Press release -
Wikimedia Adds Their Voice to Stamma's #FindTheRightWords Campaign
Today, on International Stammering Awareness Day, we are delighted to welcome support from Wikimedia for our 'Find the Right Words Campaign'. We've been working with the agency VMLYR and the community at Wikipedia to edit the entries describing people who stammer, to make the language neutral and less damaging. We have released a short video, with a voiceover by Scroobius Pip, who stammers himself, explaining what we did and why.
In response to our campaign Lucy Crompton-Reid, CEO, Wikimedia UK, 21/10/2020 wrote:
"Wikipedia's wording around stammering was not neutral before, and reinforced negative perceptions about stammering,so what Stamma have done should positively affect how people understand it."
JCDecaux UK and Ocean Outdoors supported the campaign with out of home digital advertisements across the UK. On social, the video has now been watched over 40,000 times.
Stamma's panel of Patrons was joined this week by Rugby star Kelly Brown, who recorded an interview with Rugby Pass. Patrons Margaret Drabble and David Mitchell meantime took part in an online webinar talking about stammering, the current campaign and the power of words on Wedsneday, 22nd. Details of both are available from Stamma.
Jane Powell, CEO said "We are at the start of a journey to help people understand that stammering is a physical condition. It is how some people talk. Having the support and understanding from such an important platform is a fantastic step in helping us change the language around stammering."
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Research suggests that 8% of people will stammer at some point in their lives with up to 3% of UK adults describing themselves as currently having a stammer. The British Stammering Association seeks to create a society where people who stammer can fulfill their potential and enjoy respect and consideration. The charity offers support, information, advice and resources to those who stammer and their families as well as educators, employers and speech and language therapists. Founded in 1978, The British Stammering Association began trading as Stamma in 2019. For more information visit Stamma.org. Registered Charity Numbers 1089967 / SC038866.
