Transatlantic alliance will help
researchers, clinicians and children

The Stuttering Foundation and the Michael Palin Centre for Stammering Children have joined forces in a groundbreaking alliance to help children who stutter through research, treatment and training programs.

The Michael Palin Centre, based in London, England, is widely considered one of the premier treatment centers in the world for childhood stuttering; and it is active in research and the training of speech-language therapists. While the Centre is based in London, it provides treatment for children as well as training for therapists from all over the United Kingdom.

The Memphis-based Stuttering Foundation is one of the leading U.S.-based nonprofit organizations dedicated to the prevention and treatment of stuttering. Its publications reach people in more than 100 countries each year, and it is also active in training speech language pathologists by sponsoring training courses for those who specialize in stuttering.

More than 800 therapists have participated in SFA workshops during the past 20 years, including 145 from 32 countries around the world. However, this will be the first direct involvement of the Stuttering Foundation in a treatment program.

"We are very excited at the prospect of working together with SFA to promote and provide first class service for children and young adults who stammer," said Frances Cook, M.Sc., manager of the Michael Palin Centre. "This partnership between our two organizations will combine our strengths and serve to benefit our clients and therapists on both sides of the Atlantic."

"The alliance of the two organizations makes perfect sense," said Jane Fraser, president of the Stuttering Foundation. "The Palin Centre's top-notch treatment facility means hope for thousands of children who stutter and for some time now has provided an essential training ground for researchers and clinicians."

The Michael Palin Centre for Stammering Children was officially opened in 1993. British comedian Michael Palin agreed to the center being named after him following his role in A Fish Called Wanda, in which he portrayed a character called Ken who stuttered. He based the role on his own father who suffered from stuttering all his life. Palin is best known for his comic roles as part of the Monty Python comedy group.