Stuttering is Beautiful 2

Background Stuttering is a communication disorder that affects a person's ability to speak fluently. Although it may seem like a speech disorder, stuttering is considered a communication disorder because individuals who stutter (PWS) can speak fluently when speaking to themselves. However, in social situations, a person who stutters may know what they want to say but struggle to say it at the moment. Worldwide, approximately 1% of people stutter, which equates to about 900,000 young people who stutter (YPWS) between the ages of 16 and 30 in the EU, making it a significant group. Stuttering can have a profound negative impact on a person, and many young people who stutter experience social exclusion, which can affect their participation and happiness at school, relationships with teachers and classmates, academic potential, and achievement. Many YPWS feel isolated and lack confidence in their communication abilities, often avoiding social situations due to fear. Italian, Icelandic, Dutch, and Estonian stuttering associations are dedicated to helping YPWS live their lives fully, despite stuttering. While self-help books, brochures, and Youtube videos can be helpful, a comprehensive strategy that considers all aspects of the communication process is far more effective. In speech therapy, YPWS learn new speech skills, but it can be challenging to transfer these skills to everyday life. To be successful, YPWS need a clear understanding of what they want to change, how to do it, and a supportive network. Avoiding stuttering can actually worsen it, so learning to accept it is crucial. YPWS may need to speak at a slower rate with less muscle tension initially and practice in supportive environments. This is where the online tool (O1) comes in handy. Objectives Our objective in this project was to develop a user-friendly online tool (O1) for young people who stutter. In this guide, Young People with Stuttering can find up-to-date evidence-based information on stuttering, ensuring they have access to the latest research and the best practices as well as information on how to deal with their stuttering. As the purpose of this information is not to stop young people from stuttering, but rather to provide them with tools to help them accept their stuttering and manage it at home and at school. The online tool has been placed on the Staimly.org website, which is accessible to all, especially young people who suffer from stuttering, no matter where they are located, and will be free to use for anyone. Furthermore, it is translated into various languages. We hope more countries will translate the online tools in the future to overcome language barriers. Additionally, the tool is individualised, allowing each YPWS to create a personal space and access the discussion forum. By using this online tool, YPWS will be able to monitor their progress and observe their journey towards achieving their goals while using this unique personal space. Implementation Notifying the members - when the project started, each partner country notified their association member about the project. Develop a questionnaire - we developed a questionnaire that we sent to YPWS to get feedback and recommendations. Develop folders for documents - The documents have been organized into folders on Google Drive TPM - A total of 4 TPMs were held - in Estonia, the Netherlands, Italy, and Iceland. Online meeting - besides the TPM, we have held around 50 online meetings in order to keep each other motivated and keep an eye on the progress of the project. Report times sheet for Staff costs - during the course of the project, each partner has filled out the time sheets for the staff costs associated with their work. Find external partners - concerning the exceptional cost of the service, we had to spend a lot of time trying to find offers that were affordable enough for us to fit our budget. Testing - as part of the testing process, YPWS and youth workers were given access to the manual and the online tool, and they were also able to comment on the manual as well as test the strategies described in the manual. Dissemination - total of 4 dissemination events were held - one in each of the partner countries. Achievements Questionnaire - we developed a questionnaire that we sent to YPWS to get feedback and recommendations. Intellectual output (IO) - the manual and online tools have been developed and added to the WIx online platform. Our team is very pleased with the finished product and we have received a lot of positive feedback. As part of the testing process, YPWS and youth workers were given access to the manual and the online tool, and they were also able to comment on the manual as well as test the strategies described in the manual. Disseminate - A total of four dissemination events were held - one in each of the partner countries. As a result of the dissemination events, we were able to accomplish things that we had been putting off for many years. During the next few years, the dissemination will continue to take place.