Proud Stutter This Playwright Who Stutters Found His Voice on the Page, and the Stage
Oct 18, 2025
Jerry Slaff, a playwright and writer who stutters, dives into the interplay between his speech and creativity. He candidly shares how age and community transformed his approach to stuttering, noting its impact on his writing career. From his love for radio storytelling to crafting characters that stutter, Jerry emphasizes representation and allyship. He discusses the freedom found in embracing his speech, asserting that others' perceptions are theirs to deal with. For him, it's all about the power of voice—on the page and the stage.
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Perception Shapes The Handicap
- Stuttering can persist invisibly; others often say "you don't stutter" despite lifelong experience.
- Jerry links stigma to others' perceptions, not to the person who stutters.
Driver's License Dilemma And Talkbacks
- Jerry hesitated to mark a 'hidden handicap' on his driver's license because he feared taking space from others.
- He now relishes public talkbacks and often doesn't stutter when prepared to speak.
Context Controls Fluency
- Stuttering varies strongly by context: cold reads trigger blocks while prepared talkbacks flow.
- Jerry suggests physiological and situational data might reveal patterns behind these shifts.
