What pupils want you to know
Watch this 12-minute video called “Wait Wait I’m not finished”
Hear children and young people at the Michael Palin Centre talking about what they want teachers and education staff to know.
What were the key messages from “Wait Wait?”
- we are more than just our stammer
- there is no link between stammering and intelligence
- certain situations make us stammer more (like being put on the spot or being under pressure)
- you can help us by giving us time and letting us finish our sentences
- don’t try to give us advice about our speech
- ask us about our stammering so you can understand it
- some of us get bullied and feel isolated
There are lots of ways to make your classroom stammer-friendly
Read more about how to help a child at primary school or a child at secondary school.
Download our Suggestions Sheets for advice about specific classroom situations that are often difficult for young people who stammer.
What children have to say
“I don’t think that the stammer is my main feature or characteristic, I’m just a normal 18-year-old.”
“Someone who’s got a stammer should be treated like everyone else.”
“People usually judge you by your first appearance and if the first thing you do is talk funny people do sometimes think that you’re not as bright.”
“It isn’t always easy if I’m put on the spot.”
“… and it would make me feel more uncomfortable and then that would normally lead to me stammering more.”
“A good teacher doesn’t interrupt what I’m saying. They give me time to speak.”
“After I’ve been asked a question if I was given the time to start thinking about the answer and my speech as well it would be very helpful because I could think of some techniques for my speech.”
“People in general will try and finish your sentences for you. They probably think that it helps, but the majority of people who stammer would rather know that they can finish their own sentences.”
“I don’t really like being told to slow down.”
“People tell me to hurry up, but I get annoyed because I speed up and then I stammer more, so then it takes even more time to get the words out.”
“Teachers should ask me questions about how I feel about having a stammer.”
“There were these two friends of mine, and then they weren’t my friends because they walked off and said that I couldn’t talk because I’ve got a stammer.”
“Supportive families are really helpful ‘coz they just help you to release all of the pressure and tension that builds up if you start to stammer a lot.”
“We should be referred to a speech & language therapist (with parental consent).”
“Everyone who stammers should come to speech therapy… it teaches you new techniques to cope with it and how to actually live with it.”
Sometimes you just need someone to talk to
Sometimes you just need someone to talk to
Our Helpline, 020 3316 8100, is open during office hours (9am-5pm) and voicemail messages can be left when the office is closed.
“This approach can be such an empowering experience for clients. I’m so keen to get using it!”
