An East Kilbride teacher born with a severe stutter is calling on those with the disability to "embrace their quirks" ahead of Stammering Awareness Day.
Adam Black, who teaches additional support needs at Calderglen High, uses his platform to raise awareness of the hidden disability and show children and young people that it's okay to be different.
The Eaglesham dad told us he acts as a shoulder for pupils and fellow stutterers via his dedicated assemblies and weekly zoom therapy group.
And his message this Stammering Awareness Day is clear - embrace your quirks and talk about them.
Adam told Lanarkshire Live : "Everyone has their quirks and stammering is mine.
"In my school and college years I struggled with my disability. I didn't answer out in class and didn't go on school trips because my stutter made me introverted.
"It held me back in every sense and made me be someone else.
"I used to think my life would be better if I didn't stutter, but my mindset has changed. I don't let it define me anymore, I embrace it as part of me.
"And over the years I've found that really resonates with folk."
Adam's teaching ambition seemed a pipe dream until he discovered the life-changing stammer therapy programme used by the likes of Pop Idol star Gareth Gates and Educating Yorkshire's, Musharaf Asghar.
He hailed the McGuire Programme for helping him overcome his speech problems and land his dream job.
And now Adam is using his experience and skills to help pupils and adults living with the neurological condition.
He added: "The best thing is to be pro-active about it, and my job is very pro-active as I'm speaking all day every day.
"The more people who hear about stuttering, the better. I've been teaching for 12 years in Lanarkshire, East Renfrewshire and Glasgow and I've always been open with my pupils who have all been fine with it.
"I've never been made fun of and I think that's because I'm honest and up front about it being a part of me. I've had many pupils come and see me during or after my assemblies to learn more about it or tell me about a quirk they have."
Adam has helped thousands of fellow stutterers beat the condition and was previously recognised for his campaign work on TV and radio in raising awareness of the condition and is the proud recipient of a British Citizen Award.
To mark International Stammering Awareness Day on October 22 he will be hosting an 'honesty circle' zoom workshop as part of his support group and is planning to relaunch his pupil assemblies at Calderglen where he has been teaching for the past year.
Calling for kindness from others, he told us: "If you know someone with a stutter, ask about it. Think what you could do to help the person.
"And if you have a quirk, embrace it, it makes you who you are."
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