Speaking Free Newsletter of the Australian Speak Easy Association

Editor: Geoff Johnston 08 8536 4647 [email protected]

Winter 2016

Australian Speak Easy Conference Adelaide 21-23 Oct 2016 NOW is the time to Register (early bird discount) Breaking News - Two New Key-note Speakers The organising committee has managed to arrange for two additional key-note speakers to add to the already impressive line-up of highly qualified speakers. Professor Mark Onslow will present the recently developed Clinical Guidelines for the Management of Stuttering, a valuable reference for clinicians in the field treating people who stutter. Professor Onslow is the Foundation Director of the Australian Stuttering Research Centre at the Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney. His background is speech pathology, in which field he holds a Bachelor of Applied Science, Master of Applied Science, and a Doctorate. During the period 2004-2008 he was a Principal Research Fellow of the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia, being the only speech pathologist to have received that distinction. Dr Elaine Blumgart will present on Social Anxiety and Stuttering. Elaine is a speech pathologist actively engaged in treatment, reviewing of academic papers and research for the past 25 years. Her particular research interest concerns the quality of life and mental health of adults who stutter. Her recent research involved 400 people; 200 adults who stutter and 200 adults who do not stutter. Elaine is based in Sydney. Professor Onslow and Dr Blumgart will join the following professionals to make this conference a “must attend” event for Speech Pathologists, students, people who stutter and anyone with an interest in stuttering. Professor Nan Bernstein Ratner (USA), Dr Janet Beilby, Professor Elizabeth Cardell, Dr Michelle Swift, Dr Simone Arnott. People who stutter with extensive experience of the issue around stuttering will also present including Mark Irwin, Peter Dhu, Geoff Martin, Geoff Johnston and Scott Monson. There will be ample opportunity for delegates to speak if they wish via open mike sessions. The theme of the Conference is "Stuttering: A Wider View" and has the objective of presenting information on the latest research, international experiences, strategies to manage stuttering behaviour. It also will provide opportunities for people who stutter to discuss their experiences and successes. The Conference will coincide with Stuttering Awareness Day (22nd October) with public awareness being an emphasis during the Conference. The Saturday’s programme will feature research and information especially relevant to speech pathologists and students while the Sunday morning will have a focus on family issues and self-help. 30 rooms are being held at the Hotel Grand Chancellor, Hindley Street. Bookings are to be made directly with the hotel quoting the code “Speak Easy Association” to get the special negotiated rate of $150 per room per night (twin or double). Breakfast is an additional $15pp. There are backpacker options close by.

More detailed information is on the Speak Easy website. Get in early and book your tickets via Sticky Tickets.

Inside this issue:

President’s report

2

National Exec Officer’s report

2

Conference Programme

3

Books to Read & 7 Interesting Links Awareness of 8 Stuttering and Associated Anxiety (Part 3) Success Stories 13 Moving from OWW to WOW

18

News from the States

21

Other Articles  Latrobe Research  Using your technique in the real world  Listening and empathy  Block release and cancellation  Hypnotherapy  Beyond “normal, fluent speech”.  Comfort zone.  Brain structure research.

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President’s Report - Mark Irwin Reply to Draft SPA Guidelines on Stuttering Management: One of the most significant ASEA achievements in recent years has been our effort to respond in detail to Speech Pathology Australia’s Draft Guidelines for Stuttering Management. This had us referring to the scientific literature in supporting the call for a screen for Social Anxiety Disorder but calling into question the emphasis on promotion of the Lidcombe Program. In my view our efforts in this area represent our coming of age as an advocacy organisation. Resignation from Advisory Board: Brenda Carey, private practitioner and honorary associate of the Australian Stuttering Research Centre has offered her resignation from the ASEA Advisory Board. Brenda was a key contributor to the original Draft SPA Guidelines on Stuttering Management. We thank her for her ASEA involvement. Sub-committee Activity: I am pleased to report that the formation of subcommittees has resulted in our ability to get across a number of relevant issues including public awareness and fund raising. Reports from these subcommittees will follow later. This process has also enabled us to solicit help from the membership beyond our elected national council representatives thus improving the committee expertise as well as reducing individual workloads. Victorian Committee Re-established: On May 1st NEO Geoff Johnston and myself flew to Melbourne to be involved in a refresher day for interested people in Melbourne. The day was advertised to both Smooth Speech and McGuire practitioners as well as speech pathology students. Over 30 people attended and offered extremely positive feedback. However the key result was the re-establishment of the Victorian committee. Sophie Hatcher is the new President and long-time ASEA member Bruce McCorkill is the new treasurer. No doubt the formal re-establishment of relationships with Victorian pws is a welcome result for all national council members and will result in new ASEA members. It was also pleasing to meet again speech pathologist Margaret Olczak . Margaret attended with 5 students from LaTrobe University consolidating the long term relationship that the Victorian association has always had with the speech pathology profession. National Executive Officer Working Well: I must say how delighted I am with the support our National Executive Officer Geoff Johnston has been able to offer our association. In my view, although there is still a lot more to do, Geoff has clearly developed our working systems. In addition, the last three newsletters have offered a wealth of useful information providing great value to our members.

National Executive Officer Report Geoff Johnston I encourage everyone to consider attending the Speak Easy Conference to be held in Adelaide 21-23 October 2016. The organising committee has brought together an exciting programme featuring presenters who are well qualified to speak on all aspects of stuttering. Please refer to the front page and page 3 of this newsletter for more information. NOW is the time to register to take advantage of early bird discount. To add to Mark’s comments on the Clinical guidelines for the Management of Stuttering, Professor Mark Onslow, the Project Manager of the project, will be presenting the final guidelines at the Adelaide conference. Contribution to these guidelines was a major effort by the Public Awareness sub-committee to facilitate better awareness by Speech Pathologists of issues facing people who stutter. Fund-raising is an important issue. If Speak Easy is to improve the awareness and understanding of stuttering by school communities and the general public, media “adverts” will be required so raising funding is necessary. In addition, if the position of National Executive Officer is to be maintained (not necessarily with me in it) a strategy for ongoing funding will be required. The fund raising committee is looking at various levels of sponsorship by ASEA members as well as seeking out possible grants by Government and philanthropic organisations. If you can help or know someone who can, please contact me. If you hear of someone who is a member of ASEA and isn’t receiving the newsletter it will be because I either don’t have an email address for them or the one I have is incorrect. Please ask at your support group who isn’t receiving the newsletter. Then encourage them to join via the Speak Easy website or to provide me with an upto-date email address. There appears to be a crisis throughout the nation with very few intensive programs being run for adults who stutter. They’ve been dropped in most states due to budget restrictions with any funding available going to help children. I have to grudgingly agree a sound strategy because that’s where most success will occur. However, it doesn’t improve the quality of life for adults still struggling every day with the fear of stuttering. ASEA will continue to advocate of behalf of all people who stutter regardless of age to provide timely and effective services. Regards, Geoff (08 8536 4647)

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Australian Speak Easy Association Conference Adelaide - 21-23 October 2016 PROGRAMME OUTLINE

Friday am Dr. Janet Beilby Professor Elizabeth Cardell Scott Monson – Learned Helplessness, Fixed Mindsets and Relapse – and how to adopt a mindset for success.

Friday pm Dr. Elaine Blumgart - The Link Between Stuttering and Social Anxiety Mark Irwin – Advocacy: Why, What, When and How? “How People who Stutter and Speech Pathologists can help each other”. Peter Dhu – Assertive Communication Dr. Michelle Swift & Dr Simone Arnott - Student Speech Pathologists in Stuttering Treatment

Saturday am Professor Elizabeth Cardell Professor Nan Bernstein Ratner (Skype) - Translating Recent Research in Stuttering: What Current Findings Mean for PWS. Geoff Johnston – “The Key – Changing our Speaking Identity”.

