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Kids who stutter have a lot to say, and friends can show them how in
Stuttering: For Kids By Kids, a DVD in English and Spanish starring kids
who stutter, available at most public libraries or through interlibrary
loan.
Many children who stutter have never met others who struggle with the
same disability. In this DVD from the Stuttering Foundation, they meet
kids who recount how they handle challenges such as teasing, speaking
out in class, and teaching others about stuttering.
Swish, a lively and engaging animated basketball character designed by
students at Purdue University, narrates the DVD. The children, who
range in age from first-graders to high school students, offer frank and
sometimes differing views of stuttering.
For example, Matthew, age 10, says about his speech difficulties, “It’s
no big deal;” but Kate, age 9, worries about talking, what is going to
happen next and whether or not she’ll stutter. Arianne, age 14, says,
“The hardest part about stuttering is to get through it and to stay in
there when you’re stuck.” Umang, age 12, agrees, “Sometimes it gets kind
of annoying when you want to say something and you can’t. I also get
worried what other people might think if I do stutter and wonder if I’ll
be able to get out of my blocks and things.”
“All those interested in helping kids learn more about stuttering will
want to see this tape,” said speech-language pathologist Bill Murphy of
Purdue University. “The children featured are a perfect example of how
to openly and honestly handle stuttering.” “This is an important tool
for families and teachers of kids who stutter,” added Jane Fraser,
president of the nonprofit Stuttering Foundation.
Other professionals and specialists in stuttering in this production
include Kristin Chmela of Northwestern University, Joe Donaher of
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Lisa Scott of Florida State
University, and Lee Caggiano of Friends.
The 73-year-old nonprofit Foundation has provided free materials to
public libraries nationwide. A library that will shelve them can
download a request form at
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