2–4 SeptemberHulme Hall, Manchester

Conference 2016

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After the Saturday night gala dinner, we’re planning entertainment from Stammer Band. This is a band which consists only of people who stammer, who play songs which are either about stammering, or which feature stammering .

However, we need your help to make Stammer Band a reality. At the moment, Stammer Band consists of just Max Gattie (guitar/vocals) and Ian Hickey (drums). We desperately need more contributors.

There are several ways you can get involved:

1. If you sing, let us know which stammer song you’d like to perform, and we’ll work up a backing track for it. Think of it as karaoke on steroids.

2. If you can rap, even better! There are several songs we’d love to feature, but cannot convincingly attempt on our own.

3. If you play an instrument, please drop us a line! We’d love to work up a version of a song you could perform on. We can practice by exchanging mp3s, and then perform together at the conference.

4. If you can travel to Manchester, please get in touch ASAP! We love to have more people to rehearse with.

If you can sing or perform, please send an email to manchesterstammer@gmail.com

S E T L I S TSongs about StammeringBill Murray – K-K-K-KatieJohn Lee Hooker – Stuttering BluesWillie Dixon – NervousMorris Minor and the Majors – Stutter RapThe Two Ronnies – Stuttering BumJoe – StutterScatman John – ScatmanJames – StutterSongs mentioning StammeringMaroon 5 – StutterElastica – StutterExtreme – Tragic ComicMiley Cyrus – See You AgainSongs which feature StammeringThe Who – My GenerationBTO – You Ain’t Seen Nothing YetGeorge Thorogood – Bad to the BoneThe Trashmen – Surfin’ BirdDavid Bowie – ChangesMel and Kim – RespectablePaul Hardcastle – NineteenPhil Collins – SussudioBee Gees – Jive Talkin’The Runaways – Cherry BombGuns n’ Roses – Welcome to the JungleThe Beatles – Back in the USSRThe Knack – My SharonaBuddy Holly – Peggy SueBeastie Boys – Ch-Check It OutThe Fall / The Monks – Black Monk ThemeThe Kinks – LolaThe Kaiser Chiefs – RubyBlack Box – Ride on Time

STAMMER BAND NEEDS YOU!

http://www.stammering.org/speaking-out/article/stammer-band-needs-you

Contents

http://www.stammering.org/speaking-out/article/stammer-band-needs-you

ForewordFrom BSA chair Tim Fell

From the Manchester organisers

Invited SpeakersSpeaking Out – Ed Balls

Community, goals, research and self-fulfilment – Grant MeredithThe Fluency in School Team Project – Peter Howell

Working with Schools – Trudy Stewart

Research themeThe Relationship between Stammering and Trauma – Paul Brocklehurst

Brain imaging of synchronised speech in people who stammer – Sophie MeekingsThe Stuttering Brain – Naheem Bashir

Beyond Words: Psychological Aspects of Stammering – Triona LaniganAnxiety in foreign language learning in people who stammer – Ronan Miller

Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy – Gareth Walkom

Goals themeHow not to do public speaking – Bob Adams

What’s the Frequency, Gareth? – Gareth CottrellBest hopes from therapy – Vicky Crofts and Martha Jeffery

Making long-term and meaningful change – Rachel EverardMoving on after intensive therapy – Mark Murphy

Being the verbal communicator that you want to be – Michael O’SheaPositive Stammering – Mandy Taylor and Michael Turner

Community themeSelf-help groups for adults who stammer – Bob Adams and Hilary Liddle

What can I do? – Nisar Boston, Erin Williams and Rory SheridanA Celebration of Stammering – Patrick Campbell, Nisar Boston,

Lesley Kodom-Baah and Ian HickeyThe Employers Stammering Network – Norbert Lieckfeldt

Changes afoot at the BSA – Norbert LieckfeldtExploring Support Groups – Mhairi MacDonald and Megan Hart

Universities un-STUC – Claire NormanWomen who stutter – Christine Simpson, Ruth Cross and Gouri Laher

Self-fulfilment themeCircus Skills – Bob Adams

Staying safe on the streets – Trevor Bradley and Bob AdamsA Journey towards self-fulfilment – Sarah Ellison

Harrison Workshop – Clive Collins and McGuire graduatesAnd now for something completely different – Rachel Everard and Sam Simpson

Drumming Workshop – Steve HIgnettWhen I get older, start losing my ..? – Colin Marsh

The underside of the iceberg – Sophie MitchellMy stammering and me – Michael Ryan

Mind your language! – Iain Wilkie and Sam Simpson

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Forewordfrom the British Stammering Association

Improvement – anyone can do it!One of the things we will be doing a lot of during this Conference is talking about stammering. “No surprise there, then!”, I hear you cry.

But talking about stammering is something that society hasn’t been very good at. Going forward, the BSA feels that talking about stammering is the best way to face stammering. Head-on. Directly and openly.Talking about stammering is how we will improve the lives of people who stammer. And that’s why the theme of this Conference is so exciting. Improvement. Aspiring to be better at what we do, who we are. And improving society’s understanding of stammering.

When my school reports said “room for improvement – could do better” my parents were not best pleased. They’d say “don’t settle for less than you can be!” And those words have always stuck with me.

