The Association for Research into Stammering in Childhood (ARSC)

ARSC is committed to funding scientific research into the complex causes of stammering in, and the most effective treatments for, children and young adults.

Introduction

ARSC was founded in 1991 by Lena Rustin, an internationally recognised speech and language therapist, and Travers Reid, a successful businessman who has stammered all his life. ARSC is a registered charity and is based at the Michael Palin Centre for Stammering Children in London, England.

The Michael Palin Centre for Stammering Children was founded in 1993 as a national specialist centre. It is jointly funded by ARSC and the Islington Primary Care Trust (formerly the Camden and Islington Community Health Services NHS Trust).

Patrons
The Right Reverend and Right Honourable Bishop of London Richard Chartres
The Very Reverend the Chief Rabbi Dr. Jonathan Sacks

Life President
Travers B. Reid

Vice Presidents
Michael Palin CBE
Lena Rustin DSc (Hon), MPhil, FRCSLT, MRCSLT
Dame Gail Ronson DBE
Clive R Thorp BSc (Econ)
Billie Whitelaw CBE

ARSC Board Members
TMS Hughes-Hallett (Chairman)
RPW Smith (Treasurer)
Arabella Bridge
Lord Egremont
Debbie Sell PhD, FRCSLT, MRCSLT
Hayley Goldenberg BEd
Rob Spence MSc, Reg. MRCSLT

Administrator
Diana de Grunwald MA

The Charity

The Board of the Association for Research into Stammering in Childhood has, as its main task, to oversee and support the work of the Michael Palin Centre for Stammering Children.

Originally ARSC employed one part time Speech and Language Therapist, but, by September 2001, there will be 10 (full- and part-time) specialist therapists supported by a small administrative team. ARSC is very proud of the high standard of professionalism and dedication of the staff who work there.

While the Association is astonished by the rate of growth in the Centre's activities, it feels that this reflects the level of need for specialist help for this complicated problem. The Centre offers a national consultation and advisory service, a full range of therapy programmes, as well as professional training throughout the country. The research programme is developing rapidly, limited only by the difficulties of obtaining funding.