Public speaking / presentations

Speakers clubs | Speaking Circles | Books and tapes | Reasonable adjustments

Speakers clubs

The Association of Speakers Clubs and Toastmasters International are two organisations which exist to help people improve their skills in public speaking. You can join a local group, simply as an observer to begin with, then proceed at your own pace to practice making short speeches, receiving support and constructive feedback from other members.

These are general organisations, not in any way focussed on stammering, but many people who stammer have found them helpful as a way of gaining confidence in a supportive setting - see the articles below.

To find a local group, use the following websites:
The Association of Speakers Clubs: www.the-asc.org.uk
Toastmasters International: www.toastmasters.org

Also we at BSA have a Speaking Out Team, if you're interested in using speaking opportunities to create greater understanding of stammering. The BSA team has a Facebook group.

Articles on Toastmasters and ASC

Improve your communication and leadership skills A new London Toastmasters group is proposed specifically for people who stammer. Harry Dhillon describes some of the benefits of Toastmasters and invites you to get in touch. December 2011.

Toastmasters winner BSA member David Jones was the UK and Ireland winner of the 'Topics' contest at the Autumn 2010 Conference of Toastmasters International in Dublin.

A transforming experience at Toastmasters Public speaking was a nightmare for Harry Dhillon. So how did he end up as President of a Toastmasters club in London? 2010.

Topical success Congratulations to John M Evans, BSA Member since 2006, on winning the 'Topics' competition at the 2007 Association of Speakers Clubs National Conference.

Think YOU'RE Afraid of Public Speaking? (external link) Published in 'The Toastmaster' magazine, 2004.

Speaking Circles

Speaking Circles^® can be helpful for people who are uncomfortable speaking in groups.

"Speaking Circles are a natural and supportive approach to speaking in front of people. The format can benefit people who stammer in a number of ways - changing self perceptions, overcoming performance tendencies, increasing self-acceptance and improving listening skills. Speaking Circles enable people who stammer to actively confront some of the issues at the core of the problem."
Trained Speaking Circle facilitator who also stammers.

Speaking Circles are run by City Lit, London, by the Stammering Support Centre, Leeds, and by some stammering self-help groups.

The value of Speaking Circles for those who stammer Article from the Spring 2001 Speaking Out.

www.speakingcircles.com The website of Speaking Circles International, founded by Lee Glickstein. Two of his books are available from our members' library.

The City Lit run occasional Speaking Circles specifically for people who stammer, and various self-help groups/speech therapist led groups incorporate Speaking Circles in their sessions.

More articles on public speaking

Speaking as a librarian Speech therapy has taught Mark Tynan how to be at ease with himself and his stammer. He puts this into practice when giving lectures to students.

Books and tapes

There are books and tapes on public speaking in our members' library and shop.

Reasonable adjustments

It is worth remembering that there may be an obligation for employers, universities, schools etc to make reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010 or Disability Discrimination Act in respect of presentations. For some examples, see:

Working with students who stammer (pdf file - external link) On the De Montfort University website, about how lecturers can support students who stammer in higher education.

www.stammeringlaw.org.uk/ra Employment examples on a website about the Equality Act/DDA and stammering.

Adult therapy and courses index