There’s so much within us. The potential is there, it just needs to be given the opportunity to flourish. Our theme says you don’t have to accept how things are now. There’s hope. You don’t have to remain locked away in a dungeon of dysfluency or disaffection. You don’t have to look back in later years and regret the missed opportunities.

And, the thing is, anyone can improve. You can do it in bite-sized chunks, too, over a period of time. The awesome thing about improvement is its all-inclusiveness. Yes, anyone can do it!

The BSA’s vision is a society where every person who stammers has as much chance of a full and rewarding life as anyone else. Improvement underlines this vision. A better understanding by society of what stammering is all about. And a heightened sense of opportunity and responsibility by people who stammer to make the best use of the fantastic resources available. I hope you enjoy the Conference.

Tim FellChairmanof the British Stammering Association

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Forewordfrom the Manchester organisers

Welcome to Manchester, and the 2016 British Stammering Association Conference. We are delighted to have you here.

The programme over the next two days offers a comprehensive collection of talks about stammering. This is backed up by a large – and lively! – social and networking opportunity.

The theme of this conference is Improvement. Speech improvements are of course always welcome. But improvement is possible in many more ways. For example, communication in general can improve. Understanding of stammering can improve. The environment for people who stammer can improve, and so can the experience of living with stammering.

Our speakers will cover four sub-themes: Community, Goals, Research and Self-fulfilment. We’re delighted to have attracted such a high calibre of speaker, including several who have travelled internationally to be here. But, more than anything, it is the stammering support community which has made this possible.

We’d like to thank everyone in the British Stammering Association who has contributed to making this event possible. We’d like to thank the many trainee speech and language therapists who are helping with room arrangements and refreshments over the weekend. And we would, of course, like to thank the many members of the Manchester Stammering Support Group, without whom this event couldn’t have taken place.

Max GattiePhD student in stuttering research, University of Manchester

Jennifer RocheSpeech and Language Therapist (Stockport NHS Foundation Trust) and BSA Trustee

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Speaking Out

Ed served in the British Cabinet as Education Secretary (2007-2010). He was previously the UK Minister for Financial Services (2006-2007) and the Chief Economic Adviser to the UK Treasury (1997-2004). He was UK Shadow Chancellor from 2011 to 2015.

At the Department for Children, Schools and Families, Ed brought together schools and children’s policy for the first time in the Children’s Plan and pushed through radical and progressive policies including raising the education and training age to 18, reform of the social work profession, establishing the support staff negotiating body and extra investment in youth services and short breaks for disabled children and their families.

As Chief Economic Adviser to the Treasury (1997-2004), Ed led the design of policies including independence of the Bank of England, the New Deal jobs programme, the Five Tests Euro assessment, Sure Start, tax credits and the national minimum wage.

Born in Norwich in 1967, his family moved to Nottingham when Ed was 8. He attended Crossdale Drive primary school and then Nottingham High School. Ed went on to study economics and philosophy at Keble College, Oxford, and economics and politics (MPA) at the John F Kennedy School of Government, Harvard.

Ed is married to Yvette Cooper MP. They have three children and live in London and Castleford. His interests include learning the piano, marathon running, cooking and playing football with his children. He is a member of the Privy Council.

Ed BallsSenior Fellow,Harvard University Kennedy School Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government

Visiting Professor, Policy Institute, King’s College London

InvitedSpeaker

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Community, goals, research

and self-fulfilment

Engaging the four senses

In this presentation, with the use of personal anecdotes and the running of a successful crowdfunding project as an example, I will tie up the conference’s sub-themes of the community, goals, research and self-fulfilment into the grand theme of Improvement.

I work in the fast paced and at times cut throat communication-orientated world of academia, which in turn means that I must navigate the three realms of teaching, research and administration. I do not use any techniques to control my fluency and am overt in stuttering nature.

I lead the Technologies for Empowering People for Participation in Society (TEPPS) programme which aims to enable the lives of people the world over through the radical design of software and hardware solutions. In 2014 I ran a crowdfunding project through the then University of Ballarat to extend an applied research project that I was working on. This project was the online social scenario simulation program called Scenari-Aid. Originally designed for people who stutter to practise their speech skills through and to also work on issues of social confidence, Scenari-Aid is now being used globally to address other personal challenges. These challenges include the likes of recovering from brain injuries, developmental issues, long-term unemployment and language skills for people from non-English speaking backgrounds. But Scenari-Aid is only one project that we have been working on and some others will also be outlined.

Throughout this presentation I will weave through the life of being an academic who stutters and the ensuing endeavours to challenge myself and be accepted simply as Grant. Not as Grant the person who stutters.

Grant MeredithAssociate Dean of Student Retention and Success, Federation University, Australia

InvitedSpeaker

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The Fluency in School Team project (FIST)

There is general agreement that treatment for stammering and other difficulties that affect expressive speech is most effective if intervention is received as soon as a problem is identified. However, there are insufficient resources for Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs) to assess every child for intervention.

One way that children with speech difficulties could be identified and attended to quickly would be to give schools roles to play with respect to fluency when children enter education. However, there are three main obstacles to doing this:

1) There is nothing suitable for teachers to assess children’s expressive speech;

2) There is no form of primary SLT care that schools could give when children with speech difficulties are identified;

3) Many languages are spoken by children entering into UK schools. This causes some children’s speech to be hesitant and these features in their speech can be confused with fluency problems.

