For his whole life, Ianto Roberts has had a problem that’s left him literally at a loss for words.
Since he first began to talk, he’s had a crippling stutter. He even had a hard time saying his own name.
“I’ve struggled with words all my life and I avoided social situations because I was embarrassed to speak. Even a small and simple task such as ordering a coffee or asking for a bus ticket used to be quite daunting and could easily cause embarrassment.”
For his whole life, he struggled with it.
But then, he met Hannah.
Ianto and Hannah Murray met on Twitter four years ago. They liked the same band, and chatted online for two years.
“We immediately got along,” says Ianto, “but I dreaded having to actually speak to Hannah.”
Eventually, though, she wanted to speak with him on the phone. He was honest about his speech impediment with her, and he said, “Hannah immediately understood and made me feel comfortable, a feeling that I had never previously felt.”
But when they set a date to meet in person, he wanted to have some help.
He sought that help from The McGuire Programme, which helps those with stutters so they can better overcome their impediments.
“I was 17 and for the first time, I was able to say my own name without stammering,” said Ianto. “In the past it would take me up to five minutes just to say it.”
So when they met up for their first date, Ianto had never been more confident.
“I was a bit nervous, but when Hannah turned up I was on top of my speech. I was in control and thankfully I could go to the bar and buy her a drink without any issues.”
The couple dated for a year before breaking up due to the challenge caused by distance. But they’re still great friends, and Hannah continues to support him.
“I’m not embarrassed if he stutters,” says Hannah. “I’ll let him speak but I’ll help him out if he needs it.”
“It’s amazing to see how far he’s come over the years,” she continued. “I’m so proud of him.”
Now, Ianto works with Fixers, which gives young people a platform to talk about issues that matter to them. It allows them to make documentaries on their experiences, which is what Ianto did. He wants to inspire others to get help.
“If you have a speech impediment and are going through a hard time,” he says, “think about what you want to achieve in life. Will your speech stop you from doing that? Then do something about it.”
