CD-ROMs provide much needed help for pupils who stammer
October 2 2003

The British Stammering Association is to launch three CD-ROMs on October 22 - one each for primary and secondary school staff and one for young people preparing for the oral work in GCSE English.

Pupils who stammer talk to camera about their fear of speaking situations, offering helpful ideas for managing their speaking in class, such as alternative ways to answer the register and how to participate in oral work. The CDs show film of authentic school situations, with pupils who stammer taking part in everyday oral tasks in the classroom, being supported by staff who are following best practice. There are contributions from parents and speech and language therapists with information about the effects of stammering and strategies to help. All SENCOs in state schools in England will receive a free copy of the relevant CD by the end of the year to use and share with colleagues.

The CD for students preparing for the GCSE oral work in English gives advice on preparation to young people who stammer and their therapists. This CD will be sent without charge to all speech and language therapy services in England.

It is thought that 1 in 80 school children stammer. Young people are often very clever at hiding their stammer in the classroom so it is not always recognised by staff. The British Stammering Association has provided training to more than 2,000 teachers and assistants in schools or on initial training programmes. Staff showed much goodwill but more than 97% knew little about stammering or how to support a pupil who stammered.

Parents who worry about their child underachieving or being teased or bullied have reported to BSA a lack of knowledge by school staff. Young people who stammer and their therapists often ask BSA for advice on GCSE preparation. The CDs were developed to provide staff some of the simple strategies that would make all the difference to the experience of school for these pupils.

The CDs can also be purchased from the BSA.

CD launch
The three CDs will be launched at a reception on October 22nd, International Stammering Awareness Day, to which all the children, teachers, therapists and parents who contributed to the CDs will be invited. They have all freely given their time to this project so that the needs of all pupils who stammer can be better understood in schools. The BSA is very grateful to them all and acknowledges with thanks the partnership between schools, therapy departments, parents and members of the BSA that made these CDs possible.

Press call: 2.15pm, October 22 Abbey Garden, Cr College Tce and College Mews, Westminster
Further information:
Cherry Hughes, Education Officer: 01606 77374
BSA: 020 8983 1003

See also:
Education Officer page - more on the CD-ROMs
International Stammering Awareness Day