Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., March 30, 2008 Adar2 24, 5768 | | Israel Time: 17:23 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 07:18 30/03/2008 Conference aims to address problems faced by Israeli stutterers By Ruth Sinai, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: AMBI, Israel The coach of Ramat Gan's basketball club, Robi Belinko, said in an interview to Ynet on Friday that his stuttering was rooted in a trauma he experienced when he came to Israel from Uruguay at the age of 6 and the children mocked him for not speaking Hebrew. However, studies indicate that stuttering, or stammering, is a speech disorder originating in the brain area that commands mental and motoric activity. AMBI, The Israel Stuttering Association (ISA) will discuss the latest developments in the research on stuttering and ways to handle it at its 10th conference Monday. AMBI, a non-profit organization, was founded among other things to root out stigmas associated with stutterers, who make up about 1 percent of the population. Advertisement AMBI chairman and founder Benny Ravid, a software engineer, says the conference will focus on three messages: "To personnel managers not to disqualify a stuttering candidate because they could lose a genius; to those seeking partners not to give up; and to those who talk to stutterers, 'don't help.' You don't have to finish our words. We can speak and express ourselves, all we need is another few seconds." Ravid is trying to convince as many people as possible to come to the conference. "It's important for people to speak from the podium. Almost 20 years ago, when I stood up and addressed hundreds of people, it changed my life," he says. Once, like many stutterers, Ravid used to avoid certain words that could disclose his stuttering. "I asked for tehina instead of humus because it was easier to say," he says. "But it's best to let the person you're talking to know of your stuttering. In my case, I've turned it into a trademark." Ravid does not feel handicapped, although stuttering is usually seen as one. "The National Insurance Institute adds credits for stuttering only if you have some other handicap  stuttering alone doesn't entitle you to a stipend," he says. One of the main problems stutterers face is finding employment. The stigmas attached to stuttering are a real hurdle. In the ultra-Orthodox community, for example, stutterers have been matched with mental patients. "This derives from ignorance. Stuttering is a problem in the flow of speech. Beyond that a stutterer is like any other person," Ravid says. Studies, including some held in Tel Aviv University, show that stuttering becomes less acute when the stutterer's anxiety is reduced Bookmark to del.icio.us   Condemned cinema Dutch Jewish group: Anti-Islam film is 'counterproductive.' Suspecting Syria UN officials: Syria still suspected in Lebanese PM Hariri murder case.   1.   Moses and Demostenes stuttered too 17:17  |  Ulf 30/03/08

Today Online 'PM passed 20 messages to Assad, but he disappointed us' Responses: 51 FM: We need to set final borders before legislating on settler evacuation Responses: 75 Dutch Jewish group: Anti-Islam film is 'counterproductive' Responses: 92 Editorial: Israel must help Bush, Rice's belated peace effort succeed Responses: 18 Rosner's Domain 38% for pressuring Palestinians, 25% for pressuring Israel (WTR) Bush is still determined not to repeat Clinton's mistakes Poll: what percentage Jews will vote McCain? New pro-Israel-pro-peace dovish lobby ready to launch (WTR) Obama rejects advisor's comments on American Jews and peace process More Headlines 17:21 Rice: We'll monitor Israel's vow to ease Palestinian movement 16:12 Arab League: Support for Saudi peace plan depends on Israel 16:15 Police postpone opening of new West Bank station near J'lem 16:47 On Israel, Clinton, Obama and McCain all aim to be like Bush 14:11 Police arrest four in Bat Yam, call off high terror alert 12:03 Official: PM sent 20 messages of peace to Assad, but Syrian Pres. disappointed us 14:33 Palestinians marking Land Day clash with IDF troops in W. Bank 16:53 Cabinet approves development of national bicycle network 14:08 UN wants UNIFIL in charge in Israel-Lebanon border town 14:36 Egypt-Gaza border tunnel collapse kills Palestinian smuggler 13:36 Dutch Jewish group: Anti-Islam film is 'counterproductive' 13:37 Budget problems force closure of top Druze science school Previous Editions Select Day 28 mar 27 mar 26 mar 25 mar 24 mar 23 mar 21 mar 20 mar 19 mar 18 mar 17 mar 16 mar

Special Offers Advertisement NEW! Dan Boutique Jerusalem Hotel Hip Dan Hotel in Jerusalem. Attractive Introductory Rates Pardes Institute Summer Sessions Study Jewish texts and issues in Jerusalem, Co-ed, All Levels FAREWELL ISRAEL New Film The Coming War for Islamic Revival - View Movie Trailer Free the Palestinians from: Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy Long-term Israel programs MASA is your gateway. More programs. More grants. 7589 rockets fired so far HELP US TO HELP THEM Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved