Children's Passport to Communication - our 2011 Appeal

How to donate: Online Click the 'Donate' button to donate securely online via the CAF website. (Please remember to include a comment stating you are donating to the Christmas Appeal.) By post Send in your cheque, postal order or credit card donation by post. You can print off the appeal (pdf) and use the form included. That also lets you include a message of encouragement for children who stammer who visit the passport website. By text Donate by text from your mobile phone* - simply text BSAX11 £10 to 70070. (Or you can include a whole amount under £10.) Monthly You can also donate monthly to the BSA by becoming a member of the BSA Supporters Scheme. A £4 donation (with Gift Aid) will give £5 to the BSA, and help us to continue to make a difference in the lives of tens of thousands of children and adults who stammer.

Dear Friend,

It's that time of year again, and shortly the office will be closing for the festive season. I have just had some time to reflect on what has been both a monumental and challenging year for the BSA.

The King's Speech has brought stammering into the spotlight and has given many adults who stammer the opportunity to speak out about their experiences like never before. Unfortunately, the voices of the 300,000 children who stammer continue to remain silent.

I've just received an email this morning from Cherry Hughes, our Education Officer, underlining the problem faced by many children who stammer throughout the UK.

I just finished speaking to a distraught mother on the phone, her son Michael, has started secondary school this year. He has been distraught and come home in tears at least three times per week due to being bullied because of his stammer and teachers simply not knowing what to do to help him. Speech therapy isn't available in their area anymore, and his mum fears that he will avoid going to school completely if something isn't done soon.

We know that Michael's story is not uncommon. We know that the negative affects of stammering can make it hard for a child to succeed at school and can make it hard for them to make friends. Children who stammer may seem quiet or shy, or may act out with disruptive behaviour in school. Teachers often simply do not have the knowledge or understanding to know what to do to help children like Michael, when the words won't come.

There is a new and exciting way to help these children communicate about their situation and needs themselves, to those whose job it is to support them. By creating their own online document, a "personal communication passport," children who stammer can express in words and pictures what parents, teachers and fellow pupils can do to help. Once completed by the child, the passport is handed over to teachers to equip them with information on what works for the child, and tips on what they can do to help the child as they face difficult speaking situations.

Like a real passport it can be updated as the child goes to different places with their communication. The passport will be available to print in hard copy or available to share via email with parents, teachers and fellow pupils. This will help everyone involved support the child throughout their journey.

"My passport helped me tell my new teachers what to do to help me. I told them not to tell me to slow down. I also told my classmates not to mimic my stammer as it makes me feel bad. Now I feel better about answering some questions in lessons. I also like that I can draw pictures about my stammer and share them in school." - Emily, age 10.

Some children, like Emily, have created their passport during speech and language therapy sessions. But the difficult economic climate has meant that many speech and language therapy services throughout the country have been forced to shut their doors or reduce their services, leaving many children who stammer without this help on the NHS.

Our vision is to provide all children who stammer with the opportunity to create their own free, personal communication passport through a dedicated website. Just £35 will equip one child with a personal communication passport, to help them experience freedom of communication.

With your help, we can equip hundreds of children who stammer with the resources they need to experience freedom of communication as they travel through these difficult transitions.

With my very best wishes for a happy Christmas and a happy 2012,

Norbert Lieckfeldt
Chief Executive

December 2011

*Your donation by text will appear on your next mobile phone bill, or will come from your PAYG credit.

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