Feb 25 • 06:56 UTC 🇱🇹 Lithuania Lrytas

Stuttering did not stop either presidents or celebrities: a message that every family needs to hear

A Lithuanian professor discusses the impact of stuttering on her family and emphasizes the importance of addressing this issue in education.

Professor I. Minelgaitė-Antanavičienė, a prominent figure in education and project initiatives, highlights the challenges of stuttering within her family, having three children affected by this speech disorder. As the first foreign professor at a university in Iceland, she balances her career and personal life while sharing her experiences as a mother of five, which includes both biological and non-biological children. Her perspective sheds light on the familial and educational implications of stuttering, advocating for a proactive stance toward overcoming difficulties in communication.

Inga's son, who speaks three languages—Lithuanian, Icelandic, and English—demonstrates how multilingualism can contribute to speech challenges like stuttering. The struggles faced by her children motivate her to call for changes in educational approaches, emphasizing that students should not fear failure. She believes that embracing mistakes opens doors to learning and personal growth, vital for students at any level.

By addressing the stigma surrounding speech disorders such as stuttering, Inga's message resonates beyond her family, aiming to encourage other families to confront similar challenges. Her advocacy highlights the need for social awareness and support structures in schools, ensuring that children with stuttering issues receive understanding and encouragement rather than fear of failure, which can greatly aid their development and social integration.

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