With the passing of International Stuttering Awareness Day on October 22, it may be prudent to note that the Santa Cruz Public Library has acquired new materials that support those with the speech impediment.
Heather Norquist, Collection Management Librarian for SCPL, said the additions that deal with stuttering arrived in September. They include books and DVDs for children and adults. The materials are in English and Spanish, and can be used by both teachers and parents.
“Our Interim Director, Janis O’Driscoll, received an e-mail from The Stuttering Foundation saying that they had free materials on stuttering available to any public library,” Norquist said. “I thought these would be a good addition to our Special Needs Resource Center Collection, so requested the items I thought we could use.”
The Special Needs Resource Collection floats throughout the library system and can be requested at any branch. A specific book can also be ordered through the online library catalog.
All Special Needs Resource Collection books at SCPL are marked with a yellow dot. They can be found in their designated area. In Scotts Valley Library, for example, the Special Needs Resource Collection faces the window, and is located on the far end of children’s books. Scotts Valley Branch Manager Linda Gault confirmed that the online SCPL catalog remains the best way to ensure getting the book one needs.
Stuttering is an involuntary repetition of sounds. According to the Stuttering Foundation, the numbers of people stuttering worldwide exceed 70 million, which is approximately one percent of the population. More than three million Americans stutter.
The Stuttering Foundation cites four causes for the communication disorder:
• Genetics – there is a higher risk of stuttering for more than one family member
• Child development – other speech related issues can contribute to stuttering
• Neurophysiology – the communication pathways in the brain are different from others
• Family dynamics – lifestyles with high expectations can cause stuttering
Regardless of the cause, stuttering can be successfully treated. The earlier therapy begins, the better the outcome.
Among famous people who stuttered are actor Bruce Willis, actress Marilyn Monroe, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Winston Churchill and former ruler of the U.K. King George VI. A movie was made about King George’s plight to overcome stuttering.
For more information on stuttering, visit http://www.stutteringhelp.org. The SCPL catalog can be accessed at catalog.santacruzpl.org. Type in keywords “Stuttering Foundation of America.”
