Redefining Stammering
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redefinestammer.bsky.social
Redefining Stammering
@redefinestammer.bsky.social
77 followers 48 following 59 posts
Celebrating stammering as a legitimate & valuable way of speaking & an invitation to transform listening practices #StammeringPrideandPrejudice
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redefinestammer.bsky.social
An honour to be awarded the Jeremy Swain Partner Award this evening & to celebrate three decades of advocacy, activism, community building & collaboration fostering #stammering-affirming narratives & culture. Thank you to everyone who has supported me & contributed to this work over the years
Photograph of the list of City Lit 2025 award winners honouring the contributions of learners, tutors, staff as well as collaborators & partners Photograph of the City Lit John Lyon’s Theatre as Sam Simpson was introduced for her award. A screen with captioning is positioned to the left; a BSL interpreter stands next to this with the awards host. On a larger screen behind is a photo of Sam Simpson. Two women are sat on the right of the stage. The heads of audience members can be seen along the base of the frame. Photograph of Sam Simpson’s award certificate, a white page with blue lettering detailing her name centrally & signed at the bottom by the Principal, Mark Malcomson, & Chair of Governors, Lindsay Nicholson.
November 18, 2025 at 10:55 PM
redefinestammer.bsky.social
Heartfelt thanks to Genevieve Lamoureux & all the organisers, contributors & workshop facilitators for making the 1st Voice & Media Festival a reality. The warmth, dynamism & innovation within the stammering community is truly heartwarming #stammeringgain #transformativebelonging
Photograph of Sam Simpson (left), Genevieve Lamoureux (centre) & Conor Foran (right), all pictured smiling to camera. Photograph of Sam Simpson (left), Conor Foran (centre) & JJJJJerome Ellis (right), all pictured smiling to camera. Image taken at PHI following a visit to the Habitat Sonore to listen to Jessica Moss’s meditative solo album Unfolding
November 16, 2025 at 10:56 PM
redefinestammer.bsky.social
Finally the breathtaking live performances by Luke Wyland & JJJJJerome Ellis at Café Robin des Bois on the closing night of the festival. Both musicians explore the cadences of dysfluent speech to create unique & inclusive musical soundscapes turning difference into beauty
Photograph of Luke Wyland seated bottom left playing a keyboard with the audience seated around tables to the back of the frame, the stand of a free standing speaker is pictured front right. Photograph of JJJJJerome Ellis pictured standing singing into a microphone with Luke Wyland accompanying on piano to their left. Audience members are seated at a table front left of frame.
November 16, 2025 at 10:54 PM
redefinestammer.bsky.social
Having the opportunity to present on the shifting landscape of stammering representation across three decades as well as showcase the Reflect app, a collaboration with Conor Foran & Bart Rzeznik at Take Courage & funded through Stuttering Commons
Photograph of Sam Simpson presenting the Reflect app funded by Stuttering Commons. Sam is standing front left holding a microphone and a sign language interpreter is seated to her right. Behind is a screen showing a PowerPoint slide showcasing the Reflect app housed on the Stuttering Commons website.
November 16, 2025 at 10:50 PM
redefinestammer.bsky.social
Conor Foran’s thought-provoking presentation showcasing the Dysfluent magazine, the Making Waves #stammeringpride flag & Stuttering Commons to illustrate how dysfluency intersects with creativity & how art & design can instigate social change & foster stammering-affirming identities
Photograph of Conor Foran presenting on the work of Stuttering Commons. Conor is sat front left holding a microphone and a sign language interpreter is seated to his right. Behind is a screen showing a PowerPoint slide showcasing the Manifesto, Library, Workshops, Podcast, Handbook & Reflect app housed on the Stuttering Commons website. Photograph of Conor Foran presenting the Stuttering Commons animation ‘How many people does it take to stutter?’. Conor is sat front left holding a microphone and a sign language interpreter is seated to his right.
November 16, 2025 at 10:48 PM
redefinestammer.bsky.social
The premiere screening of ‘We are the Audience’ at the Cinema Beaubien, an exquisite short film exploring the representation of stammering blending film-style documentary & public service announcement, followed by a panel Q&A with members of the creative team. Breath-taking!
A photograph of the poster for the short film ‘Le public c’est nous’ (We are the audience) at the Cinema Beaubien A photograph of Genevieve Lamoureux opening the premiere screening of ‘Le public c’est nous’ (We are the audience) at Cinema Beaubien in Montreal
November 16, 2025 at 10:44 PM
redefinestammer.bsky.social
Festival highlights included visiting Maison de Radio-Canada for an afternoon of reflection, discussion & experiential workshops exploring pathways for fair & inclusive media representation of people who stutter, are deaf or who live with Tourette’s
Photograph of Genevieve Lamoureux presenting the findings of her PhD research on the obstacles faced by people who stutter on screen and future pathways for fair and inclusive media representation. Gen is positioned standing at a microphone centre-back of the photograph with two TV screens on either side and surrounded by cameras and lighting. Towards the front of the photograph are two tables with chairs and an audience member seated on the right.
