Real-life stories become parents' new Talking Point

With over a million children suffering from speech and language difficulties, thousands of parents across the UK are directly affected by this hidden disability every day. Many feel alone and find it difficult to access relevant information, but help is now at hand thanks to new developments on www.talkingpoint.org.uk, the first stop online for information on speech and language difficulties and development in children.

One of the new features to Talking Point are moving, real-life accounts of how children who struggle to communicate have overcome the obstacles in their lives, as written by their parents.

Inspirational, informative and encouraging, in one of the new case studies, a mother details her daughter's life from birth, to the first signs of a speech and language difficulty, through early diagnosis, her time spent in a language unit, support at infants and junior school, up to the present day in a mainstream secondary school. Her story shows what can be achieved if children with speech, language and communication difficulties are given the right support, and how important it is they get help at the right time.

Parents who have questions and concerns, or are seeking advice, can also have their personal queries answered thanks to another new development to the website. 'Ask the Panel' is an interactive feature which encourages users of www.talkingpoint.org.uk to submit questions on a selected topic to a panel of speech and language specialists from the charity I CAN, who will respond with detailed advice on how to deal with each problem within ten days. Recent topics covered include behaviour, dyspraxia and numeracy.

The website is run by I CAN, the charity that helps children with speech and language difficulties across the UK, working with The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and the charity AFASIC. Launched a year ago it has so far received over 100,000 visits from parents and professionals. It offers details of organisations, websites and professionals who can help and users can access frequently asked questions, fact sheets and news, as well as sharing information through discussion groups.

Fern Britton, TV presenter and full-time mother, believes that the new look Talking Point is an invaluable resource to parents: "Hosting a live television show makes you realise how crucial effective communication is. www.talkingpoint.org.uk is a great website offering parents vital information on speech and language development as well as advice on identifying and supporting children with communication difficulties. I thoroughly recommend you visit the site if you want to know more".

Philip Brophy from the Children's Speech and Language Therapy Department, City & Hackney Primary Care Trust believes that the website is "a brilliant resource, especially for parents. There is also lots of relevant information for professionals - from teachers to speech and language therapists. The presentation is excellent and the links useful."

Thanks to these exciting new developments, www.talkingpoint.org.uk is now able to help even more parents across the UK. Log on today to find out more!