Saturday pm Geoff Martin Professor Mark Onslow - Clinical Guidelines for the Management of Stuttering Simone Arnott - DCM (RESTART) treatment: What do we know about it and how do you do it? Violet Dhu - Perspectives of a wife/partner living with a person who stutters.

Sunday am Dr. Janet Beilby

Dr. Michelle Swift - Facilitators and Barriers to Successful Outcomes for School-aged Children Have Your Say! (Q&A) (Mark I, Mark O, Libby, Janet, Michelle)

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COLLEGE OF SCIENCE, HEALTH AND ENGINEERING School of Allied Health

TREATMENT CAN BE EFFECTIVE. BUT WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

FLUENCY AFTER THERAPY: EXPERIENCES OF PEOPLE WHO STUTTER There are treatments that can reduce stuttering, however it is often effortful to maintain stuttering reduction after treatment. We are conducting a study to find out personal experiences of maintaining fluency and relapse after treatment. This study is being conducted by Ms Margaret Olczak, a doctoral student in speech pathology from the School of Allied Health, College of Science, Health and Engineering, La Trobe University under the supervision of Dr Susan Block, Dr Shane Erickson and Dr Tanya Serry of La Trobe University. Our study will provide an opportunity for you to share your experiences and opinions in an individual interview. We are looking for participants who: are at least 18 years old have developmental stuttering (that is stuttering that is NOT due to brain injury or trauma) have had treatment since 12 years of age have tried to maintain treatment gains

If you are interested in participating or in finding out more, please contact Ms. Margaret Olczak by email: [email protected] or by telephone: 9479 2797

The study has been approved by the Human Ethics Committee of the College of Science, Health and Engineering, La Trobe University, CHESC S16-3

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Using Your Technique in the Real World by Geoff Johnston, National Executive Officer, Australian Speak Easy Association

During our intensive treatment programme or sessions with our speech pathologist we generally learn a technique of breathing and speaking which helps us speak well. Therefore, during the intensive or within the speech pathology clinic we experience the freedom of speech we’re all looking for. However, outside the clinic or intensive many people relapse within weeks or even hours. Why is this so? The most common reason I believe is the focus in the real world of trying to be fluent, trying to pretend that we’re normal speakers, trying to bluff our way through life by not being honest with ourselves, friends, family and work colleagues. If this applies to you I simply ask, "has it worked for you?" Perhaps in 80%-90% of speaking situations it has. Perhaps you survive by avoiding speaking situations or specific words and sounds. However, being thrust into a situation that you can ’t avoid (job interview, wedding vows) or having to say that dreaded word (your name), results in severe stuttering behaviour (blocking, repetitions, etc.). What’s that old saying, “Only a fool keeps on doing what they’ve always done and expects a different result!” Is it time for a radical shift in your thinking? Many people have received treatment, have overcome their fear of stuttering and other triggers to stuttering behaviour such as social anxiety disorder and have moved on with their lives without the need to focus on technique to the degree they have in the past. By expanding their speaking comfort zones they have replaced the old negative thoughts, feelings and behaviour with positive ones resulting in quite different attitudes and therefore behaviour in speaking situations. If this is not you, the likely reason is the lack of assertive self-acceptance that you are NOT a normal speaker but a person who stutters. If you’re actively working on a strategy to overcome your stutter, then perhaps you’re a recovering stutterer. If you’re still struggling and battling with stuttering the way forward is to be honest with yourself and the world around you by demonstrating that you’re not a normal speaker not so much for other people, but for your own benefit. How do we do this? Regardless of the technique you’ve been taught the strategy is the same. You can simply disclose to your listener that you have a stutter and may be a little slow in your speech and asking them to be patient, a great thing to do right up front at a job interview. It takes away the urge to try to be fluent, to try to fool them that you’re a normal speaker which is a recipe for disaster. Just that simple statement shows the interview panel that you’re honest, assertive, self-motivating, etc. Hey, you’ve practically got the job already! Another way you can be upfront and honest about your status as a speaker is by using really exaggerated technique whatever your technique may be. For example smooth speech at 120 spm or McGuire five words per breath with a good two second pause between phrases. The listener thinks, “There’s something unusual about the way this person is speaking but he has great eye contact and he’s smiling so it’s all OK.” Very often the problem for the listener is when we’re obviously out of control. They don’t know how to react. Finally, we have perhaps one of the most powerful tools to demonstrate that we’re not a normal speaker and that’s stuttering on purpose. Controlling the stutter rather than allowing it to control you. What better way to overcome the desire to try to hide the fact that we stutter? What better way to smash the silliness of trying to pretend that we don ’t stutter? I promise you, we care so much more about whether we stutter or not than our listener! Besides, what other people think about us is really none of our business. We may be able to influence their opinion but in the end they’ll have their own thoughts and beliefs as is their right. The elusive goal “fluency” will happen as the CONSEQUENCE of all the other activities we engage in to change our perceptions and beliefs, not as the main objective; activities such as joining Toastmasters, being President of the local sporting club, joining a drama group, etc. Seek out the speaking situations you fear and do them with the attitude “I am a recovering stutterer NOT a fluent speaker”. As long as we pretend to be fluent speakers we will continue to stutter which is why I disagree with the speech pathologists’ main success indicator which is stuttered syllables per minute which places the entire emphasis on “fluency”. How effective is this measure in the case of a covert stutterer who is skilled at avoiding specific words and sounds? It also places the emphasis on speech rather than the beliefs and perceptions which results in stuttering behaviour. Measure your success by moving forward and embracing speaking situations that you’d previously avoid. Measure your success by your enjoyment when speaking. Measure your success by becoming an effective communicator!

The beginning of that goal for many of us is assertive self-acceptance that we aren’t “normal” speakers by using exaggerated, technique, doing disclosures and voluntary stuttering.

GO FOR IT! What’s the worst that can happen!

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Listening and Empathy “Seek first to understand, then to be understood.” Stephen R. Covey To give someone your total concentration is a very respectful and calming thing. If someone is angry, hurt or confused it is important to deal with the feelings first, then with the problem. Emphatic listening is Listening with the heart as well as with the ears: Allowing the other person to have their say fully (avoid interruptions and the need to fill the silences) Letting go of our own opinions, biases and judgements (we can all have our own perspective AND allow others to have theirs Allowing the other person some time to reflect on what they are saying (you may find that they “shift” their thinking as they talk) Staying with the topic for as long as it is appropriate (resist the temptation to change the subject because of our own discomfort) Asking questions for information or clarity (“you were saying that……and I’m wondering if…”) Allowing the person opportunities to express feelings (“how did Summarise and/or reflecting back (“let me see if I’ve got this right….”)

