Thousand Oaks Acorn

New DVD can help kids who stutter

April 13, 2006

Children who stutter have a lot to say, and friends can show them how in "Stuttering: For Kids by Kids."

The new DVD starring actual children who stutter is now available at the Thousand Oaks Library, 1401 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks.

Many children who stutter have never met anyone else who struggles with the same disability. But in this new DVD from the Stuttering Foundation, they meet other youth 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, 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 too," said Jane Fraser, president of the nonprofit Stuttering Foundation. "Stuttering: For Kids by Kids" is available free to all public libraries in both DVD and VHS formats.