A network aiming to raise awareness of stammering in schools and universities. It's open to teachers and teaching staff who stammer, as well as parents and anyone involved in education.
STAMMA Educators was founded in 2021 with the goal of raising awareness in the education environment, supporting students who stammer, and providing teachers with the tools to help their pupils. The network seeks to create a supportive space where both teachers and students who stammer can thrive in an environment of understanding.
Roberta Volpe, teacher and founder of STAMMA Educators, said: "During my teacher training, I realised that there is still so much to be done in the education sector. We have CPD (Continuing Professional Development) to support students with autism, dyslexia and dyscalculia, but nothing for supporting students who stammer. Having a stammer almost prevented me from becoming a teacher, as I thought there were no teachers who stammer. When I stopped hiding and became open about my stammer, I realised I wasn't the only one, and understood how important it is to talk about stammering more".
Group meetings
The group currently meets online on the first Thursday of each month, from 6-7pm. They chat about their experiences over Zoom 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 Roberta's experience and how she raised awareness in her school. If you want to do the same, download the pdf of the Powerpoint presentation below.
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.
