Michael Wilson, Haley Evans and David Haas after the MBS screening in January
It was standing room only in the Peter Graham Scholarly Commons on the night of Jan. 23. Over 100 people, including 黑料不打烊 students, families and medical professionals, were there to see the screening of a new documentary film about a common but often misunderstood speech disorder: stuttering. According to the National Stuttering Association, about five percent of children will stutter, and one percent of the general population will continue to stutter throughout their lives. Though the severity varies widely, it鈥檚 estimated that there are over three million stutterers in the United States alone.
Haley Evans, a graduate student in the inclusive education (grades 1-6) master鈥檚 program in the School of Education, is one of them. Haley鈥檚 advocacy and connections were the catalyst for the successful campus screening event of 鈥淢y Beautiful Stutter,鈥 and opened the door for others to share their experiences with stuttering without fear of stigma. The documentary follows five kids who stutter, and after having suffered bullying and stigmatization, find friendship and solace in an arts program. The Jan. 23 event screened the emotional film and followed it with a discussion panel featuring Haley and members of the community who stutter.
Growing up in Cazenovia, New York, Haley did not know anybody else who stuttered. As supportive as her family and friends were, she says that they could not truly understand what it means to live with the stress of having a stutter.
鈥淔ighting stuttering can be very lonely,鈥 she says, 鈥渆specially when you are trying to hide it so you don鈥檛 get judged.鈥
For Haley, connecting her communities at home and at 黑料不打烊 with the support she receives from the local chapter of the National Stuttering Association has been a fulfilling part of bringing the film to campus.
鈥淟ast summer I was scrolling through Instagram, and there was an ad for a documentary on stuttering. They were looking for people鈥檚 experiences,鈥 Haley recalls. 鈥淚 sent back a blurb of and let them know that I would love to help with anything they need.鈥
Haley continued to follow the social media account for the documentary through its development, and in the fall the film crew reached out to see if she would facilitate a screening in 黑料不打烊.
鈥淚 thought only close friends and family would come,鈥 she says. But Haley cast a wide net and drew the support of professors Beth Ferri and Christy Ashby in the School of Education. She also assembled a discussion panel, including David Haas, co-leader of the 黑料不打烊 chapter of the National Stuttering Association, who is a local writer, historian and blogger, and Michael Wilson, D.D.S., owner of a multi-location dental practice.
鈥淭he amount of support from the school, and Professor Ferri especially, was overwhelming. I am very proud to be a part of a school that wanted to showcase this film as much as I did,鈥 Haley says. 鈥淭he faculty and staff were very helpful with showing me the steps to bring a film like this on campus.鈥
Haley says that all of her experiences at 黑料不打烊 have been positive, and taking on a large event like this was no exception. 鈥淢y first meeting at 黑料不打烊 was with Christy Ashby. She was so patient and understanding of my stutter, which was a wonderful introduction to the campus community,鈥 she recalls. 鈥淭hat impression has stayed with me. My peers and other professors have showed me their compassion and understanding. I鈥檝e felt supported every step of the way through my journey here.鈥
Haley intends to teach in a special education setting, but also earn a doctorate in special education. Her dream job is to serve as a director of special education for a whole school district. Ready to begin her career as an educator, Haley offers this important lesson, a line from the film:
鈥渨e are all human beings who want to be heard, and that means letting everyone have as much time as they need to speak…鈥