November 16, 2025 at 10:42 PM
redefinestammer.bsky.social
Heartfelt thanks to all the organisers, speakers, workshop facilitators & participants for making the 15th ISA World Congress such a positive experience. The warmth, inclusiveness & dynamism within the stammering community is truly lifegiving #stammeringgain
Photograph of the tables laid out for dinner on the Gala Evening at the Kellariteatteri Saivo, Rovaniemi, Finland A photograph of three glasses of Jaloviina, a Finish cut brandy. Such a fun discovery! Thank you to Naheem Bashir for the introduction.
August 17, 2025 at 9:13 AM
redefinestammer.bsky.social
And the inimitable Patrick Campbell who together with Naheem Bashir explored what we understand by activism in their workshop ‘Together Louder’. I enjoyed creating a collective & personal stammering activism timeline & reflecting on past achievements, current projects & future possibilities
Photograph of Naheem Bashir (left) and Patrick Campbell (right) during their Together Louder workshop. The #MakingWaves Stammering Pride flag is draped across the table in between them
August 17, 2025 at 9:11 AM
redefinestammer.bsky.social
As well as Gina Waggott for her ‘From Mockery to Millions - The Scatman John Media Masterclass’ showcasing real footage & highlighting what a progressive & powerful advocate for open stammering Scatman John was. Loved the invitation to continue his work on stammering-affirming media representation
Photograph of Gina Waggott’s closing slide inviting the audience to consider an advocacy-related action they would like to take going forward. The slide shows a photo of Scatman John featured on a German magazine with the title ‘Ich stottere - na and?’ which translated into English means ‘I stutter - so what?’
August 17, 2025 at 9:09 AM
redefinestammer.bsky.social
Finally I would like to acknowledge the brilliant Willemijn Bolks @JustStutter for her powerful keynote & thought-provoking drawing workshop - I loved the opportunity to let go of perfectionism, take space & celebrate the creative possibilities generated by making mistakes!
Photograph of Willemjn Bolk’s final keynote slide summarising her key learnings: #1 Suppression or control of what is difficult is not the answer #2 Be kind to yourself unconditionally Photograph of a self portrait created following the prompt to use as much space on the white A4 page as possible. Image in purple crayon
August 17, 2025 at 9:06 AM
redefinestammer.bsky.social
Also very much enjoyed demoing the ‘Reflect’ app for the first time having collaborated with Conor Foran & Bart Rzeznik @dysfluent on this for the past 3 years. Grateful to #StutteringCommons for funding the project & to the overwhelmingly positive feedback & development ideas received
Photograph of the landing page of the Reflect app. A blue wave-like graphic created with four intersecting lines is featured on the left. The text on the right reads: Reflect offers you a creative way to explore & visualise your relationship with stuttering over time. This novel perspective supports a more detailed understanding of your personal experience & the different factors that shape how you story stuttering in your life. Through colour & form, your own unique image will reveal what stuttering can teach you about yourself and the world. It is hoped that this will act as a springboard to envisaging future possibilities & new understandings.
August 17, 2025 at 9:03 AM
redefinestammer.bsky.social
Conference highlights included collaborating with Patrick Campbell on two workshops showcasing the groundbreaking work of #StutteringCommons. Exciting to share the fruits of two years of labour & to receive such enthusiastic feedback on the Manifesto and Library. Thank you to everyone who attended
Photograph of Sam Simpson (left) & Patrick Campbell (right) standing in front of two screens projecting the opening slide for their ‘Stuttering Commons: Deconstructing, unsettling & bending fluency privilege’ workshop. Sam, a white woman in her 50’s, is wearing a dark blue denim dress and Patrick, a white man in his 30’s, is wearing blue jeans and a striped blue & white short-sleeved shirt
August 17, 2025 at 9:00 AM
redefinestammer.bsky.social
Back home after a whirlwind 4 days of connection, collaboration & conversation at the 15th ISA World Congress in Finland. Wonderful to see the global stammering community flourishing - & to have stocked up on some amazing @juststutter merch! Feeling grateful, nourished & uplifted
Photograph of the 15th ISA World Congress for people who stutter programme positioned on top of the conference drawstring bag adjacent to my conference lanyard. All three are white & feature a marine blue reindeer head around which the words ‘Stuttering unfolds in the artic’ are written Photograph of several of Willemijn Bolks @JustStutter cards positioned on a black tote bag featuring different shaped speech bubbles in white & the writing ‘Difference is beautiful’
August 17, 2025 at 8:57 AM
redefinestammer.bsky.social
Excited to be in Rovaniemi, Finland for the 15th ISA World Congress for People Who Stutter. Nelly Penttillä’s thought provoking Congress opening speech calling out ableism within speech & language therapy has set the stage for honest dialogue across international communities
Photograph of the 15th ISA World Congress for People who Stutter programme showcasing this year’s theme ‘stuttering unfolds in the artic’
August 7, 2025 at 8:04 AM
redefinestammer.bsky.social
Lovely to be back in Victoria Park with the #makingwaves #stammeringprideflag team today for another #stammeringpride march - great turn out, enthusiasm & conversations with old friends & new (very much helped by Scatman’s Ski-Ba-Bop-Ba-Dop-Bop)! Happy pride all!
