Stuttering Foundation Launches ID Card For People Who Stutter

The Stuttering Foundation has announced the creation of a free identification card available to all those who stutter. It is designed to help them identify themselves in a nonverbal way as someone who may have trouble speaking. The ID card is available in two downloadable formats on the Foundation's website at www.StutteringHelp.org. "We hope our free 'I Stutter Card' finds a place in the wallet, purse or backpack of every person who stutters," said Jane Fraser, president of the Stuttering Foundation. "It is designed to help people educate those who are not familiar with this complex disorder." The card was created in response to a recent incident involving Kylah Simmons, a U.S. citizen returning home through the Atlanta airport after studying abroad. According to media reports, Ms. Simmons, a person who stutters, was questioned repeated about her stutter by a U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agent. According to reports, Ms. Simmons was repeatedly told by the agent that she was "lying" about her stutter. "I looked him in the eyes and explained to him that my disability was not a problem but was simply a personal challenge for me that makes it difficult for me to communicate... I was continuously told that I was lying and that I was being dishonest. All my life, I have been bullied and silenced because of my stutter. I felt silenced today," said Ms. Simmons. Ms. Simmons worked with the Foundation to make the card available to the 70 million people worldwide who stutter. "When questioned by someone in authority, we all may have difficulty maintaining our fluency. For someone who stutters, it can be a much greater challenge. We hope this tool will make a difference," added Fraser. Foundation Spokesperson Jane Fraser Jane Fraser is president of The Stuttering Foundation and co-author of If Your Child Stutters: A Guide for Parents, 8th edition. She is also vice president of the Action for Stammering Children, Michael Palin Centre, London.   About the Stuttering Foundation Malcolm Fraser, a successful businessman and stutterer, established and endowed the nonprofit Stuttering Foundation in 1947. The Stuttering Foundation provides a toll-free helpline, 800-992-9392, and free online resources on its Website, www.StutteringHelp.org, including services, referrals and support to people who stutter and their families, as well as support for research into the causes of stuttering.   The Stuttering Foundation offers 6 tips for speaking with someone who stutters.

Flying With a Disability? Leading Medical Flights Charity Offers Travel Tips for a Stress-Free Flight

Traveling with a disability can be a daunting task, but thankfully the team at Miracle Flights for Kids, the

 nation's leading medical flight organization, offers several travel tips to make your next airline endeavor 

stress-free.

With 30 yrs. of service and more than 90,000 flights coordinated, Miracle Flights provides free medical

 air transportation via commercial airlines throughout the United States. Flight Coordinator, Jessica

 Cardenas, has facilitated a fair few of those flights and offered her suggestions:

• Wheelchairs—"When traveling with a wheelchair it's important to call the airline ahead of time,"
•  said Cardenas. "They will need to know if the chair is collapsible, its dimensions, if it uses wet or dry 
• cell batteries, the number of batteries, etc. Airports will also provide patrons with a wheelchair onsite,
•  should they need it."

• Arrival Time—Cardenas explained that those traveling with a physical disability should plan to 
• arrive early at the gate. "Keep in mind that you'll be one of the first to board, so budget time
•  accordingly," she said.

• Service Animals—"It always helps to give the airline a 'heads-up' that you have a service animal,"
•  Cardenas explained. "That way the crew will know ahead of time so they can more easily
•  accommodate you."

• Portable Oxygen—Due to safety issues, the FAA will only allow certain portable oxygen devices
•  on an aircraft. "This is another situation where it's best to call the airline and listen to their policy,"
•  Cardenas said. "You will most likely need a note from your doctor, so keep that in mind, as well."

For more information about Miracle Flights, to request flight assistance, or to make a donation, call

 (800) FLY-1711 (800-359-1711) or visitwww.miracleflights.org.

About Miracle Flights

Miracle Flights for Kids is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization providing free medical air transportation

 via commercial airlines throughout the United States. For nearly 30 years, Miracle Flights has closed

 the distance gap between children and needed medical care, coordinating more than 90,000 flights 

covering 50 million miles. For more information about Miracle Flights for Kids, to request assistance,

 or to make a donation, call (800) FLY-1711 (800-359-1711) or visit www.miracleflights.org .