Let’s Hear from Famous People who Stutter

Bruce Willis Gets Emotional in Speech on Stuttering: "Never Let Anyone Make You Feel Like an Outcast". http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/rambling-reporter/bruce-willis-stuttering-never-let-900434

Joe Biden’s presentation to the American Stuttering Institute needs to be heard by everyone who stutters. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpYWwsjLABo

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Interesting Links about Stuttering and Associated Topics What do you know about Tourette’s Syndrome? It has some similarities to stuttering in that it is one of a very few disabilities that people feel it’s OK to laugh at. Like people laugh at us! However, what happens when people are informed and educated? When they know when stressed or anxious it becomes worse? The following video is inspirational and encourages us to be open about our stuttering instead of trying to hide it like the elephant under the table; everyone knows it’s there, but no one is game to mention it! Brad Cohen – “Front of Class”. Peter Dhu’s great comments: Disclosure is mandatory. There are no covert tourettes syndrome people. So many people who stutter spend a life time hiding and disguising and avoiding being found out as a stutterer. Some of us need to spend some time as a tourettes sufferer and then we will learn the power and need to disclose and be honest and not hide

9 Signs You’re Successful—Even If It Doesn’t Feel Like It! Real success is about who you are and how far you’ve come. If you ever worry that you’re not as successful as you should be, you may be evaluating yourself against the wrong criteria. Sometimes you just need a reminder as to what you’ve really accomplished in life http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-travis-bradberry/9-signs-youre-successful_b_10170716.html

Dealing with Disasters – a great Podcast by my favourite author Andrew Matthews Why do some people bounce back from tragedy and disaster – and others not? How do resilient people think – and how can you be like them? Andrew’s audio presentation!

I Stopped Trying to Hide my Stutter and Here’s What Happened Char Adams in Lifestyle I decided that I wouldn’t hide anymore. Frankly, hiding such a huge part of myself was exhausting. I knew I couldn't go on being afraid; I couldn't continue hiding. Here’s What Happened

The Spoken Word Can be a Finicky Thing for Mount Gambier Student Elize Mahungu How music is helping Elize to let go and express himself freely. Read all about it.

Is Overcoming Stuttering an Issue of Change Mnagement? it's worth considering the fact that there are some interesting biological factors at play, designed to keep us in our comfort zone and avoid "out there" new behaviours. But with some clever strategies and persistence, you can override your brain's penchant for comfort zone living and start to craft your ideal life. Why do we hate change? Pushing out that comfort zone. Making new habits stick.

Rewire Your Brain to Embrace Change

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More on Social Anxiety Disorder by Mark Irwin (President) This Part 3 (and final) of our series on Social Anxiety Disorder. SAD also known as Social Phobia is by far the most common associated diagnosis with stuttering with estimates ranging from 40 to 75%. Once it was thought that curing stuttering would automatically result in a cure for any social anxiety. Research has now shown this is not the case. In other words, for some people who stutter, stuttering is not the overarching condition. It is pleasing to see Speech Pathology Australia has indicated in its Draft Guidelines for management of stuttering that speech pathologists are advised to use screens to determine the presence and level of SAD in their stuttering clients.

Differential Diagnosis of Social Anxiety Disorder Normative shyness Shyness (i.e., social reticence) is a common personality trait and is not by itself pathological. In some societies, shyness is even evaluated positively. However, when there is a significant adverse impact on social, occupational, and other important areas of functioning, a diagnosis of social anxiety disorder should be considered, and when full diagnostic criteria for social anxiety disorder are met, the disorder should be diagnosed. Only a minority (12%) of self-identified shy individuals in the United States have symptoms that meet diagnostic criteria for social anxiety disorder (Burstein et al. 2011).

Once it was thought that curing stuttering would automatically result in a cure for any social anxiety. Research has now shown this is not the case.

Agoraphobia Individuals with agoraphobia may fear and avoid social situations (e.g., going to a movie) because escape might be difficult or help might not be available in the event of incapacitation or panic-like symptoms, whereas individuals with social anxiety disorder are most fearful of scrutiny by others. Moreover, individuals with social anxiety disorder are likely to be calm when left entirely alone, which is often not the case in agoraphobia. Panic disorder Individuals with social anxiety disorder may have panic attacks, but the concern is about fear of negative evaluation, whereas in panic disorder the concern is about the panic attacks themselves. Generalized anxiety disorder Social worries are common in generalized anxiety disorder, but the focus is more on the nature of ongoing relationships rather than on fear of negative evaluation. Individuals with generalized anxiety disorder, particularly children, may have excessive worries about the quality of their social performance, but these worries also pertain to non-social performance and when the individual is not being evaluated by others. In social anxiety disorder, the worries focus on social performance and others’ evaluation. Separation anxiety disorder Individuals with separation anxiety disorder may avoid social settings (including school refusal) because of concerns about being separated from attachment figures or, in children, about requiring the presence of a parent when it is not developmentally appropriate. Individuals with separation anxiety disorder are usually comfortable in social settings when their attachment figure is present or when they are at home, whereas those with social anxiety disorder may be uncomfortable when social situations occur at home or in the presence of attachment figures. Specific phobias Individuals with specific phobias may fear embarrassment or humiliation (e.g., embarrassment about fainting when they have their blood drawn), but they do not generally fear negative evaluation in other social situations. Selective mutism Individuals with selective mutism may fail to speak because of fear of negative evaluation, but they do not fear negative evaluation in social situations where no speaking is required (e.g., nonverbal play).

Major depressive disorder Individuals with major depressive disorder may be concerned about being negatively evaluated by others because they feel they are bad or not worthy of being liked. In contrast, individuals with social anxiety disorder are worried about being negatively evaluated because of certain social behaviours or physical symptoms.

Page 9 Body dysmorphic disorder Individuals with body dysmorphic disorder are preoccupied with one or more perceived defects or flaws in their physical appearance that are not observable or appear slight to others; this preoccupation often causes social anxiety and avoidance. If their social fears and avoidance are caused only by their beliefs about their appearance, a separate diagnosis of social anxiety disorder is not warranted.

Delusional disorder Individuals with delusional disorder may have non-bizarre delusions and/or hallucinations related to the delusional theme that focus on being rejected by or offending others. Although extent of insight into beliefs about social situations may vary, many individuals with social anxiety disorder have good insight that their beliefs are out of proportion to the actual threat posed by the social situation. Autism spectrum disorder Social anxiety and social communication deficits are hallmarks of autism spectrum disorder. Individuals with social anxiety disorder typically have adequate age-appropriate social relationships and social communication capacity, although they may appear to have impairment in these areas when first interacting with unfamiliar peers or adults. Personality disorders Given its frequent onset in childhood and its persistence into and through adulthood, social anxiety disorder may resemble a personality disorder. The most apparent overlap is with avoidant personality disorder. Individuals with avoidant personality disorder have a broader avoidance pattern than those with social anxiety disorder. Nonetheless, social anxiety disorder is typically more comorbid with avoidant personality disorder than with other personality disorders, and avoidant personality disorder is more comorbid with social anxiety disorder than with other anxiety disorders. Other mental disorders Social fears and discomfort can occur as part of schizophrenia, but other evidence for psychotic symptoms is usually present. In individuals with an eating disorder, it is important to determine that fear of negative evaluation about eating disorder symptoms or behaviours (e.g., purging and vomiting) is not the sole source of social anxiety before applying a diagnosis of social anxiety disorder. Similarly, obsessive-compulsive disorder may be associated with social anxiety, but the additional diagnosis of social anxiety disorder is used only when social fears and avoidance are independent of the foci of the obsessions and compulsions. Other medical conditions Medical conditions may produce symptoms that may be embarrassing (e.g. trembling in Parkinson’s disease). When the fear of negative evaluation due to other medical conditions is excessive, a diagnosis of social anxiety disorder should be considered. Oppositional defiant disorder Refusal to speak due to opposition to authority figures should be differentiated from failure to speak due to fear of negative evaluation. Comorbidity Social anxiety disorder is often comorbid with other anxiety disorders, major depressive disorder, and substance use disorders, and the onset of social anxiety disorder generally precedes that of the other disorders, except for specific phobia and separation anxiety disorder (Beesdo et al. 2007). Chronic social isolation in the course of a social anxiety disorder may result in major depressive disorder. Comorbidity with depression is high also in older adults (King-Kallimanis et al. 2009). Substances may be used as self-medication for social fears, but the symptoms of substance intoxication or withdrawal, such as trembling, may also be a source of (further) social fear. Social anxiety disorder is frequently comorbid with bipolar disorder or body dysmorphic disorder; for example, an individual has body dysmorphic disorder concerning a preoccupation with a slight irregularity of her nose, as well as social anxiety disorder because of a severe fear of sounding unintelligent. The more generalized form of social anxiety disorder, but not social anxiety disorder, performance only, is often comorbid with avoidant personality disorder. In children, comorbidities with high-functioning autism (van Steensel et al. 2011)and selective mutism are common.