In response to the first obstacle, a procedure was developed that identifies children who stammer or who have other expressive speech difficulties for teachers to use. It is short, simple, objective and applicable with all children. It meets scientific standards of performance and the results correspond with teachers’ judgments about children’s fluency. A short sample of speech is obtained and analyzed for non-fluent symptoms. This formalizes what teachers report that they currently do.

It is emphasized that the procedure is not a simplification or substitute for what SLTs do when making a clinical assessment: SLTs would require details like family history of speech difficulty which it is not

Peter HowellProfessor of Experimental PsychologyUniversity College, London

Honorary Research Professor, Beijing Normal University, China

InvitedSpeaker

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practical for teachers to obtain. Teachers see their task as passing children as fluent or not and leave detailed assessment (e.g. whether a child stammers or has some other speech difficulty) to the SLTs. It is important that the SLTs know what teachers are doing, its limitations and the accuracy of the identification procedure so that procedures can interface with their own diagnostic and intervention methods (this is not the case at present).

An important feature is that the identification procedure does not confuse children who stammer with those who have vocabulary problems (the influence of vocabulary on fluency is a major issue when children who do not use English as their first language in UK schools). Availability of this procedure allows children who stammer to be identified early and they can receive SLT intervention soon afterwards. Early intervention, as well as being most helpful for avoiding long-term fluency problems, can also help avoid children encountering other problems in schools.

Primary care for speech difficulties can be given in schools once a problem is encountered as they have ready access to children. Care has been taken to design this intervention so that it addresses general forms of expressive speech difficulty (not just stammering) and to ensure that it does not conflict with any treatment children might subsequently receive from SLTs for specific speech difficulties (e.g. Lidcombe treatment for children who stammer). The intervention takes the form of a working memory game.

Another aspect of FIST has involved developing interventions for children with poor vocabulary but no form of speech difficulty both for children who speak English alone or who use English as an additional language. All such children show word-finding difficulties that lead to nonfluencies which have some similarity with the symptoms seen when a form of speech difficulty is present. The procedures we have developed employ sound combinations that are needed for English but that are either acquired late in development (native English-speaking children) or where sound combinations are absent in the native language that a child uses.

Nonsense-word repetition is used in the first phase to train the children on the sound combinations selected according to the language they speak. Children who use English as an additional language are then trained on word material that activates either the same (phase two) or different (phase three) semantic forms in English and any additional language where applicable. Children who speak English alone only receive phase two training. Results on fluency and word-finding improvements with this staged form of training (non-word through to lexical material that places different semantic demands on the children) are reported.

AcknowledgementParts of this work were supported by the Dominic Barker Trust. Their support is gratefully acknowledged.

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Working with schools

Trudy Stewart has 37 years experience as an SLT working with people who stammer. She helped to establish the Stammering Support Centre in Leeds, and published several books and research on stammering. The most recent publication (2016) is a resource book forteachers. Trudy has lectured on undergraduate, graduate and specialist courses in UK and abroad, has been a keynote speaker at international conferences on dysfluency, and has advised the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and the BSA.

In this workshop aimed at speech and language therapists, Trudy will present a number of scenarios depiciting some of the problems and issues facing pupils who stammer in primary and secondary school environments. Participants will be invited to problem solve in small groups, sharing ideas from their own experience and learning from each other.

Trudy StewartRetired Consultant Speech and Language Therapist

InvitedSpeaker

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The relationship between stammering and trauma

For much of my life I had a severe stammer which I finally managed to gain control over when I was about 40.

After that I went back to university, where I studied speech therapy and psycholinguistics. I then went on to conduct experimental research investigating potential mechanisms behind stammering. My main area of expertise is the relationship between stammering and speech errors – an important topic which is widely misunderstood.

In this talk I will argue that severe stammering is traumatizing and that it is better to avoid it as much as possible. I will also discuss the need for a flexible and pragmatic approach to communication and how some of the current approaches to stammering therapy probably make things worse rather than better. The talk is for people who stammer and also for speech therapists.

Paul BrocklehurstStammering Self-Empowerment Programme

PhD in stuttering research, University of Edinburgh

Theme:Research

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A brain imaging study of synchronised speech in people who stammer

One theory about why people stammer is that stammering is caused by over-reliance on auditory feedback (the sound of your own voice). Many people who stammer find that when they speak in unison with another person, their fluency improves, possibly because choral speech prevents you from hearing your voice. I will look at the evidence for and against the over-reliance theory, and discuss an experiment I am conducting as part of my PhD research using functional MRI to find out what happens in the brain when people who stammer speak in synchrony with another person.

Sophie MeekingsPhD researcherUniversity College, London

Theme:Research

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The stuttering brain

The aim of this session is to provide information which illustrates that stuttering is a neurological issue (as well as psychological) - stuttering is about much more than just being nervous or not taking a deep enough breath before speaking. I hope that as a result of this information, people will understand more about their stuttering and perhaps even go a bit easier on themselves, as after all, stuttering is hard-wired into our brains. I am to go over neuroscience research in stuttering past and present, as well as pull together some ideas from different fields to provide an insight into what the future holds for the area.

