Report from Galway Self Help Group Meeting

Date: 1 June 2010

Report:

Our HSE Speech and Language Therapy group sessions have just finished in the Shantalla Clinic. Many techniques have been learned and now it is our responsibility to put them into practice as much as possible. It will be difficult but members are willing and supportive to each other. A very important aspect of the group is that support is there to call upon if needed with each other.

A HSE follow-up meeting is also planned for later this month which is very positive. It will give us all an opportunity to further discuss and evaluate how we are progressing in our pursuit of improving our speech and the feelings associated with this.

We were delighted to welcome two new members to our group this month. A relaxation exercise was completed early in the meeting as per usual. This focused on 'mindfulness' and our ability to generate a greater awareness of our body (and speech). We progressed to complete some reading (which was optional) within the group to incorporate learned techniques which we find effective. People read part of a passage only if they desired to do so. Stuttering openly is encouraged, but no pressure is ever put on individuals to do anything they do not feel comfortable with.

We then discussed the 'Vision' of the ISA and developed ideas which could further enhance awareness and effects of stuttering in Ireland today. We spoke about awareness in schools and possible fund-raising events.

On a separate note, we also arranged a social day out for the support group for later this month. People decided on a day trip to Connemara.