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THE RULES OF BLOCK RELEASE AND CANCELLATION by Geoff Johnston, ASEA National Executive Officer I want to share with you some thoughts about “Block Release” and “Cancellation”. These rules are not new and apply to anyone recovering from stuttering, regardless of the technique/treatment being used. The article finishes with a circus story that demonstrates the general concept of cancellation. Firstly, Block Release. If you block, stumble, fumble over a word, STOP and let it go immediately, maintain good eye contact, release your air, PAUSE, breath, smile and do it again using great technique. NEVER push through a block. Cancellation has a broader meaning than Block Release. If something is NOT correct or NOT to your satisfaction, go back and do it again. Basic learning theory is the last thing we do is what gets reinforced! If you stutter badly in any situation, do it again using exaggerated technique (perhaps 50spm for Smoothies or 5 words per breath for McGuiries). An example is ringing to book a table at a restaurant. If you make a mess of it and you’re not happy, ring up again, disclose that you are a stutterer and ask to make the booking again. Just make sure that you don’t end up with three candle-lit tables by the window? I went to the circus a while back. One of the stunts was to stack three men by placing their feet on the others’ shoulders and so on. This meant that the guy on top was about 6m off the ground. There were two strong men on the ground who link arms and another man put his feet in their braced arms, his hands on their shoulders and his back to the original human tower. The idea of the trick was to catapult the man who did a series of back flips etc. onto the shoulders of the man at the top of the human tower thereby creating a 4-man human tower. The crowd paused and held their breath as the strong men’s muscles went into overdrive. The acrobat flipped and landed just on the shoulders of the top man but didn't have enough height and couldn’t balance himself and had to jump back down to the strong men. The crowd went “ooooooooooooh”, I went “oooooooooooh”. Just as everyone thought, that was it, he jumped back on the strong men and tried the stunt again. This time it went beautifully. The acrobat glided and tumbled through the air with consummate ease and landed perfectly on the top of the human tower. The crowd clapped and cheered and I went “oooooooh” and clapped and cheered. The lesson to be learnt: The acrobat had made a mess of the first attempt and he had two options: 1. Move on the next amazing trick or 2. Go back and do it again. He chose to cancel the “failed” trick and do it again. The reason the acrobat chose the 2 nd option was to re-enforce the fact that he could do the trick in “match conditions” and he knew that the next night when he had to do the same trick he would replay in his mind his last attempt, which was successful! If he chose option 1 the acrobat would be thinking "the last time I did this, I messed up". He’s almost beaten before he begins. As a recovering stutterer, it is essential that if we do have a bad experience we go back and do the 'stunt' again using exaggerated technique to be successful. When we face that situation again we’ll have positive thoughts in our head. We need to be disciplined in using this strategy. We need to re-write those bad movies and create positive ones. The circus experience really hit home to me the psyche and attitude involved in our recovering.

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How Hypnotherapy Can Help People Who Stutter By Steve Webb at www.evolutionhypnotherapy.com.au Consciously none of us want to have difficulties with our speech, our confidence and our social lives. Subconsciously your mind is holding on to these unwanted limitations, behaviours, feelings and self-talk that only make things worse; believing they serve some purpose. Hypnotherapy is a technique that uses hypnosis to create new, empowering desirable behaviours, thoughts, feelings and actions. In time those old patterns become weakened and lose their hold on you. It works by accessing the subconscious mind, that part of you that you are mostly unaware of and yet it is running your life. While significant change is possible, it does not however offer a cure for stuttering and stammering. Your therapist may address both your symptoms and any underlying mental obstructions and negative expectations that have formed around your capabilities. Hypnotherapy can be used to reduce the accompanying anxiety that those with stutters, stammers, and blocks experience when having to interact with others (social anxiety). It can also be used to address performance anxiety such as that related to public speaking, and panic attacks. Other negative symptoms such as embarrassment may be relieved. Confidence and self-esteem can grow stronger, along with a healthier sense of self-identity. In addition, fluency of speech is likely to improve. Sessions provide a safe environment in which to mentally rehearse new possibilities, new ways of navigating those fearful situations. What would it mean to you to feel more relaxed and non-judgemental of yourself as you make phone calls, go shopping, attend job interviews, and navigate daily routines; knowing at the same time that you are experiencing improvement? Wouldn’t it be nice to not feel the need to avoid situations you perceive as uncomfortable? Hypnotherapy can be used in conjunction with any other complimentary speech therapy you may be undertaking. It is likely hypnotherapy will enhance the effectiveness of techniques you are already applying. Clients tend to find hypnotherapy very relaxing and enjoyable. It is known as a short term therapy, meaning that improvements are often noticed after the first few sessions. Over a number of sessions this treatment forms and strengthens new neural pathways in the brain. In simple terms that means that new, constructive ‘habits’ of the mind are being formed.

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Australian Speak Easy Association (Advocacy and Self-help for People Who Stutter)

National Conference – Adelaide 21st – 23rd October 2016 - Hotel Grand Chancellor Are you a person who stutters? A friend or family member of a person who stutters? A Speech Pathologist, Psychologist or a Speech Pathology student? You’re invited to the annual Speak Easy conference to be held at the Hotel Grand Chancellor, Hindley Street, Adelaide. 21st - 23rd October 2016. Prominent Australian and International speakers in the Speech Pathology and Psychology disciplines will address current research and practice in the following areas: Evidence-based practice Psychological Therapies Clinical Guidelines for the Treatment of Stuttering Family Therapy Public Awareness Social Anxiety and Mental Health Employment Opportunities Personal Development Advocacy Self-help Options Split sessions will be conducted to address concerns of parents of children who stutter and to provide learning opportunities for Speech Pathology students. For detailed information on the confirmed speakers, the conference programme and the process to register for the conference please go to: http://www.speakeasy.org.au/convention/adelaide-2016/ Bookings can also be made via: https://www.stickytickets.com.au/33189 Attendance at the conference qualifies for Speech Pathology Australia’s professional development requirements. Enquiries can be directed to Geoff Johnston 0417 864 460 or email: [email protected]

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Success Stories (Every edition of Speaking Free will contain success stories to inspire and encourage so please send them in) GJ Editor

The Way Forward by Eddie Beulke Whether you have just finished and are walking out the door following your intensive, or just left a Review Day at Latrobe Uni. (if you live in Victoria) or just had a Booster Day run by one of the local Speakeasy Groups you can find yourself feeling pretty much alone and pretty vulnerable too. From the very beginning of my first and only intensive in 1990 I related all the new skills we were being taught like the gentle starts, the linking and stretching the vowels as training for a sporting team. As you would practice your sporting skills like sprinting or ball handling I needed to practice my speaking skills before I could run with the Big Boys. The Transfer Tasks were the same as Practice Games. Because you have been selected in the squad, doesn’t mean you will get a game. I needed to get in all the practice I could. I wanted to be able to go to a Review Day or Booster Day with a high level of skill to make the day worthwhile. Waiting for the Booster Day to come to practice your skills is like shutting the stable door after the horse bolted. The Booster Days need to be used to refine what are your already highly developed skills. I know a lot of recovering stutterers go into an exercise saying to themselves “I must try not to stutter” I believe this puts the emphasis on the stutter and invariably we will. I use the thought “Hey! I can use my technique here!” I have gone from being terrified of certain words, traumatised at enrolling in a class, mortified at having to introduce myself to a group. I can now confidently carry out interviews as part of my role with the local Historical Society, I have been interviewed by the local radio and newspaper. I have led tutorials and facilitated lectures at several Service Clubs as guest speaker. None of his has been easy, but the benefits are and will be UNBELIEVABLE!

