ASHA in Atlanta

The 2012 convention of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) was held Nov. 15-18 in Atlanta.

This year the Stuttering Foundation had a great location with a 30-foot, corner booth.

“The convention was a great opportunity to reach speech-language pathologists who seek resources,” said Stuttering Foundation President Jane Fraser.

A special thanks to volunteers, including Charlie Osborne, Vivian Sisskin, Kristin Chmela, Lisa Scott, Robin Michael Jones, Katerina Ntourou, Kathy Scaler Scott, Elaine Kelman, Sharon Millard, Steffi Schopick, Geoff Coalson, Diane Parris Constantino, Hatun Zengin-Bolatkale, Courtney Byrd, Vianne Bjornberg, Megann McGill, Patrice Carothers, Tony Buhr, David Evans, Judy Kuster, and Dahye Choi.

During the convention, the Foundation also hosted a reunion for alumni who have participated in the Stuttering Foundation’s workshops over the years.

From the 2013 Winter Newsletter

CELEBRITY FOCUS

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.

Marilyn Monroe

From Edward S. Herrington's letter to Southcoasttoday.com

I am writing in response to "The importance of voice" (May 29), which mentioned that famous actor James Earl Jones struggled with stuttering. Another famous voice that you cited was the trademark breathy voice of Marilyn Monroe; however, you did not make mention of the fact that Marilyn Monroe also struggled with stuttering at various points in her life, sometimes very painfully.

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.

Frank Wolf

This Virginian congressman has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1981. The longtime supporter of the Stuttering Foundation drew national attention to childhood stuttering in 2006 when he submitted an article about Tiger Woods from the SFA newsletter to the Congressional Record. The congressman is featured in the Stuttering Foundation's Famous People Who Stutter brochure.

John Melendez

He is a talented musician, actor, and comedian. Listen to a podcast.