ASHA Voices

In his book “Every Waking Moment,” author Christopher Anderson shares in unflinching detail the pain he experienced related to stuttering—both as a young person and into adulthood. But he also recounts how a series of personal decisions and a single business card slowly changed everything, putting him on the road to self-acceptance.

Anderson joins the podcast to discuss his life and his book, including his experience with avoidance-reduction therapy, and what he wants to share with SLPs.

This is the second conversation with an author who has written about their life as a person who stutters. Both conversations feature special guest co-host and SLP Chaya Goldstein-Schuff of the Sisskin Stuttering Center and the StutterTalk podcast.

Ten years after “Paperboy,” the story of a boy who stutters, resonated with audiences and won the Newbery Medal, its author Vince Vawter joins the podcast to discuss it.

In the novel, protagonist "Little Man" takes over a paper route and finds empowerment, gaining confidence in himself and in his ability to communicate. Vawter talks about his own experiences as a person who stutters, and how people have reacted to his book over the years.

This is the first of two conversations with authors about the lives of people who stutter, as narrated on the printed page. Both conversations feature special guest co-host and SLP Chaya Goldstein-Schuff of the Sisskin Stuttering Center and the StutterTalk podcast.

You may have seen a sometimes contentious element of contracts--the non-compete agreement--in the news lately. Earlier this year, the Federal Trade Commission recommended eliminating these clauses, claiming they decrease competition.

Non-compete agreements are used to prohibit employees from leaving one workplace to join or create a competitor. Some employees believe the agreements limit their career advancement, but many employers feel they are necessary to protect their businesses and intellectual property.

On this episode of ASHA Voices, hear a discussion on what may, or may not, be changing with non-compete agreements, and learn what employees and employers can do to protect their interests. Plus, ASHA members voice their perspectives.

SLP Kia Noelle Johnson speaks about cultural responsiveness in work with people who stutter and the role of culture in the presentation, assessment, and treatment related to this speech disfluency. It’s a matter Johnson notes is particularly relevant for school-based SLPs.

Later in the episode, hear from a future SLP who is creating a space for vulnerable conversations about the experience of being a person who stutters.

Meet two audiologists who use their clinics on wheels to reach people who have unaddressed hearing loss. From designing their space to finding their clients, these audiologists tell us what it’s like to run a business and serve patients on the road.

These conversation were originally published in November 2022.

Guests explore the ways in which conversation can play a role in fighting social isolation for people with aphasia, as well as provide an important way to experience community and connection.

First, the hosts of the Brain Friends podcast – Angie Cauthorn, an advocate for people with aphasia, and SLP Seles Gadson. The duo discusses their aphasia-centered podcast and address the critical role of conversation groups, such as the Black American Aphasia Conversation Group, in fostering that community and connection. Angie also shares her experience with the language disorder.

Later in the episode, we’re joined by poet and founding member of the Black American Aphasia Conversation Group, Michael Obel-Omia.

The University of Memphis’ Sarah Warren says studying public health allowed her to reimagine her career as an audiologist and connect her work to larger communities. She shares why and how she is incorporating public health concepts into the education of the next generation of audiologists.

Plus, does it feel like you've been hearing more about public health in recent years? Warren explains the reason for that. She shares a brief history of health care trends in the U.S, including how the COVID-19 pandemic affected awareness of public health.

SLP Emily Kornman discusses her work as a part of Team Gleason, a nonprofit supporting people with ALS. When ALS erodes someone’s ability to speak, many turn to augmentative and alternative communication, or AAC, to find their voice. Kornman discusses her work with AAC devices and voice and message banking.

Plus, we’ll hear a first-hand account from a family Kornman assisted with message banking in her work for Team Gleason.

This conversation was originally published in September 2022.

How do society’s expectations of people who stutter affect those speakers’ experiences?

As a person who stutters and as an SLP specializing in stuttering, Chris Constantino of Florida State University discusses how concepts like neurodiversity and the social model of disability can influence and inspire intervention. He shares what these ideas mean to him and how they might look if they’re applied in practice.

Plus, Constantino highlights some of the positive moments he’s gained in his life from being a person who stutters.

This conversation was originally published in July 2022.

People with disabilities affecting speech, language, and voice are at higher risk for avoidable health care errors and negative health care outcomes, says SLP Megan Morris, a faculty member at the University of Colorado. Her work addresses health care disparities experienced by people with disabilities and disabilities related to communication.

She discusses the role that CSD professionals play in reducing barriers associated with health care disparities for people with disabilities—particularly disabilities affecting communication.

Look for the transcript for this episode online at on.asha.org/podcast

This conversation was originally published in October 2022.