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I read in the news that a coffee shop recently fired a barista for allegedly mocking a man who stuttered.

The man stuttered his name and the barista had written the customer’s name in a way that appeared to mock the customer’s stuttering.

I have several mixed feelings about this incident.

I hope that the barista didn’t do this on purpose. I hope it wasn’t intentional. I don’t know for sure. I wasn’t there.

I feel empathic for the man who was apparently mocked. I’m sure he has heard jokes and been ridiculed before.

I’ll disclose that I have several communication problems myself. Here are four examples;

• I was in speech therapy until 6^th grade because I couldn’t pronounce the “R” sound. I had to learn to put the GRRR in Tiger. Mine sounded like gor in Tig-or. It’s one of the reasons I had written the book, “It’s not a Monst-OR – It’s a Monster!” I am very pleased that I did learn how to say this! I do have a relative who is a grown adult (and a physician) who still struggles with the “R” sound.
• I don’t have an official diagnosis. I may have a Central Auditory Learning Disorder. My parent’s believed I had this as a child. I have a younger relative who had this diagnosis. The diagnosis wasn’t quite out when I was a child. It is difficult to explain. I explain it as dyslexia with hearing. I’d often get similar sounds confused. I’d hear am-in-al and repeat that word back when in fact the other person was saying animal. I wasn’t a very good auditory learner. Verbal instructions were very difficult for me. I’d performed a lot better in classes that had visual learning like an overhead projector (what teachers used back in the 80s before laptops and slideshow presentations).
• I lacked interpersonal skills. I’m an introvert too. I didn’t have good communication skills to carry on a conversation.
• A touch of anxiety didn’t help either. I often felt self-conscious of speaking because I knew I often mispronounced words or got words backwards or said things like “I’m going to put the fridge back in the milk now” or “will you grab the car for the keys?” when I mean grab the keys for the car.

Fortunately, I’ve made major improvements in all four of those areas listed above thanks to the help of teachers, friends, and speech therapists. Now I facilitate group therapy sessions. I teach webinar training sessions. I’m in charge of teaching orientation for staff at a Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility. I provide keynote talks on success and achievement.

I don’t think it is funny to mock, ridicule, or joke about any disorder. No human is perfect. Every one of us has problems. I forgive the barista. She isn’t perfect either.

My three best suggestion include: a.) be nice; b.) be easy-going; and c.) keep improving.

• As a child, I was immature (as children are). I had a close friend who stuttered and I laughed at him at times (along with other friends). Ironically, he was in my speech therapy classes at times as well. I’m an adult now who is a bit more mature now. I think having my problems (listed above) made me a better, more empathetic human being. I’m nicer. I suggest all people to practice being kind and nice. (plus it has good karma too)
• Be easy-going if someone points out a flaw. As a child, I’d feel very embarrassed if someone (anyone) pointed out when I mispronounced a word. Many times I didn’t even realize I said it backwards or wrong. Often times, It isn’t the end of the world. I share sincere appreciation if someone lets me know. It doesn’t help if someone doesn’t tell me because they don’t want to “hurt feelings.” Being easy-going helps. Sometimes friends just like to play and have fun with each other. My friends laugh when I say things… and I’m okay with that because they’re my friends and they’re coming it at from a playful approach and not one to intentionally hurt me. I use the same easy-going approach when someone is trying to be hurtful.
• Keep improving. Do the work. Strive to improve and get help mastering any areas. All people have the potential to improve through practice and training.

#BeNice