The STAMMA Educators' Stammering Network aims to raise awareness of stammering within schools and universities.
The network wants to make schools a supportive space for people who stammer, where both teachers and pupils who stammer thrive in an environment of understanding.
STAMMA Educators was founded by teachers Bhupinder Purewal and Roberta Volpe. Bhupinder told us, "I decided to set up the network after struggling with a lack of confidence at the beginning of my teaching career. I felt as if those I worked alongside lacked basic knowledge around stammering, which affected my self-esteem and caused me to feel isolated.
'Our aim for this network is to not only raise awareness of stammering within education, but also to provide support and resources for teachers and pupils who stammer. Whether you work in education or just feel passionately about making a step change in education for people who stammer, we would love for you to join us!"
Group meetings
The group currently meets online on the first Thursday of each month, from 6-7pm. Over Zoom they chat about their experiences and discuss projects to raise stammering awareness in education.
If you're an educator and would like to join, email stammaeducators@gmail.com for details or to reach out if you have any questions.
Read Bhupinder's article 'How teaching helped me embrace my stammer'
The 'Let's Get Talking' campaign
STAMMA Educators has created the campaign 'Let's Get Talking' which encourage people to do talks about stammering in schools. Here's how you can take part:
Step 1: Contact your local school about holding a talk. Download the template email below as a guide.
Step 2: Download the 'Stammering Talk template' below to get an idea of what to include in your talk. If you'd like it on PowerPoint, email stammaeducators@gmail.com and they'll send it to you.
Step 3: Take a photo and let STAMMA Educators know how it went. Email stammaeducators@gmail.com. Or tag them in on socials. Find them on Facebook, Instagram and X using @stammaeducators.
When you go into schools and hold your talk, make sure a teacher is present at all times. You might want to check in with the schools whether DBS checks are required.