Tushar Kumar, Victorian Speak Easy Councillor on the National Council, receiving his award for Speaker of the Year at his Rostrum Club. Congratulations and well done Tushar! Tushar is one of many Speak Easy members winning speaking competitions and awards at speaking clubs such as Toastmasters.

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Lysterfield Owen Westwood Works to Control his Stutter Jordy Atkinson, Knox Leader AFTER more than 20 years spent trying to hide his stutter, a Lysterfield man has decided to “take action” against the speech impediment that has controlled his life. Owen Westwood, 25, has had the “crippling” impediment since he could talk but time spent chained to a desk in an office job he hated forced him to fight back against “the demon”. “I felt stuck because of my speech — I felt I couldn’t get a job anywhere else because who would hire a person who stutters?” he said. “There is no cure for stuttering — the only way forward is for me to take control of my stutter instead of it controlling my life.”

Just trying to say his own name once led to anxiety and poor confidence, he said. “There are so many people out there now who are experiencing the same feelings of pity and guilt and self-hate because we can’t do things as simple as introducing ourselves or order the food that we really want as opposed to what we can say,” Mr Westwood said. He hoped sharing his story would inspire other people with severe and debilitating stutters to take action. In July 2013, he joined a program to start on his “journey to be the most eloquent speaker I can be”. The four-day course, developed and run by a group of people learning to control their own stuttering, focuses on the mechanics of speech, techniques for overcoming stuttering and the fear of speaking, the physiology and psychology of stuttering, and confidence building. Participants can do refreshers and work on their speech privately after the course. Mr Westwood said joining the program was “the best decision I’ve made to date”. “I went through my early childhood, teenage years, all my schooling with a really crippling speech impediment and it was tough,” he said. “I would avoid speaking situations every day, every chance I got because my fear and anxiety was so high that I would avoid doing speeches at school and being my true self at parties.” Mr Westwood, a former student at Highvale Seconday College in Glen Waverley, said he never dreamt of taking part in school plays and even asked his English teachers if he could do his oral presentations at lunchtime to avoid an audience of students laughing at him. “I always had a really tight group of friends but there were a few people who would go out of their way to pick on me, insult me every chance they got because I spoke differently to them,” he said. Traditional speech therapy hadn’t worked for him because it only focuses on the physical aspects of stuttering, he said. “That’s just the tip of the iceberg — underneath the surface there’s the mental and psychological struggles that come with having a stutter and that’s where the McGuire Programme helped me,” Mr Westwood said. Since joining the program, Mr Westwood has moved on from the job he hated and now works fulltime as an audio visual technician — and he loves it. “I’ve been able to take the positive attitude I have from improving my speech into my work and no longer dread getting up in the morning and going into the office,” he said.

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Why I See Myself as a 'Fluent Stutterer' by Andrew Pelechaty originally published on The Mighty website 04/14/16

For the majority, speaking is as natural as breathing. For people who stutter, speaking can be an ordeal. Forget what the snake oil salesmen tell you: there is no miracle cure for stuttering. No magic pill you can buy with six easy payments of $19.99. Though some children grow out of it, a stutter into the teenage years and adulthood can only be managed. Stuttering actors like Bruce Willis, James Earl Jones and Samuel L. Jackson have used their craft to combat their speech challenges. At 34, I am fortunate that I’ve overcome my stutter. It’s taken me over 20 years, but I did it. While I’m still a stutterer, I now see myself as a fluent stutterer. How did I do it? I owe a huge debt to tried-and-true speech therapy, mainly smooth speech or fluency shaping. At the most basic level, smooth speech is similar to singing: using diaphragmatic breathing to slow down your speed, thus increasing the chance of fluency. In the wrong hands, you can sound like a drunk robot. Done correctly, the words come out smoothly and with an even cadence. An emphasis on in-phrase rate control guards against sounding too monotone. At first, smooth speech may seem unnatural, but in my experience, the more you practice, the easier it becomes. Growing up in Canberra, Australia, there was little help aside from too-obvious tricks like putting the “H” sound at the start of a sentence. Upon moving to Brisbane at age 11, I started speech therapy at the Mater Hospital, and began a two-decade journey to fluency. I attended children’s therapy from 11-13, and graduated to teenage maintenance from 13 until I finished school. I combined teenage groups with weekly individual therapy with numerous wonderful speech therapists, plus did regular week-long “boosters” during school holidays. By the time I’d finished high school, I shifted to weekly adult maintenance. This was the turning point. I loved adult maintenance. I’d gone from being the only stutterer at school to spending every Tuesday afternoon with like-minded PWS (people who stutter), talking and practicing our three target rates: 50 syllables per minute, 100 spm, and 150 spm. I’ve also been an active member of the Queensland Speak Easy Association, serving as long-term newsletter editor, two terms as secretary and volunteering for stuttering-themed events and conferences.

For stutterers, it is incredibly tempting to pick a job where you don’t have to speak. But my other vital tool was speaking in the real world, known as transference. By my mid-20s, I was competent enough to do telemarketing and market research work, which I still continue a decade later. Relying on my voice for work has done wonders for my speech. Because I have to be fluent to keep my job, I am far more diligent. Now I’m at a stage where my speech is under control. Simple tasks, like talking on the phone, ordering lunch, or buying a movie ticket hold no fears. I’m even at the point where I don’t need speech therapy anymore. My regular call center work keeps me in practice, and I have enough smooth speech experience to pull myself out of a rough day. I’ve mentioned fluency a lot, but that’s not the only way. Some brave souls embrace voluntary stuttering. The purpose is to remove the stigma and embarrassment of stuttering, which is all well and good, but to me it seems quite risky to stutter on purpose. For all the consistent fluency I have now, there are still days where words are a challenge and I fall into old habits. Fortunately, I can still drop into maintenance or call a PWS friend to get myself back on track. My advice to others who stutter is to find a technique that works for you, whether it be smooth speech, voluntary stuttering, or some other method, and stick to it. Build a network of PWS friends. The unspoken bond you share with other PWS will be stronger than with your fluent friends. Transference practice is golden. Once you feel comfortable, either get a job involving your voice or put yourself in speaking situations. It does wonders.

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Thinking Beyond “Normal, Fluent Speech” By Scott Monson Regional Director, McGuire Programme (Aust)

So aiming for perfect, fluent speech is unrealistic. It doesn’t Having struggled to say their name, order a sandwich, buy a train ticket, read aloud, etc, it’s exist – even only natural that somebody who stutters would want to do these things without the struggle, among profesembarrassment, shame and everything else that goes along with stuttering. sional speakWhile the desire to be a normal, fluent speaker is totally understandable (trust me, I have been ers! there!), it’s not a helpful mindset for long term success. More than anything else, people who stutter just want to speak like everybody else – they want to be a normal, fluent speaker. It’s totally understandable.

