Virtual Learning by The Stuttering Foundation is an online series of free, interactive workshops with a variety of offerings for speech-language pathologists, parents, and individuals who stutter.

The series includes monthly offerings ranging from clinical training opportunities, to parent education, to a platform for people who stutter of all ages to share their stories. Sessions are moderated by many of the world’s leading clinicians, researchers, and self-help advocates — bringing learning and collaboration to you.

Are you All Ears?: Active Mindful Listening for Ourselves and Others

Speakers: James Panico, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville; Scott Palasik, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, University of Akron

Date: January 22, 2025

Time: 6-7:30 pm (Eastern Time)

Click to Register

Description: Speech-language pathology has long valued the importance of listening as a foundation to counsel and connect with clients who stutter. Clinicians must be able to communicate effectively while respecting the needs, values, and cultural/linguistic background of their clients, family members, and caregivers. This experiential session will focus on mindful-active listening as a vital skill for therapists in cultivating client well-being. It will address empathic listening, the psychology behind listening, and practical and functional strategies for therapists to engage in listening to create effective communication between clients, families, and SLPs. Clinical examples provided will emphasize specific concepts.

Learning Objectives:

Participants will be able to:

  1. Explain the importance of active and effective listening skills to the profession of speech-language pathology.
  2. Explain the importance of active and effective listening skills for client well-being.
  3. Discuss strategies of active effective listening skills.

Details:

  • Target Audience: Speech-Language Pathologists, Graduate Students
  • There is no fee for this event.
    *This course is not eligible for CEUs at this time
    Please register if available for the live event only. A recording may be available at a later date on our streaming site for a small fee.

James Panico, Ph.D., CCC-SLP is an Associate Professor at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville where he teaches courses in stuttering, clinical methods, professional issues, and counseling in addition to clinical supervision. His primary research interests include listener perceptions of stuttering.

Scott Palasik, Ph.D., CCC-SLP is an Associate Professor at the University of Akron. He teaches courses in Stuttering, Counseling, Voice Disorders and supervises graduate students. He researches mindfulness, acceptance and commitment therapy, and social cognitive perceptions with people who stutter. He’s also co-host of the Act To Live Podcast.

Effective Collaboration with Teachers to Support Children Who Clutter

Speakers: Susanne Cook, Ph.D.; Rutger Wilhelm

Date: February 23, 2025 1-2:30pm Eastern Time

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Description: School-based Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) play a critical role in the early identification of students who may exhibit speech and language difficulties. Given their position within educational settings, SLPs are often the first professionals to notice indicators of potential issues, including cluttering, a speech disorder characterized by a fast, irregular rate of speech. Previous studies have highlighted the ongoing challenges that educators face in recognizing cluttering in students.

Furthermore, SLPs often struggle to accurately diagnose and treat cluttering. Many SLPs report feeling underprepared to address cluttering due to lack of comprehensive resources and effective treatment methodologies. Unfortunately, resources tailored for teachers regarding cluttering are also sparse, leaving both educators and SLPs without essential tools necessary for effective intervention.

In this presentation current findings related to the awareness and understanding of cluttering among SLPs and teachers will be reviewed. A mixed-method study with high school teachers has been conducted that provided valuable insights into their experiences with students exhibiting cluttering behaviors. Findings from this study have prompted the development of a handout that offers practical strategies for teachers working with students who clutter.

Throughout the presentation, these findings will be contextualized from the perspective of persons experiencing cluttering. By enhancing awareness and providing actionable strategies, we hope to equip both SLPs and educators with the tools necessary to effectively support students who exhibit cluttering.

Learning Objectives:

Participants will be able to:

  1. Understand current findings related to awareness and understanding of cluttering
  2. Review featured mixed-methods research study and apply findings within clinical work with clutterers
  3. Name strategies to effectively support school-aged students who clutter

Details:

  • Target Audience: Speech-Language Pathologists, Graduate Students, Teachers
  • There is no fee for this event.
    *This course is not eligible for CEUs at this time
    Please register if available for the live event only. A recording may be available at a later date on our streaming site for a small fee.

Susanne Cook, Ph.D., is a Speech-Language Pathologist with a special interest in stuttering and cluttering. Susanne is a certified stuttering therapist (ivs). She earned her Ph.D. in Developmental Science from University College London in 2011. She established and ran an intensive therapy program for stuttering children and adolescents from 2001 to 2011. Susanne is a co-author of the German evidence-based medical guidelines for fluency disorders. She is the chair of the International Cluttering Association. Her current research interests include cluttering, strategies for teachers, therapy outcomes for children who stutter, effects of bullying and useful strategies for children who stutter, and the psychosocial impact of stuttering and cluttering on a person’s life. In 2024, Susanne was the recipient of the Deso-Weiss Award for excellence in cluttering.

Rutger Wilhelm chairs the Consumer Committee of the International Cluttering Association and he previously served as the chair-elect for the same organization. Next to that he is board member of the Dutch stuttering association. Also, he has served on the board of the International Stuttering Association (ISA). In 2021 Rutger published a book about his experiences with cluttering along with an accompanying website: toofastforwords.com.