Photograph of Patrick Campbell addressing participants ahead of the march. Patrick is wearing a grey T-shirt and blue jeans. He is pictured holding a red notebook & standing next to the #makingwaves stammering pride flag Photograph of Sam Simpson, Kristel Kubart & Patrick Campbell (left to right) standing arm-in-arm in Victoria Park. Kristel has a #makingwaves #stammeringpride flag draped over her shoulders
August 2, 2025 at 4:31 PM
redefinestammer.bsky.social
What a life-giving evening @citylit.bsky.social in conversation with Josh St Pierre! Wonderful to see such a great turn out & level of interest. Very much enjoyed the thought-provoking Q&A questions, buzz in the gallery over drinks & welcoming new faces to the community #transformativebelonging
Photograph taken as everyone was arriving of the holding PowerPoint slide entitled ‘Towards a world that stammers’ with three empty seats laid out for the panelists in the foreground Photograph of Sam Simpson giving the opening introductions. Sam, a white woman in her fifties with grey, bobbed hair, is standing at the lectern & holding a microphone in her right hand. The holding PowerPoint slide is pictured behind her & the heads of members of the audience can be seen in the foreground Photograph of Joshua St Pierre, a young white man, standing at the lectern & presenting. The title PowerPoint slide is pictured to the right of him behind three chairs prepared for a later panel discussion Panellists (from left to right) Joshua St Pierre, Sam Simpson and Patrick Campbell are sat in chairs around a small circular table with three bottles of water on it. Behind them is the title PowerPoint slide: “Towards a World that Stammers” - white letters on a pink background
May 6, 2025 at 10:34 PM
redefinestammer.bsky.social
Life-giving afternoon yesterday with @actionstammering.bsky.social mentees & mentors celebrating the insights gained & mutual learning taken forward as we marked the end of the 2024/2025 mentoring programme. A privilege to have been involved & excited to now watch the seeds disperse & germinate
April 3, 2025 at 4:18 PM
redefinestammer.bsky.social
Wishing all our followers, supporters & collaborators - past, present & future - a peaceful festive season & New Year! From conference papers, joint workshops & shared world-building frameworks to a new book project, here’s to thickening stammering-affirming narratives in 2025!
Silver glass star Christmas tree decoration hanging on a Christmas tree and surrounded by lights
December 25, 2024 at 9:09 PM
redefinestammer.bsky.social
Such a nourishing afternoon of panel discussions at City Lit. A real privilege to talk with @conorforan.bsky.social & Paul Aston about the genesis, key influences & future aspirations for their work rendering the experience of #stammering visible through art & design #makingwaves 🌊
Photograph of Sam Simpson (left), Conor Foran (centre) and Paul Aston (right) in discussion in front of a projection of the art exhibition title ‘Wouldn’t you rather talk like us?’
December 1, 2024 at 9:02 PM
redefinestammer.bsky.social
What a momentous evening! Great turn out, great buzz & spectacular art at the ‘Wouldn’t you rather talk like us?’ open viewing @citylit. Thrilled for Paul Aston & @conorforan.bsky.social - a fitting celebration of their work & the generative potential of #stammering #makingwaves
Wide angled photograph of the ‘Wouldn’t you rather talk like us?’ art exhibition at City Lit gallery showcasing the groundbreaking work of Paul Aston & Conor Foran Photograph of a collection of 8 individual portraits painted by Paul Aston exploring the moment of stammering Photograph of Paul Aston (left) pictured listening to Conor Foran (right) during the welcome speeches in front of the Making Waves Stammering Pride flag Photograph of Conor Foran & Paul Aston giving their welcome speeches to the open viewing exhibition visitors in front of the Making Waves Stammering Pride flag in the City Lit gallery
November 29, 2024 at 11:27 PM
redefinestammer.bsky.social
Great stammering representation in this new book with chapters sharing personal stories & professional wisdom about the benefits of 1:1 & group #supervision from the perspectives of clients who stammer, stammering therapists & participants of a mentoring programme for young adults who stammer
Photograph of Lorraine Maher Edwards (left), Sam Simpson (centre) & Iain Wilkie (right) holding copies of ‘Supervision in Speech & Language Therapy: Personal Stories & Professional Wisdom’ at the drink reception of the book launch
November 24, 2024 at 7:11 PM