Mid-Atlantic Workshop Builds Confidence

In July, the Stuttering Foundation of America, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), and The Florida State University co-sponsored the fourth Mid-Atlantic Workshop, Treating Children and Adolescents Who Stutter, in Philadelphia.

Speech-language pathologists from eleven states, Canada, Ireland, and Turkey met July 9-13 on the CHOP campus to learn more about how to assess and treat school-age children and adolescents who stutter.

Workshop leaders included Joe Donaher, Ph.D., of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Vivian Sisskin, M.S., of the University of Maryland, and Lisa Scott, Ph.D., of The Florida State University.

Throughout the workshop, a variety of learning opportunities were used including traditional lectures, guided case planning, small-group practice of the various clinical and relationship skills, and watching videos of therapy sessions.

“We were so thrilled to have so many clinicians from a variety of work settings devote a week of their summer to learning more about stuttering,” said Lisa Scott.

Feedback from participants included:

“I feel more comfortable with cognitive and emotional factors and will spend more time on those issues. I will be more client-centered by putting them in charge of the changes they want to make.”

“This week has opened the door to thinking differently, counseling differently and treating differently.”

“One of the major changes I plan on making is taking much more care in the assessment process to gather information. I will also get parents more involved. Further, I plan to seek out students who stutter for therapy instead of avoiding them.”

“I don’t have to be a miracle worker. 100% fluency is NOT the goal! It’s making stuttering easier and learning to “stutter better.”

From the Fall 2012 Newsletter

CELEBRITY FOCUS

Darren Sproles

Darren Sproles, a former player for The Philadelphia Eagles, the New Orleans Saints and the San Diego Chargers, made history in 2007 when he became the first player in NFL history to return a kickoff and a punt for his first two NFL touchdowns in the same game. In 2021, he was selected to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

King George

In November 2010, worldwide movie audiences were presented with a most interesting and unusual movie release with The King’s Speech, starring Colin Firth as King George VI and Helena Bonham Carter as his wife Elizabeth.

Unfortunately, history may have forgotten the courageous and inspiring story of Prince Albert who stuttered badly and never dreamed that he would ever be king when his older brother, King Edward VIII, abruptly abdicated the throne in 1936 to marry Wallis Simpson, an American divorcee.

Emily Blunt

Actress Emily Blunt struggled with stuttering early in her life. A teacher encouraged her to act in a school play at age 12 despite her stuttering.

Blunt’s name is prominently featured on the Stuttering Foundation's list of Famous People Who Stutter.

Ken Venturi

As much of the nation watches the U.S. Open Golf Championship, it is impossible not to think about our late friend Ken Venturi. Ken overcame many challenges to win the Open at Congressional in 1964 and go on to become the voice of golf for more than three decades.

However, Ken faced no bigger obstacle than stuttering. Ken Venturi was a champion to those who stutter, going out of his way to share his personal experience when consulted by a colleague, friend, or child who stutters.

Dave Taylor

Dave Taylor has been on the Stuttering Foundation's list of Famous People Who Stutter for many years, but probably few people know all of the unique accomplishments of this former hockey great who was born on December 4, 1955, in Levack, Ontario.