Naheem BashirPhD researcherUniversity College, London

Theme:Research

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Beyond Words – What Lies Beneath?A Psychological Approach

Dr. Triona Lanigan is a board member of the Irish Stammering Association. Triona completed her training as a Counselling Psychologist at Trinity College Dublin and currently works with the HSE National Counselling Service providing psychological therapies and interventions.

Triona conducted research focusing on the psychological aspects of stammering as part of her doctoral degree incounselling psychology. Triona, who has stammered since childhood, believes that the key to coping with stammering is self-acceptance, self-compassion and openness about being a person who stammers rather than chasing a goal of fluent speech.

The session will focus on psychological aspects and the emotional impact of stammering. Research carried out in an Irish context will be discussed. The research, supervised by Prof. Barbara Hannigan, Trinity College Dublin, involved the use of a life story approach to understand the experiences of adults who stammer. Results provide a detailed process experiential account of speaking under the threat of stammering and highlight the significant role of shame and anxiety in the stammering cycle. During the workshop the use of metaphor and imagery in enhancing understanding ofstammering will be explored. Stammering coping strategies with an emphasis on self-compassion and the role of psychological therapy will be discussed. The talk is aimed at people who stammer and health professionals.

Triona LaniganCounselling Psychologist, Trinity College, Dublin

Irish Stammering Association

Theme:Research

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Anxiety in foreign language learning in people who stammer

Originally from Nottingham, I moved to Spain with the objective of learning the language and overcoming fears relating to my stammer. My experiences as an English teacher and a Spanish language learner led me to carry out research regarding the experiences of people who stammer in foreign language classes.

The main focus of this research is to assess how anxiety affects the learning process for people who stammer and to identify ways to reduce it in the classroom. Anxiety is an important factor in language learning and can severely disrupt the learning process for some students.

I will talk about my PhD research and present some preliminary findings. I will also speak about my own experiences of language learning and teaching as a person who stammers.

Ronan MillerPhD Student University of Valencia

Theme:Research

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Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy

Gareth Walkom, who stammers himself, has recently completed a study at Nottingham Trent University on using a Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) device for stammering.

VRET is one of the most effective and safe methods of exposure therapy to date, and I believe that combining VRET with methods to benefit those who stammer and treat those with social anxiety, presents a unique and new effective method of therapy.

As part of my degree in Digital Media Technology, I constructed and tested a VRET device specifically aimed at people who stammer. It slowly introduces them into a lecture theatre environment, where they are to give a talk to an animated audience on a particular topic. The talk lasts for 5 minutes and results are gathered throughout the VRET regarding the participant’s level of anxiety, body temperature, and electrodermal activity (measurement of sweat). Comments related to the participant’s speech are also noted.

The animated audience and lecture theatre have been designed to be as realistic as possible, allowing the participant to relate it to a real-life situation. The VRET developed has already been proven to improve speech and decrease the participant’s anxiety levels over repeated sessions.

Gareth WalkomMSc student, Nottingham Trent University

Theme:Research

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How not to do public speaking

Does the thought of public speaking fill you with dread? You’d rather do anything, rather than have to stand in front an audience and present? This session is aimed at anyone who public speaks no matter how experienced or inexperienced they may be. Bob believes that people who stammer can develop their communication skills to a high level, regardless of whether they stammer or not i.e. being fluent is not synonymous with presenting well. This fun, interactive session explodes some of the myths about public speaking. Come away with a new outlook on what you can achieve.

Bob AdamsChair of the Doncaster Stammering Association, public speaking & performance coach, and former BSA Trustee

Theme:Goals

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What’s the Frequency, Gareth?

I am a national radio presenter and broadcast to over 1 million people every day.

Many of my listeners would be unaware that I’ve only had a voice for 15 years. Since birth I suffered from a severer stammer which meant I was unable to say even the shortest of sentences. I always had a dream to work in radio and through determination and many blessings along the way I’ve achieved that. Now I am on a mission to help people who suffer from a stammer. I believe anybody can overcome a stammer if given the right support. My full story can be found at www.Garethcottrell.co.uk

Gareth CottrellRadio Presenter, UCB1

Theme:Goals

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Best hopes from therapyUsing solution focused brief therapy for goal setting

We are part of the Speech and Language Therapy team at the Michael Palin Centre for Stammering in London. The Centre offers a specialist service to children and young people who stammer from all over the UK. The team also completes research into the nature of stammering and the effectiveness of therapy in addition to offering a national training programme for other Speech and Language Therapists.

One of the approaches we use at the Centre for goal-setting with our clients is Solution Focused Brief Therapy. This helps us to explore with the client what their best hopes from therapy are, what their resources already are and what their ‘preferred future’ looks like. We believe that this approach ensures therapy is client-led, individualised and functional.

In the session we will explore the principles of this approach and demonstrate how we use it at the Centre. The session is aimed at anyone who is interested in the approach, including parents of children who stammer, young people and adults who stammer and other Speech and Language Therapists.

Vicky Crofts and Martha Jeffery have been Speech and Language Therapists for over 6 years, and have both been working at the Michael Palin Centre since 2013.

