My stammer is me

(Above: Michael with Sir Michael Palin, who took part in the documentary.)

As part of his college TV and Film course, Michael Derrig-Adams decided to create a film to raise awareness of stammering. In 'My Stammer Is Me', a 30-minute documentary which you can watch below, Michael speaks openly about stammering. Here he explains why he made it and how he persuaded a famous face to take part.

I was motivated to raise awareness with this documentary because I felt as though people do not understand the difficulties that come with a stammer. I wanted to use real people and real situations to show the effects of a stammer.

It took me a long time to plan it out, as I wanted to make sure it was sincere, genuine and above all, understandable.

Michael Palin was fantastic. I know he’s invested a lot of time in Action for Stammering Children and has a whole centre named after him, which I myself attended, due to his dad having a stammer. In the film he helped me to show what a stammer is; how people can help others who stammer; and the help that is available for someone who stammers.

Overall I really made it to change people’s perceptions of stammering and I feel as though I have done this. 

Have a watch, I hope you enjoy it!