Events

New Corporate Stammering Network

In summer 2013, Trustees welcomed the invitation to attend the launch at the House of Commons of the Corporate Stammering Network initiated by the BSA and Iain Wilkie, senior partner of the management team at Ernst & Young LLP who writes: “The Network’s aim is to help employers create a culture where people who stammer can achieve their full career potential. ”

Image shows Dr Clare Butler (left) with Rebecca Smith (Dom’s Cousin)

UEA Study Day in Norwich

On 2nd March 2013, the Trust funded a study day for SLTs at UEA focusing on ‘Stammering and Psychosocial Issues’. Welcoming delegates, The BSA’s Norbert Lieckfeldt emphasised the importance of establishing an evidence base around this significant aspect of stammering. Views were given from a number of perspectives: Dr Jo Hodgekins (UEA) gave a clinical psychologist’s perspective; Dr Tammy Davidson Thompson (Norwich Community Health & Care) talked about her survey of SLTs who work with adults who stammer, funded by the Trust and Ali Berquez (Michael Palin Centre) spoke about bullying and stammering. Dr Jan McAllister, who organised the event along with her colleague Sally Gascoine, described the research into stammering and psychosocial issues taking place at UEA. Email MOSAICS@uea.ac.uk for further information or to participate in the study on stammering and psychosocial issues. Feedback on the event was extremely positive, with delegates benefiting from both the presentations and the opportunity to interact with other professionals who work in this area.

Open house in Cambridge

Professor Penny Cavenagh, Dr Steve Davis and Sarah Costelloe had theopportunity to present details of the UCS Longitudinal Study and their initial findings at the BSA Open Day in Cambridge in March 2013. The purpose of the research project is to identify the factors that lead to long-term stammering and using the theme ‘Who will recover?’ the team discussed the possible reasons why some children recover and others do not. Establishing the reasons behind this are key in developing our understanding of what stammering is and what can be done to target those children most at risk of a lifelong stammer.

Image: Dr Steve Davis, Sarah Costelloe (centre) and Professor Penny Cavenagh at Cambridge.

Bridging the gap in Oxford

Research funded by the Trust was well represented at the 9th Oxford Dysfluency Conference, which took place in September 2011, just as our last newsletter went to print. The conference is one of the leading international scientific conferences in the field of dysfluency bringing together researchers and clinicians – and it provides a showcase and forum for discussion and debate about the most current and innovative research and clinical practices. Throughout the history of ODC, the primary aim has been to bridge the gap between research and clinical practice; to promote research that informs management, with interventions that are supported by sound theory and which inform future research. It is therefore highly satisfying to see such a strong presence for the Trust with Sarah Costelloe and Dr Steve Davis, accompanied by Professor Penny Cavenagh, presenting initial findings of the Longitudinal study and Dr Tammy Davidson Thompson and Isobel Pickering each discussing their work, which was portrayed by posters, with delegates tamara.davidson@nchc.nhs.uk

Image: Dr Tammy Davidson Thompson at Oxford.