ISAD 2024 events

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With International Stammering Awareness Day (ISAD) coming up on Tuesday 22^nd October, here's a round-up of what's happening to mark the day.

ISAD is the biggest day of the year for stammering — a chance for us to make a noise and celebrate our community. Here's a list of what online/in-person events and courses are going on.

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'Our Tribe' event

On ISAD (Tues 22nd Oct), join our special 'Our Tribe' online event at 7-8pm where host Scroobius Pip and a panel of guest will explore our different attitudes to stammering. This was a highlight of STAMMAFest so we're doing it all over again online. Don't miss it! Read more and book your place now.

Extended helpline hours

Elsewhere, our helpline & webchat will be open continuously from 10am until 8pm on the day itself, Tuesday 22^nd October (without the usual two-hour break between 2pm and 4pm).

Starbucks: Day of action

We're asking our members and supporters to join a Day of Action against Starbucks on 26^th October. 83% of people we surveyed find it hard to say their name on demand. This is part of Starbucks' processes, yet they have rebuffed our attempts to talk to them. All we want is a conversation about training. 

Details about how you can get involved and support the Day of Action will be released on 22nd October as part of ISAD. Or watch out for our member mailings. Not a member? Join STAMMA for free.

The ISAD Online Conference

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The International Stuttering Awareness Day Online Conference is live now for the whole month. This annual event, organised by an international team of stammering figures, is jam-packed with videos, papers, poems, presentations and loads more. 

The theme this year is 'The Power of Listening'. Don't miss it! Check it out anytime this October at isad.live

Stammering courses

Are you looking for a course to help you with stammering?

The McGuire Programme is running a free information session in Birmingham where you can learn about its courses. 

Jonathan Hubbard says, "Hear our existing members speak first hand about how the techniques they have learned have transformed them into confident, eloquent speakers — no longer afraid to say what they want to say".

It takes place on Saturday 19th October, 2:30pm-4pm, at The Grand Hotel Birmingham (Cathedral Room), 1 Church Street, Birmingham, B3 2FE.

For more information about the session, email matt.wilton@mcguireprogramme.com For details about the course itself, visit the McGuire Programme website. 

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To coincide with ISAD, Empowering Voices is running an extra special offer. Its October course, in Peterborough, will be completely free (usual cost £250). 

​The three-day course, from 28^th to 30^th October, gives training on how to use the costal breathing technique, strategies to reduce the impact of a speech block and desensitisation techniques. Course leader Ian Trevor says, "It is designed to help adults who stammer gain extra speech control and ultimately talk without fear". 

For full details, visit the Empowering Voices website.

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City Lit in London is running a course starting on 25th October called Embodied Voice for People who Stammer. The 8-week course will 'introduce concepts and practical opportunities to cultivate skills to experience speaking in flow'. 

Find out more and see what other stammering courses you can take on the City Lit website.

Theatre

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Wonder Boy (touring)

The play Wonder Boy, all about a teenager who stammers, is on tour all through October and beyond. If you're part of a stammering group, why not arrange a group outing?

It's showing at Shrewsbury (1^st-2^nd Oct), Wolverhampton (3^rd to 5^th Oct), Blackpool (9^th to 12^th Oct), London (15^th to 19^th Oct), Derby (22^nd to 26^th Oct), York (29^th Oct to 2^nd Nov), Southampton (5^th to 9^th Nov), Salford (12^th to 16^th Nov) and Northampton (21^st to 23^rd Nov).

Ticket prices vary depending on the venue. For full details, visit the Wonder Boy website. Read our review too.

The King's Speech (Newbury, Berks)

A new theatre production of the multi-award winning film The King's Speech is on at The Watermill Theatre in West Berkshire throughout October. 

Relive King George VI's preparations for addressing the public at the outbreak of World War II, as he seeks help from unconventional therapist Lionel Logue. 

Tickets from £20. Visit The Watermill Theatre's website for details. On 18^th October there'll be a special post-show Q&A with the cast. Watch the rehearsal trailer below.

Members of The Fluency Trust stammering course for children and teenagers will be going along on the 18th too to raise stammering  awareness, so you'll be in good company.

In fact, The Fluency Trust have been working with the producers over the play's portrayal of stammering. Alexandra Ford says, "Myself and Zane (one of our course participants) met the cast back in August. Zane spoke about his experiences and how he views his stammer as an important part of who he is. We were so impressed at how much the cast had done to explore stammering, their open mindedness and acceptance". The theatre is also giving children on the Fluency Trust course a free drama workshop this October.

Groups

If you're based in Northern Ireland, join Belfast Stammer Support Group on Saturday 19th October for a special ISAD celebration at St George's Market, Belfast, from 9am-12pm. 

Its members, including adults and young people who stammer, as well as their parents, will gather to raise awareness, chat and provide networking opportunities. For more info, please email belfaststammer@gmail.com

Is your group doing anything for International Stammering Awareness Day? Let us know about it, even if you're just meeting for a coffee. We'll advertise it to help you get more people along. Email us at communities@stamma.org