1 Calgary child turns speech disability into embracing public speaking [Video]

A Calgary family is aiming to change the conversation around stuttering ahead of International Stuttering Awareness Day.

Nine-year-old Oliver Netsko speaks with a stutter, but he’s gone from being nervous to talk to embracing public speaking — thanks in a large part to a program based in the United States.

“The last two and a half years, it’s been life changing,” said Melissa Netsko, Oliver’s mom.

The big change was receiving help though the Arthur M. Blank Center for Stuttering Education and Research at the University of Texas at Austin.

Prior to connecting with the team, Oliver struggled with the therapy and techniques he was receiving locally, his mom said.

“We always wanted to fix Oliver and we always wanted to try to change the way he spoke,” she added.

But their perspective changed to instead embrace Oliver’s speech disorder and focus on building communication skills and confidence.

“Effective communication …