Vicky CroftsSpeech and Language Therapist, Michael Palin Centre

Martha JefferySpeech and Language Therapist, Michael Palin Centre

Theme:Goals

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Making long-term and meaningful change

Rachel, who stammers, had life-changing group therapy at City Lit after which she retrained to become a speech therapist. She was a trustee of the BSA for many years. Since 2001 she has been based at City Lit, working with adults who stammer and offering professional development training to qualified speech and language therapists

What changes are adults who stammer expecting from therapy? What changes are realistic? What do we mean by meaningful changes? What are the factors that play a part in maintaining changes over the long term? I will give an overview of the factors which influence the outcomes of therapy, based on our work at City Lit and current research, as well as seek out views from the audience. I will discuss what adults who stammer can do, before, during and after therapy, so that they gain maximum benefit from therapy long after it has finished.

Rachel EverardSpeech and Language Therapist, City Lit, London

Theme:Goals

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Moving on after intensive therapyLife after the Starfish Project

Recovering Stammerer Mark and a group of recovering stammerers from the Starfish Project will talk about how they have reached personal goals and achievements.

Some of those achievements have been large, whilst others though very simple are nonetheless just as meaningful. They will talk about how the techniques and strategies learned from the Starfish Project, and the free lifetime support offered, has worked for them, the group will also answer questions from the audience.

Starfish is in its eighteenth successful year of helping people to gain control over stammering. We are not trying to achieve the impossibility of ‘fluency’ or ‘eloquence’ - when no one in life is truly fluent or eloquent. It’s not about striving for perfection in an imperfect world.

Our mission is to provide effective and maintainable control techniques, to give you effortless speech. With one to one training, from recovering stammerers, always respecting you as an individual and free lifetime support.

We believe that it is wrong to take advantage, particularly financial advantage, of the misfortune of other people. We keep the one off lifetime fee of the STARFISH courses to the minimum that enables us to cover the costs of running the project. This fee has been the same since we started and it is our intention to keep it that way.

Mark Murphy The Starfish Project

Theme:Goals

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Being the verbal communicator that you want to be

I started stuttering at the age of four, the trigger being a severe beating by a teacher in school. Attended speech therapy, courses and workshops for many years. Author of “Why I Called My Sister Harry” in 2007. Keynote speaker and workshop presenter on the subject of stuttering on four continents. Member and former board member of the Irish Stammering Association, cofounder of the Irish National Stuttering Awareness Day in 2007. Speech coach, course instructor, and staff trainer with the Irish McGuire Programme. Owner of “Speak Soon Communications”.

How you learned your way into stuttering, how you developed your personal blueprint of stuttering and how through education, motivation and support you can learn your way out of stuttering and develop a new verbal communication blueprint if that is your desire. A cure? Definitely not. A good quality of life regarding your verbal communication? Yes. Create a better verbal communication action plan? Yes. Focus on your ability rather than feelings of disability – positive self-development, letting go the need to be perfect, managing internal shame, anxiety, stress and sensitivity.

http://www.michaeloshea.ie

Michael O’SheaMcGuire Programme

Theme:Goals

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Positive stammering

Mandy, who stammers, actively promotes positive stammering role models. She has always worked in public facing roles, was a BSA trustee, and is currently working and pitching with an integrated marketing agency. Michael, who stammers, is well known for his work in raising awareness of stammering among customer facing employees.

The session is about turning what is commonly seen as a negative trait into a positive one. How can stammering actually have a positive impact on our lives and how can we turn it around? Aimed at both young adults who are just starting to try and put their mark on the world and also older people who are finding they need a new direction due to circumstances or new-found self- awareness.

Mandy TaylorFormer BSA trustee

Michael Turner

Theme:Goals

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Self-help groups for adults who stammer

The session will be facilitated by Bob, in collaboration with Hilary and other Doncaster Stammering Association self help group members. Ever wondered what makes a self help group a successful group? Ever been to a group and thought “That’s not much use!” This session will focus on how to successfully run a self-help group for adults (in collaboration with NHS SLT services).

How can a group keep active, relevant and fun!?! What’s the secret? Find out from the only group to have hosted three BSA National Conferences. Whose members have appeared on television, on radio and in the press. Who have hosted a “Talk and Trot” on a national racecourse. Had a ”Stammering Santa” meet children who stammered. Created the first stammering awareness CD in the world (funded by the Prince’s Trust). Hosted a highly successful gallery exhibition of stammering related art work (funded by Arts Council England)…and lots more!

Bob AdamsChair of the Doncaster Stammering Association, and former BSA Trustee

Hilary LiddleNHS Speech and Language Therapist

Theme:Community

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What can I do? A workshop exploring opportunities for stammering awareness in local communities

Nisar is an education volunteer for the BSA and is studying for a degree in accounting and finance. His passion for spreading stammering awareness has led him into schools, colleges and universities and onto media platforms ranging from BBC radio to newsprint. Rory is the co-founder of the London Stammering Association Support Group and has supported many of the BSA endeavours, including the organising of the 2016 Open Day and Youth Weekend. He is studying photography at university. Erin found her way from Los Angeles to the BSA through the power of social media.

The workshop is aimed at all ages, with a Q&A at the end. What can we do, as responsible citizens, to contribute towards the shared BSA goal and ethos “A world that understands stammering”? We aim to highlight the self-fulfilment and sense of community that comes from engaging with society. Heck, it is so empowering!

