Earley woman shares her struggle against stammer to help others

Jamila Damani, 25, from Earley, featuring in the documentary. Credit: ITV

A woman who overcame her stutter is helping other stammerers beat the condition.

Jamila Damani, from Earley, featured in the ITV documentary, School for Stammerers.

The one-off show followed six people as they went through the McGuire Programme, which helps people with stammers or stutters to suppress their condition.

A stammer or stutter, is defined as involuntary pauses and the repetition of sounds.

Ms Damani, who developed a stutter when she began Maiden Erlegh School in Silverdale Road in Earley, explained how she managed to break free from the grip the condition had on her life.

She said: "I had quite a mild stutter but in the school environment it can fill you with dread.

"Having to read aloud was difficult, and I struggled to make friends because of the condition.

"My speech affected my confidence, I felt really bad about myself.

"I remember really struggling with certain letters.

"That was quite a horrible moment, knowing what you want to say but not being able to say it."

She was able to learn how to control her stutter after attending the McGuire Programme while studying A-levels at The Henley College.

Ms Damani, who is now a coach for the McGuire Programme, said: "When I started I was nervous but I did have the confidence to try.

"In the first year you have to test yourself. I've been on the project for six years and there's been quite a change."

She added through doing the course she was able to secure a place studying Anthropology and International Development at the University of Sussex.

"I didn't achieve my full A-levels, because I was unwell on one of the exam days.

"But doing the McGuire project gave me the confidence to fight for my place at university," she said.

"More than anything it gave me the confidence to go for it."

Below is a video of Ms Damani early in her recovery:

Speaking about the students she coaches she said: "It's really about their fears.

"They need to undo a lot of habits and old thinking. Some embrace the techniques really well and understand speech is a sport.

"Part of the challenge is being open to techniques and knowing that it's not a cure, it's something you have to keep working on.

"So number one is mindset, and the belief that you can speak to strangers, you can speak in public, and that you can face your fears.

"Number two is embracing the full technique on the course, because using the technique allows you to be in control.

"The third thing you learn is that it's not a cure, and you have to keep working on it."

She added: "It [the programme] may not be for everyone, but it's well worth a try.

"I found it really empowering.

"You have to push yourself. For me, the programme and the community it cultivates really helps.

"There can be times in your recovery when you are feeling tired and stressed, but you really have to persevere with a positive mindset.

"Now I'm at a point where I'm able to freely speak about my experiences, I've really started to enjoy the art of speaking.

"It allows me to live. It's really given me a lot of opportunities that I would not have been able to do without the programme."

You can watch School for Stammerers here.