Stuttering is a communication disorder that interferes with a person’s ability to speak fluently. From the population about 1% of people stutter. This is about 900.000 young people who stutter (YPWS) between ages 16 and 30 in the EU, thus forming quite a big group of people. Stuttering can have a big negative impact on a person and many young people who stutter often face social exclusion. Stuttering can affect participation and happiness at school, relationships with teachers and classmates, and academic potential and achievement. Many YPWS are alone with their problem and perceive their self communication competence low and are afraid of social situations. Italian, Icelandic, Dutch and Estonian stuttering associations want young people who stutter to have more information about stuttering, have information how to deal with stuttering and have a support network around them in order to make a change. Just information in the form of self-help books, brochures and Youtube videos is not enough, but a comprehensive strategy, that takes into account all the steps of the communication process, is far more effective. What usually happens is that when YPWS goes to speech therapy and learns new speech skills, they have to speak in a different way. As it is still a learning process and it is very difficult to transfer new speech skills to everyday life. They need to have a clear understanding of what they want to change, how it is the best way to do it and they need a support network to do it. With the new speech skills learned, at the beginning YPWS usually starts to stutter even more. They have to speak at a slower rate than previously. When this young person goes to school, youth center, or speaks to friends, it is extremely difficult for YPWS to start using new learned speech skills. Another case might be that YPWS just wants to speak the way he/she speaks naturally. This can be a very scary situation for YPWS, thus the environment has to be supportive. This is when our online tool (O1) is needed. The objective of this project is to create an easy to use online tool (O1) for YPWS that will provide online support, making it possible to find support from all over the world, interacting with different countries. It will be reachable from anyone anywhere (moreover young people who stutter). Since it will be translated into different languages, the language won’t be a barrier. It will contain updated evidence based information about stuttering. Finally, it will be individualized - every YPWS will be able to create his/her own space on a folder/discussion in our online tool forum and see his/her path on his/her process of change occurring during the use of the online tool itself. Our target group are YPWS (age 16-30), and other young people who communicate with YPWS. The O1 to be created will be situated in stamily.org internet page. Stamily (name comes from stuttering and family) includes a variety of YPWS from different countries, who support each other and share their stories. The online tool takes into account following steps of communication process: * General information about stuttering and speech therapy * Information about (stuttering related) attitudes and how to change them * Information how to set (stuttering related) goals * Information how to make a (stuttering related) plan (create long and short term plan that contains hierarchy) * Behavior and feedback - with the online tool YPWS can monitor the process and make changes to the plan With the another Erasmus+ project we are creating an online tool for youth workers to help young people who stutter. In the future these online tools will work together. In this way YPWS will have information about stuttering, they know how to make a change and they get support from youth workers. Youth workers also have information about stuttering, have information how to create a safe environment for YPWS, how to establish contact and how to support the change. Different parties can share their success stories with each other and thus raise each other motivation to change. In the long term YPWS will have better relations, better self-esteem, they are bullied less, they have better memories of social situations and more positive outlook of life. This project will also have an impact for the society as a whole as YPWS with better self-esteem are socially more inclusive and have better opportunities for employability.
Our objective in this project was to develop a user-friendly online tool (O1) for young people who stutter. In this guide, Young People with Stuttering can find up-to-date evidence-based information on stuttering, ensuring they have access to the latest research and the best practices as well as information on how to deal with their stuttering. As the purpose of this information is not to stop young people from stuttering, but rather to provide them with tools to help them accept their stuttering and manage it at home and at school. The online tool has been placed on the Staimly.org website, which is accessible to all, especially young people who suffer from stuttering, no matter where they are located, and will be free to use for anyone. Furthermore, it is translated into various languages. We hope more countries will translate the online tools in the future to overcome language barriers. Additionally, the tool is individualised, allowing each YPWS to create a personal space and access the discussion forum. By using this online tool, YPWS will be able to monitor their progress and observe their journey towards achieving their goals while using this unique personal space.
Stuttering is a communication disorder that affects a person's ability to speak fluently. Although it may seem like a speech disorder, stuttering is considered a communication disorder because individuals who stutter (PWS) can speak fluently when speaking to themselves. However, in social situations, a person who stutters may know what they want to say but struggle to say it at the moment. Worldwide, approximately 1% of people stutter, which equates to about 900,000 young people who stutter (YPWS) between the ages of 16 and 30 in the EU, making it a significant group. Stuttering can have a profound negative impact on a person, and many young people who stutter experience social exclusion, which can affect their participation and happiness at school, relationships with teachers and classmates, academic potential, and achievement. Many YPWS feel isolated and lack confidence in their communication abilities, often avoiding social situations due to fear. Italian, Icelandic, Dutch, and Estonian stuttering associations are dedicated to helping YPWS live their lives fully, despite stuttering. While self-help books, brochures, and Youtube videos can be helpful, a comprehensive strategy that considers all aspects of the communication process is far more effective. In speech therapy, YPWS learn new speech skills, but it can be challenging to transfer these skills to everyday life. To be successful, YPWS need a clear understanding of what they want to change, how to do it, and a supportive network. Avoiding stuttering can actually worsen it, so learning to accept it is crucial. YPWS may need to speak at a slower rate with less muscle tension initially and practice in supportive environments. This is where the online tool (O1) comes in handy.