For Immediate Release
Contact: Greg Wilson
greg@curleycompany.com
571-239-7474

Foundation Expands Reach to International Stuttering Community 

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (October 15, 2015) — With International Stuttering Awareness Day on October 22nd rapidly approaching, the Stuttering Foundation is making a global push to ensure anyone, anywhere needing help and support for stuttering knows where to find it.

“We have known for years that one percent of the world’s population stutters, and up to five percent of young children may stutter for a period of time, regardless of where they are born or raised,” said Jane Fraser, President of the Stuttering Foundation. “Back when letter writing and telephone calls were our primary means of communication, it was harder and much more expensive to push our materials out far and wide. Now, we can help anyone anywhere with a cell phone, a mailing address or an Internet connection.”

Nearly 70 years ago, Malcolm Fraser made an initial deposit of $2,500 into the bank, and founded the Speech Foundation of America as a charitable organization with a mission to help those who struggled with their speech. As a person who stuttered himself, Fraser understood from day one the need to provide accurate and trusted materials to the stuttering community.

After several decades of success, the organization changed its name to the Stuttering Foundation of America, and made a point of serving the three million Americans who struggle with stuttering each day. “Our mission has always been to provide materials, free services and support to all those who stutter, and their families, as well as support for research into the cause of stuttering,” said Fraser. “Nowhere in that declaration does it say we are limited by geography. We spread our materials and support as far as we possibly can.”

Over the past decade, spurred by the growing usage of the Internet, email and social media, the Stuttering Foundation has intentionally chosen not to confine itself to being a domestically-focused organization. Today it calls itself the Stuttering Foundation, and is the oldest and largest global organization serving the needs of the 70 million people around the world who stutter.

“We have made a special effort to increase our global reach over the last few years,” said Fraser. “Our materials have been translated into 38 languages; we have developed an international referrals list of speech-language pathologists in 60 countries; we have a partnership with the Michael Palin Centre for Stammering Children, one of the premier treatment centers in the world for childhood stuttering; and we engage with our community at conferences in different parts of the world each year.

“Each day, the Stuttering Foundation publishes content on its website, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube pages that we know, based upon the comments we receive, reach the global stuttering community in more than 160 countries,” added Fraser. “It’s our hope that regardless of where you live, from Australia to Zimbabwe, if you’re looking for information about stuttering that you can find us,” added Fraser.

###

Foundation Spokesperson Jane Fraser 
Jane Fraser is president of The Stuttering Foundation and co-author of If Your Child Stutters: A Guide for Parents, 8th edition. A duel national with both American and French citizenship, Fraser is also vice president of the Action for Stammering Children, Michael Palin Centre in London.

 

About the Foundation
Malcolm Fraser, a successful businessman and stutterer, went on to establish and endow the nonprofit Stuttering Foundation in 1947. The Stuttering Foundation provides a toll-free helpline, 800-992-9392, and free online resources on its Website, www.StutteringHelp.org, including services, referrals and support to people who stutter and their families, as well as support for research into the causes of stuttering.

Hide on More News: 
Hide