Camp Shout Out is dedicated to improving services for youth who stutter by providing hands-on clinical training & treatment in a recreational setting.

Problema

Stuttering is a communication disorder that impacts 3-5% of all children. Many of these children outgrow the problem but some don't leaving an estimated 1% of the total population, or approximately 68 million people worldwide and 4 million in the USA, with a long term stuttering problem. A recent survey by the National Stuttering Association revealed that 80% of children who stutter reported being bullied while 40% of adults who stutter reported they had lost a job or promotion. This same survey also revealed that the majority of speech-language pathologists don't know the most current methods of working with stutterers and have no idea where to go for assistance.Stuttering can and does cause significant emotional and educational difficulties for some young people around the world.

Solución

Camp Shout Out addresses current and unmet needs with the hosting of a speech therapy and recreational summer camp program for youth who stutter combined with a hands-on training opportunity for speech-language pathologists and graduate students. The therapy and clinical training programs are directed by 3 internationally acknowledged experts in the area of school-age stuttering. The project begins with a 2 day workshop for the speech pathologists and graduate students where they learn to apply stuttering research using an experiential problem solving approach. After the 2 day workshop, youth who stutter arrive at camp where all reside for 5 days. During this time the clinical workshop participants, while guided by the fluency experts, continue their learning by planning and carrying out direct fluency therapy with their assigned campers. Campers participate in intensive speech therapy as well as a traditional camp style recreation program.

Ejemplo

A 3rd grade boy who stutters won’t talk in school, he’s tired of being teased. His mother doesn’t know what to do, she has been told he will outgrow the stuttering, but it seems to be getting worse. She takes him to a local clinic where the speech therapist says she will help but she doesn’t know much about stuttering. His progress is slow. Together they learn about an incredible program; Camp Shout Out, where both the speech therapist and the boy are able to enroll. At Camp the boy finally meets other kids who stutter, he thought he was the only one. He opens up and participates in activities. He asks and answers questions and states his opinions. His speech therapist has been amazed at the amount of learning she has obtained as well as the difference in the boy’s behavior. When the parents come to pick up their son they participate in a team meeting where they witness him speaking up and when he goes off to join the other kids the mother bursts into tears stating that she already sees the difference in him. This is the first time they have ever seen their son advocate for himself. The speech therapist is overjoyed and realizes that other children in her town will benefit from what she has learned. School begins and changes in the boy's behavior is immediately noticed. He is participating more and talking in class. He has learned that ‘what he has to say’ is more important than ‘how he says it’ and that his VOICE has POWER. The Camp Shout Out program has helped the boy become a more confident communicator and the speech therapist a more confident therapist.

Mercado

There are few organizations working to increase stuttering awareness. The Stuttering Foundation is the world's biggest non-profit dedicated to improving the quality of life for people who stutter. Camp Shout Out has been collaborating closely with The Stuttering Foundation. They've committed to providing the CEUs for speech pathologists for the Camp Workshop, they've posted information about Camp Shout Out on their website, which receives 3 million hits monthly, and are publishing an article about Camp in their winter newsletter.