There is help online for Irish stammerers stuck on waiting lists

Your article “Fund shortage could silence speech project” (Irish Examiner, November 13) resonated with me because I have struggled with a speech problem in my life.

I cringed when I read that the Happy Talk Project is likely to come to an end because of lack of funding.

Over the years here in the United States, many Americans I have met have praised the great healthcare system in Ireland, holding it up as a model.

How can Ireland claim to take care of its people’s health needs if 31,000 people, including 1,631 children, are being turned away from speech therapy and put onto a waiting list?

I am a stammerer and I know that stammering is the most prevalent speech problem, especially among children.

In light of the grim numbers in terms of people on the waiting list for speech therapy, I would like to reach out to my fellow stammerers who are on this hurtful waiting list and inform them that there are many free resources available from the website of the Stuttering Foundation (www.stammeringhelp.org) for children, adults and parents.

People all over the world have accessed these free resources from this non-profit charitable organisation.

The site offers streaming videos, downloadable brochures and books, and much more.

I like the Stuttering Foundation because it is the only organisation for stammerers that has a world outreach, helping people in more than 130 countries each year.

Colm Ruane

Bedford Park Blvd.

Bronx

NY 10458

USA