Selective Mutism Awareness Week 

Alice Sluckin

Alice Sluckin, founder and current Chair of Smira

Alice has been described as the ‘Grande Dame’ of Selective Mutism, and for good reason.

As a Senior Psychiatric Social Worker in Leicester in the 1960’s, Alice came across a small number of children who would not speak in school and was desperate to help them.  Her own investigations turned up very little information on elective mutism, as it was then called, and drawing upon her own knowledge of psychology, Alice started using various behavioural techniques to help ease these children into talking.  Her first research paper ‘A Behavioural Approach in the Treatment of Selective Mutism’ was published in 1969 and others followed in 1977 and 1991.  This behavioural approach has provided the foundation for a great deal of the work by other professionals in the field of SM.

Alice’s interest in Selective Mutism continued after her retirement and in 1992 she brought together a number of Leicestershire parents and interested professionals for a meeting and exchange of information and ideas.  This meeting was the springboard for SMIRA, which became a parent support group and a Registered Charity in 1993 and is now the national group we see today.  Alice herself has also advised on the setting up of similar groups in Norway and Japan and has connections with the German SM Group Mutismus Selbsthilfe Deutschland e.V.

From the early days of SMIRA Alice’s ambition was to make a short film to raise awareness of the condition and outline the various approaches that could help.  In 2003 she finally realised this ambition when SMIRA received a grant from the then DfES to produce a video and accompanying book –‘Silent Children – approaches to Selective Mutism’ in conjunction with Leicester University School of Education.  Alice is an Honorary Visiting Fellow, Leicester University School of Psychology.

As Chair of SMIRA, Alice is still active in providing telephone counselling and advice for both parents and professionals and at the time of writing is currently involved as an advisor to the Government’s Bercow Review of Speech, Language and Communication Needs in Children.

As Professor Tony Cline said at the 2007 SMIRA National Parents Meeting:

‘We owe Alice a debt, not only for the innovations she introduced in the 1970’s, but also for her long-standing commitment and determination and perseverance in working in an area where not many professional social workers or psychologists take a great interest, and maintaining that interest and developing this organisation for support, thanklessly well into her retirement and beyond when most of us are willing to work.’

Details of Alice’s publications are available under Downloads/SMIRA Leaflets

Lindsay Whittington (Co-ordinator)

Lindsay is responsible for the day to day running of SMIRA and is administrator of the website. She is a founder member of SMIRA and parent of a recovered selectively mute daughter.

Victoria Roe (Secretary)

A teacher and former SENCO, Victoria is currently studying for her Masters Degree at Leicester University School of Education and is undertaking research into Selective Mutism in teenagers.

Brian Arnold (Treasurer)

A retired Accountant and former employee of Leicester University, Brian keeps a low profile but is nonetheless a valuable member of the team.

Sylvia Baldwin

Educational Psychologist and co-author of ‘Selective Mutism in Children’ (Cline & Baldwin).  Sylvia is also a Patron and long-time supporter of SMIRA.

Rae Smith

Retired Speech & Language Therapist and former Lecturer at De Montfort University, Leicester.  Rae is our Representative on the Communication Consortium.

Denise Lanes

Teacher and member of Leicester’s Special Needs Teaching Service.  Although Denise specialised in Dyslexia, she is always happy to pass on her knowledge of SM to her colleagues.

Andrew Mather

Parent of a former SM child, Andy is always willing to help SMIRA.  Known to many parents as the face behind the coffee bar at parents meetings.

Julie Brindley

A former sufferer of SM, Julie now works with Special Needs children.  In the past Julie has run the Child Care Team at parents meetings, along with her husband, David.

David Brindley

A Family Therapist and useful member of the team.  Husband of Julie.

Raj Gill-Harrison

A Psychology graduate, Raj is another member of the Child Care Team at parents meetings.

Shirley Landrock-White

The newest member of the Committee, Shirley is a parent and also SEN Governor of a primary school.  Her knowledge of the education system and anxiety issues makes her a welcome addition to the team.

WEBMASTERS

kidsplay.org.uk

PATRONS

Sylvia Baldwin BA(Hons), MSC

Tony Cline BA, DipPsych

Margaret Harrison CBE

Professor Emeritus (Exeter) Martin Herbert