My name is Ally and I have a condition called Selective Mutism (SM).
I don’t know if you’ve ever stuck your fingers together with glue, maybe when you were younger. Or possibly tightened a tap too much making it extremely difficult to turn the other way the next time you use it. That is what it’s like to have SM. The words are there and we want to say them more than you know, but for some reason we become incapable of uttering even a sound when in a situation that is unfamiliar or anxiety provoking.
Selective Mutism is an extreme anxiety condition that provokes a freeze response in select situations. It physically blocks a persons' ability to speak, and sometimes communicate, in anxiety-provoking situations. This could be at school, in restaurants, at home, at a relatives house, etc...
Selective Mutism is extremely frustrating to live with and I hope to make life slightly easier for others living with the condition. I would like to raise awareness and acceptance with training from Maggie Johnson - a leading Selective Mutism specialist. Initially, the training will be for Parents, Family members and Teachers. If this goes well, I will organise further training for professionals that work with people who have SM.
Maggie's expertise are second to none, hence why I am fundraising to be able to afford her courses. To make training more accessible to parents, I would like to subsidise ticket prices as much as possible. I will be fundraising in as many ways as I can because this is a cause I am extremely passionate about. Any donations, big or small, will be hugely appreciated. If you are unable to donate, please consider sharing this gofundme and watching videos or reading about Selective Mutism.
Training will take place in the South West of England, dates to be confirmed at a later date. The target fund is based on the costings of the courses, travel expenses and hotel that Maggie would charge
Thank you for reading.