International Stammering Awareness Day (ISAD) happens on 22nd October every year. Stammering associations, individuals and groups around the world organise events to mark the day and to raise awareness of stuttering.

ISAD online conference 2009: 'Stuttering: More Than a Tangled Tongue'

The twelfth annual International Stammering Awareness Day online conference is freely available on the Stuttering Homepage: www.mnsu.edu/comdis/isad12/isadcon12.html

From 22nd October you can no longer post questions and comments, but you can still read the papers and discussion.

Hosted by Judith Kuster of Minnesota State University, Mankato, the online conference has around 50 papers by both people who stammer and professionals from around the world, written in a reader-friendly style. Each paper has an easy-to-use threaded discussion where people posted questions or comments to the author.

There is also a section called The Professor Is In, where 24 professionals have responded to questions about stammering from people who stammer, their friends/families, or clinicians who work with people who stammer.

Misleading adverts - you can help

We have been campaigning against advertisments that give false hope to people who stammer and a misleading impression to the public by offering to 'cure' stammering.

You can help for Stammering Awareness Day 2009 by flagging offending YouTube videos.

More on helping campaign against misleading adverts...

Going green for ISAD

People who stammer are encouraged to wear sea green clothes or a ribbon, on 22nd October to mark International Stammering Awareness Day.

Michael Sugarman writes (Oct 2009):
"People have asked, "What color do we use for stuttering awareness?" This year marks the debut of a stuttering awareness ribbon. The color is sea green.

"The color 'blue' has traditionally been associated with calm while 'green' represents liberty, freedom and justice. The combination of these colors for People who Stutter shows the bond between 'peace' and 'liberation' when finding support and community with other people who understand and share their experiences. These are reflected in the Bill of Rights and Responsibilities of People who Stutter (link to ISA website).

"Remember to wear Sea Green clothes or ribbon on October 22nd to raise awareness about stuttering and the issues people who stutter face everyday."

Stammering Information Programme

This new resource for teachers by the Michael Palin Centre was launched two days before ISAD. Ed Balls also announced money towards a new specialist centre in the north of England. More on Stammering Information Programme and launch...

Join the BSA telephone link scheme, E-friends email list, or other internet lists.
Ask the BSA office for some helpline posters and put them in your local libraries, community centres or GPs surgeries.
Introduce yourself as a person who stammers, for example when making telephone calls.
Give a talk on stammering - see Powerpoint presentation.