It’s been an “interesting learning journey” for a Burnaby resident who has started a conversation about stuttering.
Last December, the NOW shared Kim Block’s story – a mother-of-two and the author of a new series called Adventures of a Stuttering Superhero.
Block, who has a stutter herself, wanted to bring a different kind of narrative to schools and libraries, one that would teach kids about stuttering and how to be empathetic.
Since the first book launched last year (more than 200 copies have been sold to date), Block says she’s been invited on a couple of radio shows, including CBC.
She’ll also be presenting at the National Stuttering Association’s meet-up in Texas next month and will be the keynote speaker for the Canadian Stuttering Association’s 2017 conference in October.
“There’s definitely some stuff happening,” Block laughs.
But being a self-published author does come with its challenges.
“It’s a very uphill climb. It’s a lot of explaining about stuttering and why this book is important. I still feel like I’m having to advocate a lot,” she says.
Adventures of a Stuttering Superhero is currently in three Burnaby schools and in four public libraries across the Lower Mainland.
There’s a lot of red tape, according to Block, when it comes to getting her story in the libraries.
“A lot of them will only accept it if it’s through a certain distribution (company). They won’t allow my book because I’m a self-published author. A lot of the big libraries don’t want people trying to submit their book because there’s too many,” she says. “It’s almost like I want to jump over that red tape and go, ‘But there’s no other books out there about kids who stutter. You’ve got to let me in!’”
Block admits she’s had her highs and lows when trying to balance her family life, full-time job (she works as a secretary at the B.C. School for the Deaf) and making inroads with her children’s book.
“It’s this mixed combination of feeling tired and exhausted, frustrated sometimes; sometimes I feel angry, sometimes I’m excited and I can’t sleep at night because all these great things are happening,” she says.
She adds she was recently asked if she thought her book was making a difference. Block couldn’t really give a definitive answer, she says.
In June, Block read her book to some 400 students at Cameron Elementary School. At first, some kids avoided eye contact with her, others laughed, but by the end, the whole group was intrigued, eager to ask questions and know more about stuttering.
“After I went to Cameron and I spoke to those 400 students, I can say, ‘Yes, 100 per cent. This book is making a difference,’” says Block.
To learn more, visit stutteringadventures.com.
