In-depth Focus in Philly

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

Speech-language pathologists from nine states, Puerto Rico, Canada, Brazil, and France met July 12-16 on the CHOP campus to learn 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.A. of University of Maryland, and Lisa Scott, Ph.D., of The Florida State University.

Attendees had the privilege of hearing a lecture on pediatric anxiety disorders presented by Dr. Martin Franklin, University of Pennsylvania, one of the world’s leading experts on treatments for pediatric anxiety.

Dr. Franklin detailed how cognitive-behavioral therapy is used to address anxiety in children and then drew parallels to treatments for childhood stuttering.

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. Vivian Sisskin agreed and added, “The dynamics of the group were wonderf

ul.” “The dedication of these SLPs to helping kids is inspirational. Many children will benefit from the talents and interest they have,” explained Joe Donaher, who was especially enthused about hosting the workshop.

Feedback from participants included:

“After this course, I feel much more confident with making assessments, focusing on the children's difficulties and attitudes towards their stuttering, and developing a treatment plan with my clients. I hope to share the information with my co-workers and look forward to continuing to help monolingual and bilingual children who stutter.”

“This was an amazing experience for me. I am very grateful to have been a participant. Overall, a top-notch experience!!”

-From the Fall 2010 Newsletter

CELEBRITY FOCUS

Bill Walton

From BillWalton.com

Thank you for your interest in my life long problem with my speech and communication skills. I was a very shy and reserved young man who could not speak at all without severely stuttering until I was 28 years old. Always a success in the classroom and on the basketball court, I took refuge in the things that I did well as a youngster. A straight A student, my athletic abilities covered the deficiencies that limited my overall growth and development. The game of basketball was my religion, the gym my church. It was a convenient way of avoiding my responsibilities of developing my human relation skills.

When I was 28, a chance encounter at a social event with Hall of Fame broadcaster Marty Glickman completely changed my life in so many ways that things have never been the same since, nor have they ever been better. That day, in a very brief, private conversation (one way, mind you, since I literally could not speak at the time) Marty explained, patiently and concisely, that talking, communicating was a skill not a gift or a birthright and that like any skill, whether it be sports, music, business or whatever, needed to be developed over a lifetime of hard work, discipline, organization and practice. Marty gave me some simple tips that day and then encouraged me to take those keys and apply them to methods of learning that I had received from the special teachers that I had come across in my life, particularly the 6 Hall of Fame basketball coaches that I had played for throughout my career. The beginning of my whole new life was as simple as that. No gimmicks, tricks or shortcuts. Just the realization that with some help, guidance and a lot of hard work that I too could do what seemed so easy, simple and natural to everyone else, yet seemed impossibly out of my reach and comprehension.

John Stossel

John Stossel is one of the most recognized and articulate reporters today. However, he once considered giving up his broadcasting career because of his stuttering.

“Fear of stuttering can easily become worse than the stuttering itself,” observed Stossel. “The idea that I’m on television and making speeches is still a shock to me sometimes.”

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.

Jack Paar

While Jack Paar is among the most prominent of the entertainers on the Stuttering Foundation’s list of Famous People Who Stutter, he deserves special recognition as he was among the first to openly address his stuttering in public. As host of The Tonight Show from 1957-1962, he spoke of his difficulties as a stuttering child and teenager, giving hope to young people.

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.