Nisar BostonBSA Education Volunteer

Erin Williams

Rory SheridanFounder of the London Stammering Group and BSA Volunteer

Theme:Community

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A Celebration of Stammering

Stammering can be a difficult problem to deal with but, occasionally, it can have its positives. Having held a workshop at the London open day focusing on stammering humour, we feel there is more to come by broadening the concept to the positives of stammering in life, whilst (hopefully) keeping the humour. We’re going to present some of our own examples of the benefits of stammering and also some gathered from around the globe. We then plan to discuss this topic with the audience and invite people to share their own positive experiences of stammering. The workshop is for everyone who stammers, parents of children who stammer and speech and language therapists to encourage new positive perspectives on stammering.

Patrick CampbellBSA Trustee

Nisar BostonBSA Education Volunteer

Ian HickeyDirector of the Irish Stammering Association

Lesley Kodom-BaahEducator

Theme:Community

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The Employers Stammering NetworkThe Employers Stammering Network is a network of private and public sector employers, hosted by the BSA. Its aim is to ensure that stammering is no longer a barrier to career choice, recruitment and promotion.Founded by ESN co-Chair Iain Wilkie, the Network currently consists of 12 members, global firms like Shell, EY and Citigroup, but also public employers like the Civil Service and Warrington Borough Council:

1. Brighthouse2. Citigroup3. Civil Service4. Defence Stammering Network5. Deutsche Bank6. DHL7. EY8. KPMG9. M&G Investments10. RBS11. Shell12. Warrington Borough Council

The Network is active in setting up stammering champions in each employer, and supporting their activities through information sessions, publicity materials, advice and information, networking events and delivering specialist training.In this session, Norbert will give an overview over the activities of the Network in raising awareness of stammering in the workplace and there will be time for Questions and Answers.

Norbert LieckfeldtCEO of the British Stammering Association

Theme:Community

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Changes afoot at the BSA Trustees are deciding on a new strategy for the BSA which will essentially remove subscription payments in the expectation this will significantly increase our membership. However, any changes that will be put forward will ensure that BSA will remain an organisation where our members play an important role and that your current rights like voting for Trustees, requiring your agreement for a change in our Constitution or for people who stammer to be a majority on the General Committee will remain as they are.

If you would like to find out more about these proposed changes and/or have any comments or suggestions, do come along to this workshop.

Norbert LieckfeldtCEO of the British Stammering Association

Theme:Community

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Party for Support Groups We are speech and language therapists who are passionate about working with adults and childrenwho stammer.

Therapy for people who stammer can have fantastic outcomes but no matter how holistic, for many,support group membership provides an injection of enrichment, positivity, and sense of communitythat therapy in clinic simply cannot emulate. Support groups have that extra sparkle!

As keen volunteers for the Scottish Stammering Network, we have been privileged and excited tosee many people who stammer flourish through support group attendance.

We love the positive impact that stammering support groups can have and we want people to comealong and freely share their experiences and opinions- positive or less so. Our workshop will be funand interactive with therapeutic tasks and activities to accompany discussions. We will be dipping

into: types of support group; online forums; what research tells us; views on and suggestions forsupport groups; and partnerships between support groups and speech and language therapists.

Come along, we can’t wait to meet you!

Mhairi MacDonaldSpeech and Language Therapist, NHS Scotland

Megan HartSpeech and Language Therapist, NHS Scotland

Theme:Community

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Universities un-STUC Hello everyone! I’m a twenty-four year old University of Warwick graduate; I have had a stammer since the age of five.

I read French Studies BA (Hons) at the University of Warwick from 2010 to 2014 with an integrated year abroad. Since graduating two years ago I have worked in the fraud prevention sector.

It was at the start of the second term of my final year, in January 2014, that I noticed a gap in the ‘market’ of support for university-based stammerers. I decided to fill this gap by creating a support campaign that would help university students/ staff who stammer, naming it ‘STUC’ (Stammerers Through University Campaign), with the acronym reinforcing a block and struggle whilst stammering.

My presentation will outline STUC’s journey so far; its successes, setbacks and where it is heading next. I really hope to see you there!

Claire NormanFounder of STUC (Stammerers Through University Campaign)

Theme:Community

31

Women who stammer A workshop

All three presenters are enthusiastic members of the Women who Stammer Facebook closed group. a is a retired teacher and says she is a covert stammerer. Gouri stammers and works as a hypnotherapist, part of which involves helping people who stammer. Christine describes her stammer as severe but that hasn’t stopped her working as a librarian, both on the front desk and as a manager.

This workshop is for women only – women who stammer, SLTs and female parents. Women’s issues often get overlooked since women are a “minority within a minority”. We will cover serious issues but we intend the workshop will be stimulating and fun!

Christine Simpson

Ruth Cross

Gouri Laher

Theme:Community

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Circus Skills Participants will learn new skills, improve hand/eye coordination, develop communication skills, understand different ways of responding to situations, work as part of a team – oh, and have fun! P.S. The “fun” bit is compulsory.

