A Fox With A Vox That Blocks!

Author’s commentary

I had a lot of fun creating this comic in the fun and zany rhyming style of the famous educational children’s book author, Dr. Seuss! His unique style was a perfect way for me to draw and write in a format that I haven’t tried before.

Just like with stuttering. I used to try to hide my stuttering by switching words or not saying anything at all. I avoided speaking and even social situations only to end up making things worse like not ordering what I wanted to order and missing out on meeting new people. So I started trying something new — perform an act of courage from one speaking situation to another by stuttering openly. I began to quickly reap the benefits of doing so.

This is the message I am conveying in this comic and poem — stuttering is just something you and I do. It isn’t our fault. It is nobody’s fault. We can still communicate effectively since what we say is important, not how we say it. All we need is some extra time.

The other message I am conveying here is stuttering is just one of the many things we do. For instance, the most fluent speakers in the world cannot be interesting if the only thing they can offer is fluent speech. What about their hobbies? Interests? Personalities? Are they great at playing an electric guitar? Do they volunteer their time at non-profit organizations? Do they bake awesome cookies and bring them to parties? Can they even tell a joke well? Are they dependable in times of need? I bet you are dependable, reliable, and have talents that others wish they had.

It doesn’t matter if you like your stuttering or not. Just don’t let it stop you from saying what you want to say, connecting with others, and allowing your true self to shine despite having a vox full of blocks!

This comic was originally posted on the 2018 ISAD Online Conference.