Firstly, a “normal” speaker is not always a “fluent” speaker. Everybody trips and stumbles over their words from time to time. They get stuck on a word, they mispronounce a word, or they just can’t seem to coordinate their speaking muscles with their thinking muscles (sound familiar). So aiming for perfect, fluent speech is unrealistic. It doesn’t exist – even among professional speakers! Secondly, “normal, fluent speech” is like winning that million dollars. The money feels great at first, and I expect you’ll love looking at your bank balance, but the real value comes from what that million dollars enable you to do (you’ll soon get sick of looking at it if you can’t spend it!). Fluency also feels great at first, and you’ll love the feeling of being able to speak with control and confidence that you’ve rarely, if ever, experienced. But unless you can use that controlled, confident and eloquent speech for a bigger purpose, the shine will soon wear off and you’ll revert back to old speaking patterns (again, trust me, I’ve been there!). Obtaining “normal, fluent speech” for the sake of having “normal, fluent speech” isn’t enough. In fact, many people feel they achieve ‘fluency’ on their first intensive course. But without another compelling reason to change, they quickly lose the focus and motivation to keep practising what they have learnt and eventually revert to their pre-course level of fluency (or disfluency!). Even worse, their perceived “failure” reinforces old beliefs such as “I’m hopeless”, “I’ll never beat this”, “I’m not good enough” and so on. You need to have a bigger purpose, a broader goal, and a more compelling reason to change if you are to achieve long term success in moving beyond stuttering. Maybe you want to be able to apply to become a police officer, to join a drama club, to give a presentation at work, to speak in front of your class, to work in a call centre, or any of the hundred other things you probably want to do if only you didn’t stutter. Knowing your compelling reason to change, beyond becoming a “normal, fluent speaker”, is essential if you are to become the controlled, confident and eloquent speaker you want to be. So, what’s your compelling reason to change?

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ATTITUDE By Rodolfo Costa Rodolfo is the author of Advice My Parents Gave Me and Other Lessons I Learned from My Mistakes.

For some people, their fear to lose is greater than their desire to succeed, so they end up doing nothing and their dreams become impossible. ~Rodolfo Costa If today were my last day on Earth and I could share 500 words of brilliance with the world, here are the important things I'd want to pass along to others... Improve your attitude. Improve your life! Changing and improving our attitude can help us change the way we see and do things. I have learned that a positive mental attitude is far more important than aptitude to succeed in life. I also learned that it is not easy at first because we all have been conditioned since we were born to see and do things and in many cases to think a certain way. But with practice we can improve our attitude. Here are ten tips to build a positive mental attitude; 1. Stay away from negative and pessimistic people. 2. Do not complain and blame others for your mistakes, problems, misfortunes and setbacks. You are responsible for your actions and consequences, you are responsible for your life and circumstances. 3. Be more in touch with your thoughts and feelings, do not get carried away by your worries. No matter what, make the conscious decision to start your day, every day, in a positive and optimistic way. 4. Always work on maintaining a positive attitude about things. We all know that we cannot always control what happens in our lives, but we can always control how we react to what happens in our lives. This will help you build the courage, confidence and motivation to change. improve and find a solution to your problem. 5. Learn to adapt. Things change, circumstances change. Adjust yourself and your efforts to what it is presented to you so you can respond accordingly. Never see change as a threat, because it can be an opportunity to learn, to grow, evolve and become a better person. 6. Face your reality with courage. Take a good and careful look at your situation and allow yourself time to think. See where you are now and decide what you want and where you want to be. Build the enthusiasm, make up your mind and go for it. Realize that you have the ability and the potential to change yourself and to change things. 7. Concentrate on the beautiful things in your life. Never compare yourself with others. remember you are unique; there is nobody else like you and you are capable of doing great and wonderful things with you life. 8. Look for better or different ways to do things. Allow yourself to see beyond what others think is possible, wise or practical. Be proactive and be part of a solution, not part of a problem. 9. Be in charge of your life. Do not think and assume that what happens to you is your destiny. It is not! If you think that way you will give a message to your brain to stop looking for ideas or solutions to your problems. Do not make excuses to relieve yourself from your responsibilities. Always remember, if you do not control your life and future somebody else will, whether you like it or not.

10. Work on your attitude and learn to control it, always remember, if you are not careful your attitude will control you.

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Moving from OWW to WOW By Scott Monson, Regional Director, McGuire Programme (Aust) I’m always looking for new ways to look at this challenge we call stuttering, and how we can develop better mindsets to keep moving forward. Yesterday I came across the work of Todd Herman* and his concept of the OWW Brain and the WOW Brain. Todd is a high performance coach and has worked with many of the world’s top athletes, as well as being an entrepreneur that has failed just as much as he has succeeded. While Todd is targeting the OWW/WOW Brain to other entrepreneurs, it directly applies to moving beyond stuttering and reflects what I have seen in McGuire graduates over the past 10 years. The OWW Brain Someone caught in the OWW Brain cycle grows more and more dissatisfied with their life, even though they may be achieving growth because they measure their progress by their unfulfilled goals.

1. They start with the desire to achieve a goal, dream or vision. 2. They take action, make progress and achieve measurable improvement. 3. They, then, measure their little wins FORWARD into the 'Chasm of Despair’ and against the bigger goal which causes them to experience feelings of inadequacy, frustration and disappointment. In my McGuire experience, these are the grads who return to support group, refresher days or an intensive course looking for another sprinkling of the ‘magic fairy dust’ that will get them through their next speaking challenge. Most often, they revert to their old speaking habits soon after a course, and many (if not most) eventually stop trying and we never see or hear from them again. The WOW Brain Someone caught in the WOW Brain cycle grows more and more inspired and motivated with their life, because they’re constantly looking at their growth and measuring their progress from where they started.

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1. Identical to OWW: They start with the desire to achieve a goal, dream or vision. 2. Identical to OWW: They take action, make progress and achieve measurable improvement. 3. Different to OWW: They, then, measure their little wins, growth and progress BACKWARD into the ‘Valley of Confidence’ and against their starting point. Which causes feelings of power, positivity and encouragement. Again, in my McGuire experience, these are the grads attending support groups, refreshers days and intensive course to take their speech to the next level (rather than to regain what they have lost since last time). They acknowledge they still have work to do, but know how far they have already come. They sit on the inside line and stand in front of the group as role models to grads and new students of what can be achieved. The live the ethos of doing your best to work hard, be courageous, persevere and follow the directions (sound familiar?).

So is your brain set to OWW or WOW – do you see the pain or the gain, and how does that mindset help you navigate the reality map shown below?

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Recover from Stuttering – Push Yourself Out of Your Comfort Zone

Newsletter 75: May 2016 Your comfort zone is a behavioural space where your activities and behaviours fit a routine and pattern that minimises stress and risk. It provides a state of mental security. You benefit in obvious ways: regular happiness, low anxiety and reduced stress. It’s easy, as a person with a stutter, to sit back and allow others to speak for you, avoid situations in which you think you may have trouble speaking ... "I can put that phone call off until tomorrow, I don’t really feel like making it now, I don’t feel like I will have any fluency control. I want to watch this program I’ve been looking forward to." Does this sound like you? Do you prefer to just stay in your comfort zone? It’s great to be relaxed and not have to worry about the busy world and all its expectations. We all deserve timeout. However, it’s not good for us psychologically to avoid and continue to avoid all that we perceive to be confronting situations. After you learn an effective fluency technique and heed the cognitive recommendations, the resulting confidence that you experience will encourage you to venture outside of your usual comfort zone. Ride the wave of confidence that this produces and allow yourself the freedom of:

  

meeting new people making those crucial points you have always thought you should making those phone calls and looking forward to what the conversations might bring asking all the questions with a childlike curiosity Consider this quote by Pandora Poikilos: "We are so accustomed to the comforts of "I cannot", "I do not want to" and "it is too difficult" that we forget to realise when we stop doing things for ourselves and expect others to dance around us, we are not achieving greatness. We have made ourselves weak." On a recent radio program, a young psychologist speaking about avoidance and comfort zones said that people who reside in their comfort zones tend to be the unhappiest of all. We all know of the great human potential to strive and succeed ... the first step comes from YOU. Manoj Arora said, "Coming out of your comfort zone is tough in the beginning, chaotic in the middle, and awesome in the end...because in the end, it shows you a whole new world!! Make an attempt." Maintain the feeling of fluency with some hard work, then step out and enjoy! Ezy-Speech Affirmation of the Month I CELEBRATE STEPPING OUTSIDE OF MY COMFORT ZONE.

