New England Workshop recap

New England Hosts 11th Workshop

By Diane Parris, M.A.
Boston University

Twenty speech-language pathologists gathered at Boston University's Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences for a 5-day workshop. They came from twelve states and two foreign countries - Thailand and Australia - with backgrounds as diverse as their geographical origins.

However, from June 10 - 14th, they shared one thing in common: increasing their expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of children who stutter.

Hosted by Diane Parris, MS CCC/SLP Clinical Associate Professor, a team of extraordinary researchers and master clinicians provided the right blend of information and skills training to help increase confidence and competence in an integrated approach to fluency therapy.

The program included: Dr. Edward Conture, Professor and Director of Graduate Studies at Vanderbilt University, Diane Parris, Dr. Sheryl Gottwald, Assistant Professor at the University of New Hampshire, Dr. David Luterman, Professor at Emerson College, and Adriana DiGrande, MS CCC/SLP, Adjunct Clinical Faculty at Boston University.

Direct clinical skills training culminated in mock therapy sessions with children gathered from the local area.

Participants commented that the hands on learning was a highlight of the program. One workshopper said, 'This is the best professional training I have had since grad school. It was so empowering to have these experts here with us for 'stuttering boot camp. "I felt quite comfortable exploring the limits of professional knowledge, and making this journey with such wonderful colleagues."

Many were inspired by the practical nature of the training and by the friendships that resulted from the intensive nature of the program including sharing living quarters in the University's dorms.

As they begin to implement their new learning with clients, most will also be offering in-service training to colleagues in upcoming months. Spreading the knowledge and skills provided in the regional workshops is essential to the mission of the Foundation.

CELEBRITY FOCUS

Mel Tillis

Mel Tillis, born Lonnie Melvin Tillis, was an influential figure in country music, both as a songwriter and a performer. His journey to fame was marked by overcoming personal challenges, including a stutter that he turned into a defining part of his public persona.

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.

Kenyon Martin

Kenyon Martin, the basketball sensation who was named to the NBA’s All Star Team in 2004, joins other famous people who stutter in a new brochure. The brochure - which unfolds into a small poster - is available free of charge from The Stuttering Foundation.

The poster is intended to give children and adults who stutter inspiration as they grapple with their speech disorder.

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.

Alan Rabinowitz

Alan Rabinowitz, Ph.D., who passed away in 2018, was an explorer, wildlife conservationist, and author. He established the Hukawng Valley Tiger Reserve in northern Myanmar, which is about the size of the state of Vermont.

His love for animals began when he was very young.