Available free at public libraries around the country
For the three million Americans who stutter, not being able to say
their own name is just one of the many challenges which confront them
as they start their work day.
Now some new help is
available for adults and teenagers who stutter in the form of a
videotape available at public libraries across the country.
"We
focus on demonstrating a variety of therapy strategies that are
appropriate in working with adults and teens," explains Dr. Peter Ramig
of the University of Colorado at Boulder. "We also answer
questions about stuttering and present examples of therapy sessions
showing how stuttering can be reduced."
"Stuttering remains
a mystery to most people," said Jane Fraser, president of the
Stuttering Foundation. "Research strongly supports the fact that
stuttering is not caused by psychological problems nor are people who
stutter any less intelligent than those who don't."
"The
new film is meant to give those who stutter some insight into the tools
they need to begin dealing with stuttering, but it also offers good
ideas for family members, speech-language pathologists, and health care
professionals," said Professor Barry Guitar of the University of
Vermont. Guitar is one of six nationally recognized experts appearing
in the video produced by the nonprofit Stuttering Foundation.
"We
have seen people who stutter not only learn to deal with stuttering
effectively," said Dr. Hugo Gregory of Northwestern University," but go
on to become better than average communicators." He notes that
this century's most eloquent speaker, Winston Churchill, stuttered and
yet became a renowned statesman renowned for his oratory skills.
The
DVD features men and women who stutter from the United States and
Canada, discussing their experiences with stuttering and the techniques
that have helped them. They talk openly about the problems they
face in the work place and how stuttering affects their lives and their
self esteem.
For your own copy of the 55-minute DVD, If You Stutter: Advice for Adults,
contact the Stuttering Foundation at 800-992-9392 or visit
www.stutteringhelp.org to learn about the many ways you can help
yourself.