Bob AdamsChair of the Doncaster Stammering Association, Performance Artist, and former BSA Trustee

Theme:Self-fulfilment

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Staying safe on the streets

Bob is Chair of the Doncaster Stammering Association, and a former BSA trustee. He is a performance and public speaking coach. Trev is a long term member of the DSA. He was studying for his karate black belt, when he moved over to “the dark side”, and joined Bob in a realistic street based self-defence method based on the Israeli self defence system “Krav Maga” (think Jason Bourne) and Keysi Fighting Method (think Batman/Dark Knight). Together, the pair has over 30 years’ experience of martial arts.

Adults (16 yrs +). Everyone needs to stay safe. This interactive, fun workshop does NOT involve high kicking or MMA arm bars. Instead, it explores the difference in “sports martial arts” and reality based styles, and looks at simple ways we can all stay safe. NB This workshop is applicable to all, regardless of age/gender/experience/mobility, etc.

Bob AdamsChair of the Doncaster Stammering Association, Performance Coach, and former BSA Trustee

Trevor BradleyDoncaster Stammering Association

Theme:Self-fulfilment

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Harrison Workshop(DETAILS TO BE CONFIRMED)

John Harrison has long been known for the “Stuttering Hexagon”, and his contribution to the National Stuttering Association in the USA. John was a keynote speaker at the 2002 BSA conference.

Although international flights are now difficult for John, his ideas have recently gained widespread recognition by being used as part of the McGuire Programme.

In this sessions, trainers from the McGuire Programme will deliver a version of the Harrison workship to BSA attendees. Through the magic of the internet, we hope to have John joining us from North America for some of the fun.

Clive CollinsManchester Stammering Support Group

Theme:Self-fulfilment

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A journey towards self-fulfilment An introduction to NLP

This session is aimed at any adult. In this fun and interactive workshop you will be introduced to the wonderful world of NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming). We will look at how we, as individuals, interpret and make sense of the world and how this can then help our communication with others. We will also look at how closely linked our thoughts, feelings and actions are and how we can make small yet effective changes to enable us to lead to an improvement in our well-being as we begin a journey towards self-fulfilment…

Sarah EllisonSpeech and Language Therapist and former BSA Trustee

Theme:Self-fulfilment

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And now for something completely different A fresh look at stammering and stammering therapy.

Rachel Everard is a specialist speech and language therapist at City Lit. She believes in empowering people who stammer, in the benefits of group therapy, and in the value of self-help. She played a key role in developing the ‘Opening Doors’ course on behalf of the BSA, aimed at helping people who stammer gain employment and/or promotion within their existing job.

Sam Simpson is a speech and language therapist working in stammering and neurorehabilitation. She co-founded intandem (www.intandem.co.uk) in 2004, an independent speech and language therapy and counselling partnership. She is a part-time lecturer and visiting clinical tutor at University College London. Sam has a particular interest in the disability rights movement, the social model of disability and stammering activism.

We live in a time when we are being encouraged to be in a permanent state of upgrade - at school, at work and in our personal lives. Within this culture of constant self-improvement many people who stammer turn to speech and language therapy with the aim of developing their fluency and/or communicative confidence. This workshop aims to open your eyes and explore what is often not examined and questioned in stammering therapy - that is the fundamental principles upon which therapy is based. There are different ways of looking at stammering which in turn shape different approaches to stammering therapy. Without advocating one approach over another, this workshop will help you understand the different therapies currently available and what they can offer you in order for you to make an informed choice as to what therapy, if any, would be helpful at different in points in time

Rachel EverardSpeech and Language Therapist, City Lit

Sam SimpsonSpeech and Language Therapist, Intandem

Theme:Self-fulfilment

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Drumming Workshop Steve’s passion for making music has developed over 30 years: he has performed in bands playing funk, samba, salsa, reggae, rock and African music. He loves drumming and song because of its special ability to engage people of any age or ability in expressing themselves in this joyful, life-enhancing form of making music.

Rhythmweave run interactive, hands-on team-building and music events.

Making music together is a fantastic experience. It is great for team-building: by its very nature it encourages listening, co-operation and sharing.

And it’s good for you! It boosts confidence and self-esteem, helps with co-ordination and can aid rehabilitation and recovery.

We will bring drumming, percussion, singing and even story-telling workshops to you, each one tailored to meet the needs of your group whatever their age or ability.

Steve HignettRhythmweave

Theme:Self-fulfilment

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When I get older, start losing my ..? Colin stood down as a BSA Trustee after 12 years in the role, and has recently retired from his “day - job” as a Careers Adviser. In his working life, not only did he have to develop coping strategies to ensure that his stammer did not affect his own career prospects, he had to be aware that his stammer could affect his clients perceptions of him. This workshop is aimed at those PWS, and their partners, who may be facing retirement, have already retired, or are facing other life changes which are the inevitable result of getting older. Are there issues of isolation and loneliness, for example, which may be more acute for people who stammer? Do we need new mechanisms to help us deal with this stage of our lives? Do we need to devise new strategies to compensate for the loss of the support mechanism of work? I hope that workshop participants will be able to share experiences, discuss ideas, and point the way to future research into the issues.

Colin MarshFormer BSA Trustee

Theme:Self-fulfilment

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The underside of the icebergLooking after your wellbeing in stammering I have been involved as a member of the BSA for a number of years and I’ve noticed that we benefit immensely from learning from each other. On a professional level, I am a Trainee Clinical Psychologist and I have worked in mental and physical health settings across the NHS.

