friend with you, to the grocery store. Later, ask the friend to give you feedback about your body language, emotional states, speech and the reaction of the other person.

2. Keeping a diary can be a tremendous help and boost to motivation. Quite often, we are so caught up with day to day life, that we may not realize the big leaps we have taken, the sea change which has come over our thoughts and perceptions and the improvement in our self-awareness  etc. But when we read a diary, we become aware of these changes and become hopeful for even bigger ones.

3. Writing a blog is the same as writing a diary (or journal). You may make it private or public or open to just your ‘speech friends’. Advantages are that you can access it from anywhere and from any computer while working.

4. Phone- You can start using the phone more often now. Many PWS and CWS have a deep seated fear of using a phone, especially when others are around. You may phone friends, colleagues and others on various pretexts. You may also call various helplines or service numbers, since they deal with inquiries all the time and will most likely be patient with us. For example, if LG is offering Televisions at a special price during some festival, pick up the phone and ask them various questions about their offer. Finally, what should you say, if anybody asks you about such phone calls? Be honest and say- I am practicing my speech therapy goals!

5. Get back to your community with volunteer help in various public roles, on various committees- Durga Puja committee, Neighborhood Cleanliness committee, Swajal user's group etc. Consider doing so in your work organization too. Earlier you shied away form such roles. Now is the time to get back in to these roles and give back to the society at large.