Do not finish their sentences – I Stutter Foundation
October 22 marked International Stuttering Awareness Day.
The I Stutter Foundation encourages the public to be patient with people who stutter.
This is in light of International Stuttering Awareness Day observed annually on October 22.
The awareness day is a global healthcare event celebrated every year to spread awareness about the speech disorder characterised by disruptions in fluency known as stuttering or stammering.
According to I Stutter Foundation communications officer Rene Khumalo, stuttering people know what they want to say, but they struggle to say it.
“Some of the do’s and don’ts when talking to a stuttering person is to not finish their sentences.”
Khumalo said the foundation was established in 2013 to advocate for stuttering people, especially those in schools.
“We have since included students in higher learning institutions. We advocate for children who are bullied at school due to their speech challenges and at home. We advocate for their inclusiveness in their communities. We also advocate for adults who are excluded at work or side-lined due to stuttering issues. We are empowering HR departments to help cater for colleagues who find themselves excluded due to stuttering.”
The foundation offers its services online.
Also Read: Managing stuttering in toddlers and older children
“We have online workshops for groups and individuals. We are also open to the idea of being invited by other organisations, for us to come educate people on stuttering, challenges and how can they support people or family members that meet or face such challenges,” said Khumalo.
Parents who have children who are stuttering are encouraged to support them and to advise them to practice reading.
“Always encourage them to help boost their self-confidence because self-confidence plays an important role to people who stutter,” said Khumalo.
To find out more about I Stutter Foundation, contact 078 550 1627/ 073 275 8248 or email 2mi.modibedi@gmail.com.
You can also follow them on Instagram/Facebook @Istutter_foundationsa and I Stutter Foundation.
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