Dominic Barker Trust
Dom's Fund, also known as the Dominic Barker Trust, was established in 1997 in remembrance of Dominic, who lived with a persistent stammer and died by suicide in 1994 at the age of 26. Many of us can speak fluently without a second thought, but for people who stutter or stammer, communication demands a great deal of hidden effort—planning around difficult words, racing to finish before others interrupt or lose interest, and coping with the strain of being understood. Stuttering can lead to frustration, loneliness, and discrimination in many areas of life. The Trust funds research into the origins and treatment of stammering, backs the clinical practice of Speech and Language Therapists, and supports practical, on-the-ground research. It also funds local and national efforts to lessen the stigma, bias, and lack of awareness surrounding stuttering.
For more information refer to the Trust website: https://dominicbarkertrust.org.uk/
The Research Project
Stammering affects how people speak and communicate, often making everyday situations stressful for young people and their families. Current tests for stammering are mainly questionnaires or clinic-based tasks, which do not always reflect real-life challenges such as speaking at school or with friends. This project will work directly with adolescents who stammer, their caregivers and community members to design new ways of assessing stammering using Virtual Reality (VR). VR can safely recreate everyday speaking situations, while Machine Learning (ML) can provide accurate analysis of speech and attention patterns. By involving families from the start, the project ensures that the tools are realistic, user-friendly and supportive. The findings will help create better assessments that truly reflect the needs of people who stammer and their families, contributing to more effective support for this community.
Grant Holder: Dr. Fjorda Kazazi
Leader: Dr. Fjorda Kazazi
Principal Investigators: Dr. Fjorda Kazazi, Prof. Peter Howel
Department of Experimental Psychology
University College London