Stammer sufferer sets up support group

A Warwick undergraduate has set up the Stammerers To University Campaign (STUC) to support students affected by stammering.

The group aims to bring together students and staff who stammer in a network where individuals can discuss issues and possible resolutions.

A series of seminars led by a combination of University stammerers, lecturers, counsellors and psychologists researching stammering are planned to run in October this year.

Focus groups are being held in February to identify key areas of concern for those with a stammer whilst at university.

According to the British Stammering Association, one percent of adults in Britain stammer, equating to around 470,000 people.

Claire Norman, a final-year French Studies student who set up STUC, has battled with a stammer since the age of five.

Ms. Norman said: “As a ‘hidden’ disability, stammering is not wholly recognised as an obvious or initial problem when communicating with someone […] The amount of awareness for stammering is very minimal in comparison to other disabilities which are more evident at university, for example dyslexia.”

She added that university can present a number of scenarios that an individual with a stammer finds difficult.

“I want to help stammerers who want to attend University as well as those who already attend, and allow them to reach their full potential academically and socially within a non-judgemental environment, with the support of staff, university personnel, students and other stammerers.”

The first focus group took place on February 26 on campus.