A whole new world awaits me as I courageously travel out of my comfort zone. The Ezy-Speech Team

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News From The States Rain Rain go away - Canberra Support Group Rain rain go away, come again another day….. my thoughts as I tucked into breakfast Saturday 4th June 2016 - the day Canberra Speak Easy Group held a speech maintenance day and an east coast low provided a drop or two of rain! A total of seven participants tucked into the Orpheus room at the Hellenic Club and enjoyed a cosy day of enhanced speech technique, formal speeches, improvised theatre, yummy lunch, mmmmm cake and whoohoo coffee from the ground floor café (no hipster inspired deconstructed coffee here….yet). Following a morning of structured speech practice, we heard a cracker of a speech about a member’s Toastmasters experience and the benefits of getting out of your comfort zone. Another member graced us with a reading intended for an upcoming mass.

I led a session of improvised speech games that challenged us all. The games were: Fortunately/unfortunately - Two participants act a scene where each person must always start their dialogue with either fortunately or unfortunately. Alphabet - A scene is performed with a number of actors where each line of dialogue must begin with the next sequential letter of the alphabet. (watch out when you get to the letter “x”!) One word sentence - Participants tell a story speaking only one word each at a time (can by very funny if performed fast), and

N Words - In a scene, each person has a set number of words that must be used each time they speak (the number of words are normally chosen by the audience). Hard! All agreed “N Words” was the most challenging and the scene in a funeral parlor brought quite a few laughs as several participants struggled with content! (eventually “Ted” was buried with dignity). Improvised theatre is hysterically funny if taken with a lots of good cheer and spontaneity. My major speech task for the day was to drive to a nearby music store and enquire about a music stand for an electric piano. Pity I stepped into a big puddle when running to my car – and the “soggy running shoes” walk up the stairs was embarrassing!

The day ended with a group reflection on individual achievements, with a lively discussion on how to combine our speech techniques with the energy, excitement and passion of a heart felt public speech. I think we are still exploring this one! The next Canberra maintenance day is currently due following the “double D” election. Keep late August/early to mid September free as we roll into spring! Jonathon Tary Canberra Speak Easy Group. For details contact: Jonathon Tary 0418 548 838.

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Report from the NSW/ACT Speak Easy Association International Stuttering Awareness Day activities in NSW This year will again see NSW Speak Easy members take part in activities to promote treatment for stutterers and our organisation. Both of the following events will probably be held in September.

We will have our usual forum at Sydney University where speech professionals and stutterers will speak to approximately 90 final year primary school teaching students. This event has been running for many years and continues to become bigger and more successful. For the first time this year we will be taking part in a forum at The Catholic University. The event will be teleconferenced from Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. There is a chance that stutterers from all three states will be able to take part. Initially this event will be aimed at speech pathology students, who will hear firsthand how having a stutter can influence an individual’s life. This would also be an opportunity to promote Speak Easy. It is hoped that next year this event can be expanded to include primary school teaching students. Bruce Richmond – ISAD Coordinator NSW

Concern about the Availability of Adult Stuttering Treatment At an Ordinary Meeting of the Australian Speak Easy Association Inc. (NSW and ACT Branch) held on 11 June 2016 the issue of lack of Intensive Adult Stuttering Treatment Programmes (IASTP) generally in Australia but specifically in the Sydney area, was discussed. The Camperdown adult treatment format was until this year the format used by the Communications Disorders Treatment and Research Clinic (CDTRC) (University of Sydney). The CDTRC trains speech pathologists in Sydney. However, early this year a significant change took place at the CDTRC where they discontinued a 4-day adult intensive programme and replaced it with a format that is claimed can be taught in two hours per week over eight weeks. The Australian Stuttering Research Centre (ASRC) are advisers to the CTDRC in the area of stuttering. Presently Newcastle University and La Trobe University still offer a five day IASTP based on the Camperdown model. Australian Speak Easy Association Inc. (NSW & ACT Branch) met with ASRC representatives in April of this year and understand that the new two-hour per week format is here to stay and will possibly be exported to other speech pathology associated treatment centres. Accordingly, it is now very likely that the standard format for use by speech pathologists for treating adult stutterers in Australia will be the two hours per week Camperdown format. ASEA have concerns as to whether this new model will be comparable to the IASTP it is replacing These discussions raised a very relevant and pertinent question for ASEA. What IASTP are available within Australia for adult stutterers. It’s time stutterers found a voice and made sure, as taxpayers, they got their rightful share of the Health cake when it comes to funding. It’s time we made sure that we are not treated by being subservient to the needs of student training facilities and that properly staffed and funded IASTP are available to all adult and adolescents in Australia. Presently, Sydney (a city of over 4.5 million) is worst affected with no proper IASTP available. Subsequently, at the Ordinary Meeting of the Australian Speak Easy Association Inc. (NSW and ACT Branch) on 11 June 2016 the following Resolution was passed: “That the NSW Speak Easy Association (NSW & ACT Branch) authorise the setting up of a sub-committee comprising of no more than five member with full powers to investigate the decline in treatments offered to stutterers and especially adolescents and adult stutterers and to take all steps necessary including but not limited to lobbying State and Federal politicians for proper funding to ensure that intensive stuttering programmes are available to persons who stutter.” Whereas, this is a NSW initiative, it clearly is a National issue as well. And as such, the ASEA Council should look closely at also setting up a sub-committee to ensure that all States receive proper funding for IASTP. A ready example - for the 2015 year the NSW Health Department budget was $21 billion – yet not one cent was spent on IASTP! If the ASEA does not stand up for the rights of stutterers, no one else will. The NSW subcommittee has already been set up with 4 members. We expect to commence an intensive lobbying campaign of both State and Federal politicians over the next 12 months about this issue.

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Victoria Speak Easy Association On 1st May a refresher day was held in Melbourne for people who stutter regardless of technique or strategy used to manage their stutter. Over 30 people attended the day which was well supported by speech pathology students and Margaret Olczak from Latrobe University. Participants were enthusiastic for the days become a regular event. Initially, ASEA will look at holding them at least twice a year. Make sure you’re at the next one!

