Press release -
Conference for Parents & Children who stammer, 27th August, Liverpool University
- Approximately 8% of children will stammer at some point, commonly starting between the ages of 2-5.
- While stammering gradually disappears for many, up to 2% of adults stammer.
- Without support the negative reactions from others can impact on mental health, relationships and career prospects.
On August 27th, STAMMA, the UK’s national charity for people who stammer, is hosting a Family Day at the University of Liverpool for young people who stammer and their families. Sponsored by Action for Stammering Children, the event aims to give children and teenagers who stammer a chance to connect and build confidence, and provide a space for parents of young people who stammer to share their experiences.
STAMMA is offering free Family Day tickets to local families of children who stammer in Liverpool and Sefton, thanks to the generous support of the Alder Hey Children’s Charity, on behalf of the Willy Russell Centre.
Every year, STAMMA receives hundreds of helpline calls and webchats from parents worried about their child’s speech and looking for support. Its Family Day aims to give children and teenagers the chance to meet others like them who stammer, potentially for the first time. By giving families a place to connect and learn more about stammering, it aims to help people see that they are not alone.
This Family Day is part of STAMMAFest Global, a five-day international conference in partnership with the International Stuttering Association.
Catherine Woolley, STAMMA's Children & Families Programme Lead, explained: “We know that approximately 8% of children stammer. Yet when you are someone who stammers, it’s easy to think you’re the only person who talks the way you do”.
Ria Bernard, CEO of Action for Stammering Children, who are sponsoring the event said “I'm looking forward to getting together with friends and colleagues from across the stammering community to raise the profile of stammering and working together to ensure children who stammer and their families are heard.”
Further Information
Parents living within the Liverpool and Sefton area may apply for a free ticket by emailing mail@stamma.org, please put 'Family Day' as the subject heading. A booking fee of £5 will apply.
Parents living further afield may buy tickets from here
About Action for Stammering Children (ASC):
Founded in 1989, our goal at ASC is to ensure that every child and young person who stammers across the UK has access to effective services and support to help them meet the challenges they face. Through our projects, events and advocacy work, they aim to promote high quality research activity, influence policy, lobby for change and empower children and young people who stammer. They fund specialist assessments and training of Speech & Language Therapists in partnership with the Michael Palin Centre. Their Youth Panel, comprising young people who stammer from across the country, advocate to raise awareness about stammering in society.
Related links
Topics
Categories
Our Purpose
We exist to create a world that makes space for stammering. Where it's embraced as just a difference. Where no-one judges your stammer or the way you choose to deal with it. We’ll get there by bringing people together, whether they stammer or not, to propel a movement for change.
We will stand up for and embolden those who stammer, provide support and information, and challenge discrimination wherever we find it. We’ll fight for NHS speech and language therapy services for those want it. No matter how you talk, we're here for you.
Join us and help the public understand that stammering is not a sign of being drunk, dishonest, nervous or weak. It’s simply how some of us talk.
