What is Speakeasy?

Speak Easy is a support group for people who stutter, their family members and friends. Meetings are held on a monthly basis and are used to discuss issues around stuttering, to share new ideas and experiences, discuss feelings and to practice one's speech techniques. This is all done in a non-threatening environment. The aim is basically to have fun speaking.

History

Speakeasy was started by a group of people who stutter, their parents and speech therapists to address the issue of prevention and treatment of stuttering in South Africa through:

• Education
• Self-help groups
• Enhance the training and skills of Speech Therapists

Speakeasy has been running for 10 years in Johannesburg. There are other branches in Durban and Cape Town, The members of these support groups have varied over the years.

Why join Speakeasy?

Support groups such as Speakeasy are helpful for many reasons:

• A problem shared is a problem halved.
• You do not have to suffer with your stuttering alone. 1% of the population stutter. You are not alone!
• You can gain from others like you.
• To educate the public about stuttering.

Monthly self-help groups are held at the Speech and Hearing department at WITS University in Johannesburg. During these sessions, members discuss various issues surrounding stuttering and the affect is has upon all of us. It’s a place to be free, a place to say what you have to say in you own time and in your own way.

DIRECTIONS TO SPEECH DEPARMTENT (SOCIAL SCIENCES BUILDING ON EAST CAMPUS) AT WITS WHERE SPEAKEASY IS HELD

• If you are travelling down Empire Road from Louis Botha Avenue go under fly over and at robot turn left into Yale Road.
• OR
• If you are dirving up Empire Road from Auckland Park Side then turn right at robot into Yale Road (just before fly-over).
• Once in Yale Road go up through Security (boom).
• Cross Stop Street (do not turn right) - Pass planetarium on the left hand side.
• Turn left at circle and enter through the boom (which should be open).
• Continue up that road going under building (do not turn left or right) until reach top of hill
  Speech Pathology Building approximatley 3rd builing on right hand side after coming out of tunnel. Park outside of the department.
• To enter Speech Department, walk up ramp
  The room where the meeting is to be held is the first room on the right hand side.
  

  Any queries, please contact Dina on 082 820 6225