One of the most familiar voices on drivetime, Q Radio’s Ibe Sesay, has opened up about his successful career in broadcasting, which initially seemed impossible because of a stammer.
The star shared his story on International Stammering Awareness Day at the South Eastern Trust’s celebration event, at Lisburn’s Primary Care Community Centre (LPCCC).
Ibe joined Speech and Language staff, Service Users and their families, together with Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service Station Commander, Peter Bradley, PSNI Detective Chief Inspector Tom Philips and Resident Doctor Anna Rice who all shared their own deeply personal stories of living with their stammer.
Ibe reflected how he has lived with his stammer since the age of seven and how a love of music, ingrained from a young age, led to sessions mixing music and performing sets at clubs across Belfast, “But I would not touch the mic.”
However, a chance to cover an evening slot came up and the rest is airwave history. Ibe explained how he wanted to use his platform to raise awareness about stammering and stress that having a stammer does not limit your career path.
Ibe remarked how it was Trust Speech and Language Therapist, Barbara Reid, “Who changed my life.”
Ibe said, “This morning has been incredible. It is so important as there are so many people out there with a stammer, who have maybe felt like I felt, in that they didn’t have the confidence to do small things, things that other people take for granted every single day.
“What the Speech Therapists within the South Eastern Trust do is incredible. They work with people of all ages. There are a lot of people out there with a stammer who are not aware of the help that is available. I would advise anybody that does have stammer, whose son, daughter, family member needs help, I would encourage those people to get in touch with the Trust and talk to the Speech and Language Therapy Team as they can change lives.”
Resident Doctor at Altanagelvin Hospital, Dr Anna Rice said that the South Eastern Trust Speech and Language Therapy Team, “Has without a doubt changed my life.”
Dr Anna Rice added, “It has helped me grow into the woman I am today and helped me live my life to the full.
“There are so many things that I did not do or put myself forward for, so many opportunities in life that I missed out on because I thought that my stammer would limit me. Having attended Speech and Language Therapy for so many years, I have realised that it is nothing to hide, nothing to be ashamed of, nothing to be embarrassed of and it is something that makes me who I am.
“A day like today is so important to acknowledge.”
South Eastern Trust Speech and Language Therapist Laura Knott said, “This morning was amazing, especially hearing people share their journeys with their stammer. I am in a very a privileged position in that I get to hear and see that journey from the first day that the person comes in to see us, to the end of their Therapy journey where the person is a confident and effective communicator and living their life as they wish, rather than avoiding words and speaking situations.
Laura continued, “It is so lovely to see the person become ‘friends’ with their stammer, become more open about their stammer and raise awareness about it. Events like this are so important to show others that they are not alone and it is an opportunity to make connections with other people who stammer.
“Anybody who is finding that they are having difficulty with their communication skills, can absolutely access Speech and Language support. Our message is that it is never too late. Therapy can support the person with a range of things such as: confidence for talking; thoughts and feelings about their stammer, helping that person to feel more comfortable with their stammer and to be more open about their stammer, working on communication skills, such as turn taking, posture, body language and also techniques to help the person move through their sentence more easily, should they wish to use these.”
“Our message is always that it stammering is a valid way of talking, but if you need some support with your communication skills then Speech and Language Therapy can help.”
Ruth Sedgewick, Head of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists’ Northern Ireland Office, commented, “It was a privilege to speak at the South Eastern Trust’s event marking International Stammering Awareness Day. As Speech and Language Therapists, we work with children, young people, and adults with many different communication needs. Initiatives like this help build understanding and remind us that we all have a part to play in making sure people feel heard and supported.
“People who stammer need time to speak and be listened to for what they say, not how they say it. It can be tempting to fill a silence or finish someone’s sentence, but being patient and letting people finish can make a real difference.
“Everyone deserves to know that their voice matters.”