Stammering Awareness Day: What's happening?
(Updated Thursday 24th October)
A round up of events and activities taking place on and around International Stammering Awareness Day (ISAD), Wednesday 22nd October.
There's just two weeks to go until ISAD! Our favourite (and busiest) time of the year. Here's a list of what we'll be doing, and details of what you, our supporters, and the wider community are getting up to. Are you doing something? Email editor@stamma.org and tell us all about it.
Our campaign: Phone call nightmares
Phone calls can be a nightmare if you stammer. We want to end that. This International Stammering Awareness Day, we've launched our brand new campaign to improve accessibility and increase awareness around callers who stammer. Check out the End the Phone Call Nightmares campaign page.
We've got a cinema advert and a billboard poster going out on the 22nd, so keep your eyes peeled. Help us spread the word by sharing our social media posts. Exciting times!
Update: STAMMA's Kirsten appeared on BBC Breakfast on ISAD morning, with the brilliant influencer Sam Bagshaw, to promote the campaign! Read all about it, as well as an update on the campaign.
Events
ISAD Online Conference (Throughout October)
The ISAD Online Conference, organised by a group of people from all over the world, returns for its 28th year. Every October, their website is packed with stories, research papers and creative expression, as well as a chance to talk to professionals in the field of stammering.
Their theme this year is 'A diverse stuttering community — meeting challenges with strengths'. Check it out! You can access the ISAD Online Conference throughout the whole of October.
Watch co-organiser McKenzie Jemmett introduce the event below.
London theatre play: Lucifer (28th October-1st November)
Playwright Roger Goldsmith's autobiographical play 'Lucifer' centres around a negative speaking situation at work and the events that follow. It's showing at the Bread & Roses Theatre, Clapham, 28th October-1st November.
*Two free tickets available: email editor@stamma.org if you'd like them.
For paid tickets, and for more info, see the Bread & Roses Theatre's website. Read all about it in the article Roger wrote for our site.
'Immmperfect Impediment', Sheffield (22nd October)
On ISAD evening, the University of Sheffield is putting on a special spoken word poetry/exhibition event hosted by Sipho Eric Ndlovu. Sipho, the former poet laureate at the university, has transformed his personal experience of living with a stammer into an inspiring, interactive and family-friendly performance that blends honesty, humour and powerful storytelling.
'Immmperfect Impediment: My stammering journey' is on Wednesday 22nd October, 6pm-7:30pm at The Sir Frederick Mappin Building, Sheffield. Sorry, this event has finished.
Empowering Voices' online 'Open House' (22nd October)
Empowering Voices, the charity that runs courses for people who stammer, are holding an online 'Open House' event between 8pm and 9pm on ISAD.
Organiser Ian says, "It will be an opportunity for people who stammer to talk with other stammerers, discuss issues that affect our community, and learn more about Empowering Voices". It takes place via Microsoft Teams. For more information, visit their website, where you can also find details of its next course in November. It's offering two free places for adults who receive means-tested benefits.
For a full list of stammering courses in the UK, see our Adult Stammering Courses list.
'Voices of Strength', London (22nd October)
The organisation Perfect Minds are putting on an event called 'Voices of Strength: Empowering Inclusion Through Awareness and Leadership' on ISAD, from 2pm to 4pm at The Gessner in Tottenham Hale. They say, "Join to hear from a range of speakers, two of whom stammer, who will share their stories and insights on how to create a more inclusive and empowering community".
North Hertfordshire Support Group's Open Day (Saturday 25th October)
If you live in or around Herts, join the North Hertfordshire Stammering Support Group for a day of connection, support and empowerment at their first ever open day.
Join Ramesh and the group at Letchworth Library on Saturday 25th October, between 11am and 3pm. Sorry, this event has passed.
Belfast Support Group's coffee meet-up (25th October)
The Belfast Stammer Support Group are hosting a coffee meet-up this Saturday 25th October, from 1pm to 3pm at the Golden Thread Gallery, on Queen Street, Belfast. They say, "Join us if you'd like to learn about joining our community, or if you have any questions. Families are welcome!"
STAMMA Family Day, Sheffield (25th October)
We're also putting on an event especially for children who stammer and their families. Family Day is a day of fun, confidence-building activities for ages 5 to 16, as well as talks, Q&As and a chance for parents/carers to meet other parents.
Sorry, bookings for Family Day are now closed.
Other
Scroobius Pip's podcast
The awesome Scroobius Pip, actor, spoken word artist and STAMMA patron, released a special edition of his Distraction Pieces podcast titled 'Dissecting Disfluency' for ISAD. Have a listen.
Stuttering Commons handbook
To coincide with ISAD, the international initiative 'Stuttering Commons' has launched a new online handbook. Sam Simpson says it's "a dynamic resource introducing people to Dysfluency Studies and exploring Stammering Pride, Fluency Privilege and Transformative Belonging'. Head to the Stuttering Commons website to check it out.
What are our members doing?
Isla's song 'Heard'
Isla, aged 13, has written a brilliant song about stammering especially for ISAD called 'Heard', which is now live on the ISAD Online Conference website. Have a listen! Thanks to Isla's mum Shanee for telling us about it.
Gabriel's talk
Gabriel, aged 8, has made an awareness-raising head start by giving a talk to his Year 4 class called 'All About Stammering'. It's not his first time either, as Gabriel has previously given talks to his Year 2 and 3 classes, as well as his Beaver pack too. Great work Gabriel!
His mum Kate has kindly offered to share the template he used if anyone else wants to do a talk. Email us at editor@stamma.org and we'll give you the details.
Becca's workplace awareness
Becca Jones told us, "In honour of International Stammering Awareness Day, I'm putting together a reel to showcase how my amazing company has made all six of our dental practices more inclusive for patients who stammer". Read all about it in Becca's article.
Christine's talk
Christine Menzies will be sharing her experiences of stammering with colleagues and staff at University College London Hospitals (UCLH), which is holding a special event on the 23rd October. 'Lifting the lid on stammering and supporting colleagues who have a stammer', will be an afternoon of talks, including Christine's 'My journey with a stammer', which she'll be presenting with a colleague. Good luck Christine! The event will also tell people about UCLH's support group for staff who have a stammer. Read more from Christine in the article she wrote for our Your Voice section.
Julia & Leila's school resources launch
Assistant Headteacher Julia Lovel has led the development of Just Listen, a fully resourced national stammering awareness package created to empower learners and educate school communities about stammering. Originally inspired by Laila, a Year 11 student from Holderness Academy, the project brought together young people from across Hull and the East Riding, whose voices and lived experiences shaped the heart of the campaign.
Launching on ISAD, Just Listen provides schools with planned primary & secondary assemblies, student-led films, a poster and digital campaign, and more. The project began after Julia delivered an ISAD assembly reflecting on her father's experience of living with a stammer. Laila, who also stammers, was particularly inspired and approached Julia with a desire to educate others and reduce stigma. This led to a powerful collaboration between The Consortium Academy Trust and the East Riding & Humber Speech and Language Therapy Team, ultimately gaining the full support of leading national charities STAMMA and Action for Stammering Children.
The Just Listen resources are now freely available to all schools nationwide. Download them and read more on Julia's article.
We'll be adding to this page with everything you're up to, so let us know! Email us at editor@stamma.org with details and we'll share it here.
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