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I am responding to Rachelle R. Letendre's letter in the Oct. 18, 2005 issue of The ASHA Leader in which she states that the military rejects individuals who stutter. While I empathize with Ms. Letendre and her brother, I need to point out that the military views stuttering as a disability, just like deafness, asthma, or other conditions that would make it difficult for a person to participate in military activities.
If her brother is not able to communicate to his superiors or is not able to communicate an order to other members of his company, he puts their safety at risk as well as his own. While there was no reason to be treated poorly by recruiting officers, I hope she and her brother can understand why the military would have doubts about allowing individuals who stutter to enlist for duty.
Kristine Hassebrock
St. Cloud, MN
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