Queensland Speak Easy Association Queensland Convenes Another Mt Alford Speech Camp by Kevin Nuttall QLD Speak Easy organised their annual Mt Alford intensive “camp” again in early June, over two and a half days. It was a live in retreat as usual and the formula of fun, fluency and fellowship was clearly evident. Members used the time for intensive smooth speech practice and an oratory competition was held on the Sunday. This was adjudicated by Speech pathologist Amanda Lyons from the Mater Hospital and Annette McCaul (now retired). A student Georgia assisted and we were also visited by Dr Lisa Hudson who helped Dave Edwards put together the “EzySpeech” program. Oratory speeches were all prepared beforehand and were of Toastmasters’ standard. Members enjoyed the time to refine their speech skills and we also had a presentation from our valued Melbourne member, Robert Chiodo. The afternoon’s highlight was probably the Skype session from our own Geoff Johnston who gave an interesting talk which was well received, and he also answered questions. Robert took away the oratory prize, and Queenslanders will have to improve to keep up this exceptional standard. John Crossingham won the “Achievement in Speech” award for best use of smooth speech over the whole camp. Congratulations to both winners. The retreat will be on again next year in early June, and places are eagerly sought, (only 24 beds) so if interstate attendees would like to come, contact Kev Nuttall om 0419774141 early for reservations. A deposit is necessary. Prices are approx $330 per person, with a discount for members and the event is fully catered and very comfortable.

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WA Speak Easy Report The AGM for Speak Easy WA was held on 28th April 2016 and a new committee was elected, with Geoff Martin as President.

Minutes of the 2016 AGM can be viewed and downloaded by clicking this link. A brief statement from the new President follows: My name is Geoff Martin and I am your new President for Speak Easy WA. I have been a stutterer for all of my life. However, with a lot of hard work and a lot of assistance, I have graduated to be an eloquent speaker. My focus now is to help others with the disability as much as possible - believe me recovery only comes with a lot of hard work, there is no magic pill. I am honoured to be your President and will endeavour to do what is required to promote Speak Easy and its principles. Facebook Page - Don’t forget that we have one! Stay up to date with our activities! If you already have a Facebook account, all you need to do is find the group 'WA SpeakEasy - SEAWA'. If you do not have a Facebook account, you can set one up easily with your email address by going to www.facebook.com Thank you to Peter Stevenson for updates on Facebook! Membership Renewals As you are all aware Speak Easy runs on the kindness of many volunteers who are dedicated to helping other people who stutter. We invite members to renew their memberships for 2016 to keep things going! Our preference is to receive renewals via bank transfer. It is the easiest and fastest way. We also welcome any donations to the Association! Bank Transfer: Commonwealth Bank, BSB: 06 6130 Account: 1021 2236. Include your name in the notation and send this form to [email protected] when you have made the transfer. If your personal details have changed or you wish to pay via credit card or cheque, you can still use the renewal form here. This is a reminder of the WA Speak Easy groups currently running: East Perth group sessions run every THIRD Thursday of the month, 6:00pm - 7:30pm; and Maintenance sessions run every LAST Saturday of the month, 10:00am - 12:00 noon; at Claisebrook Lotteries House, 33 Moore St, East Perth. Fremantle group sessions run every Tuesday night at The Meeting Place, 245 South Terrace, South Fremantle from 6.00pm. Victoria Park group sessions run every Wednesday at Community Law Centre 29 Sussex Street, East Victoria Park from 7.00pm. For more information on each group and the contact person please visit The Australian Speak Easy Association website: http://www.speakeasy.org.au/groups/western-australia/

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Sydney—Speech Maintenance Weekend 2nd – 4th September 2016 The Collaroy Centre, Homestead Ave, Collaroy Beach (Sydney)

http://www.collaroycentre.org.au Come along for a weekend dedicated to honing your fluency skills with a group of like-minded people, intent on helping you achieve your goals in an atmosphere that’s fun. All this, and within walking distance to the beach! Accommodation is motel style, and very comfortable. We plan to invite a speaker with expertise in helping people who stutter. Cost: (generously subsidised by Speak Easy) only $160 (includes 2 nights' accommodation, and all meals and program) Full payment must be received by 30th June 2016 For full details of the weekend, please phone Peter Wise on 0407-204-954 or email [email protected]

News from Africa - Distance Therapy Program

DSTPA, Unlocking the Voices of People Who Stutter in Underdeveloped Countries

Dale Williams, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at FAU, looks on as his student, Shaye Drake, provides stuttering therapy to Francois in Rwanda.

Distance Stuttering Therapy Program, Africa (DSTPA) is unlocking the voices of people who stutter across a part of Africa by providing free speech therapy using video conferencing calls. DSTPA is the first Program to provide tele-therapy with patients in Africa, and also heals the negative emotions caused by stuttering. And they bring therapy into areas where there has been no access to therapy services. This program was initiated in 2010 by two people, who once stuttered themselves; Dr. Dale Williams, Professor at the Florida Atlantic University (FAU) and Mr. Dieudonne Nsabimana, Founder of the African Stuttering Center (ASC). After years of working out logistics, the program welcomed its first patient in February 2014. The service to People Who Stutter (PWS) is delivered by graduate students from the Florida Atlantic University (FAU) and the Southeast Missouri State University (SMSU). And those graduate students are supervised by certified and licensed speech-language pathologists. Dr. Williams says the all clients have made great progress towards their long-term goals. In fact, one of his clients, Francois, states: “The treatment is perfect for me and helping me to improve my speech — It’s also easy to take part in since I don’t need to travel elsewhere. We are using Skype video calls and sharing documents through e-mails.” The program is clearly popular, with the experience of conversing via Skype proving to be just as personal as face -to-face therapy. Mr. Dieudonne is confident that other Universities will follow the generous involvements of FAU and SMSU in providing Tele-Therapy — already having been contacted by university of Ottawa and UC Riverside School of Medicine for more information. "This Program has grown significantly in the past year “said Mr. Dieudonne" and we need to create an online platform in order to simplify and speed up the process of collecting clients information" He said. For any further information, do not hesitate to contact Mr. Dieudonne at: [email protected]

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Australian Stuttering Research Centre Faculty of Health Sciences ABN 15 211 513 464

EXPLORING BRAIN STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF YOUNG CHILDREN AT RISK FOR STUTTERING

Do you have a baby aged between 6 and 18 weeks of age? Would you like to help us understand the nature and cause of stuttering? The Australian Stuttering Research Centre is conducting a study to explore the brain structure and function of young children at risk for stuttering.

Babies will be scanned using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This will cause no harm to your child. Scanning will take place at the Brain and Mind Research Institute, Camperdown.

We are seeking babies aged between 6 and 18 weeks of age, with and without a family of history of stuttering.

A visit will take up to 2 hours and you will be with your child at all times. You will receive a gift voucher for participating in the study.

If you have a child aged between 6 and 18 weeks of age and would like further information about this study please contact Dr Robyn Lowe at the Australian Stuttering Research Centre, the University of Sydney by email [email protected] or call 02 9351 9061.

Participation is entirely voluntary University of Sydney Human Research Ethics Approval # 2014/386

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Advisory Board Dr Susan Block, School of Human Communication

Australian Speak Easy Association c/- 23 Bateman Street Strathalbyn SA 5255 President: Dr Mark Irwin Email: [email protected] National Executive Officer Geoff Johnston Phone: 08 8536 4647 Email: [email protected] Treasurer: Bruce Richmond Email: [email protected]

Services, Latrobe University, Bundoora VIC 3086 Ph 03 9479 1801 Email: [email protected] Associate Professor Ann Packman Ph 02 4573 1176 Email: [email protected]

Dr Janet Beilby Ph 08 9226 7463 Email: [email protected] Dr Brenda Carey Ph 03 95715843 www.mystutteringspecialist.com Prof Ross Menzies [email protected] Dr Celeste Merrigan 03 9852 8124 Webmasters Bruce Imhoff (NSW)

The Self-Help Organisation for People Who Stutter in Australia

We’re on the Internet: www.speakeasy.org.au

Email: [email protected]