Ryan Jones

Ryan Jones

Missouri

Liz: “What is your biggest goal in life?”

Ryan: “To talk fluently”

L: “What advice would you give to other people who stutter?”

R: “The advice I give is to find your voice and your confidence. Don't let others take that from you”

L: “I really like that. Especially applies to us who stutter. Who has influenced you most in your life?”

R: “My aunt. She volunteered to buy me a Speech Easy device. I got funding on my own.

My aunt is the best.”

L: “What would you say is your biggest fear?”

R: “Speaking in drive thru's and on the phone”

L: “I hate drive thru's also. Have you had any bad experiences/funny stories dealing with drive thru's or on the phone?”

R: “Yes going to vote and being accused of having Tourette’s. Verbally, this lady told the guy behind me to stand next to the guy with Tourette’s.”

L: “Oh wow. That's pretty assumptious.”

R: “My mom has also really been hard on me for my stutterer. She seems to accept my CP (Cerebal Palsy) a lot more.”

L: “Why do you think she's hard on you for it?”

R: “She wants perfection. She has corrected me in front of people even mocked me over 20 years ago.”

L: “I bet you're under a lot of pressure. How have you dealt with that?”

R: “My relationship with my mom isn't what I would like it to be.”

L: “Do you think that has an effect on your speech?”

R: “I fear talking to her on the phone or in person because I get defensive when she gives me
crap. Yes. The best advice for parents to a child that stutters is to not make a big deal out of it.”

L: “I agree.”

R: “My mom and loved ones close to me as a kid beat it in my head I had a problem.”

L: “How you do think your life might be different if you didn't stutter?”

R: “I live in a studio apartment and if I didn't stutter I'd make more money a long time ago, married with kids.”

L: “Because you would have a different job?”

R: “Yes.”

L: “What job would like to have?”

R: “CEO of a big company or something like that.”

Parents of children who stutter: Your reaction and your response to your child’s speech 100% has an effect on them. I can attest to that from personal experience. Both of my parents were amazing and extremely patient and understanding. Patience is definitely key. Give your child all the time they need. The rest of the world is going to rush them for the entirety of their life. They don’t need that from a parent.