We know that stammering can create an impact which lies “under the surface”, i.e. on the underside of the iceberg. It has been established that in the general population, 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health condition and that this risk may be increased for individuals who stammer. Anxiety or depression may be linked with the experience of stammering, or may simply be another challenge faced in daily life. This session will be a relaxed, supportive and interactive session where we can continue to learn from each other. It will explore these ideas and introduce the various strategies that can be helpful in looking after your wellbeing. It will also touch upon the various forms of support and therapy that are available around the UK. This aims to be a session focused on the idea of enhancing positive mental health and battling the stigma which surrounds mental health conditions. This session will be suitable for anyone who experiences anxiety, low mood, stress or worry; or who would like to provide support for someone who does.

Sophie MitchellTrainee Clinical PsychologistUniversity of Essex/ NHS

Theme:Self-fulfilment

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Me and my stammer My work with the media to raise awareness of stammering, and my journey in changing my life.

Michael C Ryan from Templemore Tipperary Ireland. 54 yrs old. Married to Frances with two boys Shane and Edward. I work in Centenary Thurles stores selling hardware. I’m a former town councillor and Former Mayor of Templemore. I’m a member of the board of the Irish Stammering Association since 2009. I joined the McGuire Program in 2004. As a graduate I became a coach and instructor intern. As a result and I new found confidence and control.. I’ve done alot of media in Ireland and abroad to create awareness around stammering. Appearing on lots of radio in Ireland. All local radio stations in Ireland as part of a charity event traveling to them by car in 24 hrs and some more since then. I’ve appeared on national radio with Ryan Tubridy,John Murray Joe Duffy. George Hook. Radio stations in Australia and USA.. on TV with Ryan Tubridy and spoke at political conferences Newspaper articles in daily star,Irish independent. Magazine s also. Women’s Way . Farmers Journal. Hardware Ireland. . I’ve spoken at many Stammering Awareness Day conferences in Ireland. Spoken in Schools and many public occasions. Met with most politicians in Ireland and party leaders in relation to funding with a result of securing sustainable funding. Also spoke to our national parliament with a presentation. Had various meetings with An Taoiseach Enda Kenny. A delegation of board members were guests of president of Ireland Michael D Higgins at his residence last December. I’ve just met Vice president of the United States Joe Biden in Dublin.

Michael RyanChair of Irish Stammering Association

Theme:Self-fulfilment

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Mind your language!

Iain Wilkie, who stammers, is a Partner at EY. In 2013 he founded the Employers Stammering Network having launched the EY Stammering Network two years earlier. He is passionate about changing employment culture so that people who stammer will achieve their full career potential. In 2014, he was presented with the ÔExecutive Champion’ award by the Business Disability Forum for his achievements with stammering in the workplace. Sam Simpson is a speech and language therapist. She cofounded intandem (www.intandem.co.uk) in 2004, an independent speech and language therapy and counselling partnership. Sam has a particular interest in the disability rights movement, the social model of disability and stammering activism

This workshop will explore the language often used around stammering and the assumptions that either explicitly or implicitly informs this. We will invite participants to consider the implications of these language choices for how they may present themselves in the work place. The Employers Stammering Network’s philosophy around language and stammering will be shared, along with examples of how this is successfully influencing changes in both employer attitudes and practices and in supporting us as employees in developing healthier relationships with our stammering at work.

Iain WilkiePartner at EY

Sam SimpsonSpeech and Language Therapist

Theme:Self-fulfilment

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SPONSOR THE CONFERENCE

Help the BSA to help people who stammer.

For details of sponsorship packages, contact

manchesterstammer@gmail.com

For enquiries related to the Employer’s Stammering Network, contact

chair@stammering.org

ADVERTISEHERE!

Reach people who stammer, and speech and language therapists.

For more details of advertising packages, contact manchesterstammer@gmail.com

Advertisements are available from £50 for commercial outfits, and we will consider

free adverts for not-for-profits.

LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK!

You can make the conference even better by filling out our survey:

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/J5KRYMY

This will help us to schedule talks so that more people can attend the sessions they are

interested in. Walk and Talk week in the French Pyrenees for people who stammer

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Walk and Talk week in the French Pyrenees for people who stammer

If you enjoy walking, eating good food, and sharing experiences with other like-minded people, this is for you!

Based in the village of Etsaut, bordering on the Pyrenees National Park in the Aspe Valley, about 15km from the Spanish border, this event is for a small group of (up to 10) people who stammer and their partners. Each day we will spend between 4 and 6 hours walking, through mountains, forests, gorges and around lakes, in the midst of one of the most spectacular and beautiful natural environments that Europe has to offer.

26th September – 3rd October 2016The cost for the week, including accommodation and all meals is £250 per person. For full details visit our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/pyreneeswalkandtalk

This event is hosted by The Stammering Self-Empowerment Programme. C.I.Ca Community Interest Company, Registered in England and Limited by guarantee. Company Number: 8203292

168 Wythenshawe Road, Manchester M23 0PF UK mobile +44 7986 153425. French mobile +33 632 91 55 23