Examples of jobs done by people who stammer

This page gives examples of people who stammer doing various jobs. I have taken particularly people you can read about on the internet in relation to the job, so that you can find out more.

This page shows only examples of jobs and should not be taken as any kind of representative sample. Certainly don't assume that there isn't someone who stammers doing some job because it isn't mentioned here. There almost certainly is. It's probably just that I don't know of it appearing on the intenet yet. Do let me know of anyone you think should be included, including any links for them.

Air-traffic controller

BSA website article on Air traffic controlling with a stammer

Acting / performing

An actors's life (link to BSA website) - 2008
Out on a wing (link to BSA website) - stand up comedy with a stammer, Jaik Campbell (2003)
actors such as James Earl Jones (the voice of Darth Vadar) and Nicholas Brendon (link to CNN) (Xander in Buffy the Vampire Slayer).
singers such as Scatman John and Mell Tillis

Army

Army articles linked off BSA employment page.

Call centre / phone

Coping with phone fear in a call centre - on BSA website (2004)
Never off the phone - on BSA website (2008)

Church

No ordinary ordination - an ordained deacon with a stammer, on the BSA website (1998).

Computers

Advice from a Veteran of the High Tech Industry from Gunars Neiders, systems engineer/computer programmer at the Boeing Company and a registered counselor, Washington. On ISAD Online Conference 2000. Includes link to discussion.

Customer service

My partner Christine, who has a stammer, is a senior customer services officer, in charge of customer service at six libraries. Feel free to email her on red_squirrels@yahoo.co.uk you want to discuss it.

Driving instructor

Driving instructor at last - on BSA website (2005).

Fireman

Case in the Ohio courts (i.e. in the United States) held that a person who stuttered at interview but could do the job of a firefighter had been unlawfully discrimated against.

Human resouces

Louis Roden, human resources executive in Georgia on ISAD Online Conference 2000. Includes link to discussion.

Lawyer

David M. Steiner, Assistant Corporation Counsel with the New York City Law Department. On ISAD Online Conference 2000. Includes link to discussion.
Myself

Lecturer

Stammering in law lectures - article on BSA website by Michael Jefferson, a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Law at the University of Sheffield (2000).
Right - I'll prove them wrong! on BSA website - from installation technician to professor of public health (2006).
One day, Eric woke up and found that words failed him - on BSA website (2002)

Management

Content wins more respect than style by David Adams, Chief Executive of the £11 billion Railways Pension Fund, is on the BSA website (1996).
Jack Welch (link to Wikipedia), former Chairman and CEO of GE, has a stammer.

Mechanic (motor racing)

Keeping the wheels on - link to BSA website (2007)

Nurse

Account by Karen Lewis, a registered nurse in Ohio, on ISAD Online Conference 2000. Includes link to discussion.
One day, Eric woke up and found that words failed him - on BSA website (2002)

Personnel

See Human Resources above

Politics

Winston Churchill and Aneurin Bevan both had a stammer. They were considered the greatest orators in the post-War parliament. See further my page on London walk based around famous stammerers.

Own business

Minding your own business (link to BSA website) - 2006

Radio presenter

'Stammering on the radio': articles linked off BSA employment page.

Sales

Ann van der Berg, sales representative in South Africa

Scientist

Made for the job - decoding the human genome is no obstacle with a stammer - on BSA website (2001)
Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin had stammers - two of the greatest scientists of all time. Robert Boyle and Joseph Priestley also had stammers. For more, see my page on London walk based around famous stammerers.

Speech and language therapist

People who stutter changing careers to become SLPs - on the ISAD Online Conference 1999.

Teacher

'Beyond the imperfections' (link to BSA website) - being a trainee teacher with a stammer (2008)
Let's talk about my stammer - on TES website, teachers who stammer (2008)

Vet

Lee Reeves, Texas. On ISAD Online Conference 2000. Includes link to discussion.

For more more see the list of jobs on the Stuttering Homepage.

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