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Jack Rodriguez, a person who stutters, and a senior in Texas State's undergraduate Communication Sciences and Disorders program joins Sara MacIntyre, M.A., CCC-SLP to share his story and discuss the dynamic nature of stuttering acceptance. Jack is mentored by Texas State University professor, Dr. Farzan Irani and, together, they co-wrote an ISAD Paper, "Speak The Change: Dynamic Nature of Stuttering Acceptance," which they will be presenting at the upcoming IFA World Congress in Montreal. In this episode, Jack walks us through his journey towards greater stuttering acceptance and what we means by 'dynamic nature,' how he learned to embrace his stuttering as part of his overall communication, and the process of leaving space within acceptance for making changes to how he approaches a moment of stuttering physically. Jack closes with advice he would give to his younger self as well as to young people who stutter in general. We are so thankful to Jack for opening up and sharing his journey with all of us!

Bio: Jack Rodriguez is a senior in the Communication Disorders program at Texas State University. His personal experiences with stuttering inspired him to pursue a degree in Speech-Language Pathology. His research interest includes the psychosocial aspects of stuttering and is currently in the process of completing his Honors Thesis. He also serves as the president for the NSSLHA chapter at Texas State University. 

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Sara MacIntyre, M.A., CCC-SLP and Ellen Kelly, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, BCS-F take on the most popular episode, "Communication Over Fluency" for a Part 2! In their discussion, they break down both terms into more depth and add practical, take-away clinical examples and nuggets throughout. The idea of taking 'fluency off the table' is complex when considering wanting to support clients in their unpacking and peeling away of what can get in their way of saying what they want to say and being the most effective communicators they can be. They further discuss our role in this process as therapists and interweave Solution Focused Brief Therapy questioning as a means of guiding individuals to discover and identify the path that will get them each closer to where they hope to be as individual communicators. 

Additional Resources: 

• Avoidance Reduction Therapy in a Group Setting with Vivian Sisskin
• Praise the Showing Up by Vivian Sisskin
• Covert Stuttering: Transitioning from Covert to Overt

For episode suggestions or comments, please feel free to email Sara: [email protected].

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Sharon Millard, Ph.D., MRCSLT, Reg.HCPC from the Michael Palin Centre joins Sara MacIntyre, M.A., CCC-SLP to discuss a topic she recently presented on at the Rome I.C.O.C. (International Conference on Stuttering) titled, "Does Therapy Satisfy Children Who Stutter?" Dr. Millard shared feedback and research from the child perspective on what their reported best hopes for change were, and a discussion surrounding how we meet those needs from children, allowing those to shape our therapy. In addition, Dr. Millard emphasizes the strong benefits of using Solution-Focused Brief Therapy as a means of, in an individualized manner, drawing out client's hopes, goals for change, and what 'satisfies' them in order to best meet their needs within therapy. Finally, Dr. Millard gives an overview of how to incorporate the child's perspective into the Palin Model (see below links for more information), and ends with a discussion exploring potential future areas of research.

To learn more about the Michael Palin Centre: Click Here
Resources for SLPs/ SLTs from MPC

Sharon Millard Ph.D., MRCSLT, Reg.HCPC:  Dr. Sharon Millard is the Research Lead and a Clinical Lead Speech and Language Therapist at the Michael Palin Centre, where she has worked since 1995.  Dr. Millard has published research into the efficacy and effectiveness of interventions developed at the Michael Palin Centre and is co-author of the Palin Parent Rating Scales (a free, online outcome measurement tool completed by parents).  Dr. Millard has had a number of editorial roles, presents regularly at international conferences and is involved in a number of scientific committees.  She is currently Chief Investigator for an NIHR funded feasibility trial to explore Palin Stammering Therapy for School Children (8-14) and Co-Chair for the Oxford Dysfluency Conference.  In addition to her role at MPC, Dr. Millard is a lecturer and clinical tutor at City, University of London. Dr. Millard is a certified European Fluency Specialist.

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Kicking off a new year with our first episode of Season 4 with a very special guest! Jane Fraser, FRCSLT, President of Stuttering Foundation , joins Sara MacIntyre, M.A., CCC-SLP to share the history of Stuttering Foundation in honor of the 75th Anniversary this year. Ms. Fraser shares early memories of her father, discusses his relationship with his stuttering, the beginnings and evolution of Stuttering Foundation, memories from the first workshops with the 'Stuttering Greats,' and finally, what she think her father would be most proud of.

For more information on the History of Stuttering Foundation, "How One Person Can Make a Difference."

For episode suggestions/ comments: [email protected].

Bio: Jane Fraser, Hon. FRCSLT, serves as the president of The Stuttering Foundation of America, a position she has held since 1981. The oldest and largest nonprofit organization for the prevention and treatment of stuttering, the Foundation has grown tremendously in size, scope and outreach under her leadership and direction. 

The daughter of Stuttering Foundation founder Malcolm Fraser, Ms. Fraser received a degree in Russian and Linguistics at Bryn Mawr College and continued graduate work in both subjects at the Universite de Strasbourg, France. As an avid student of language and speech, Ms. Fraser is fluent in French and lived in that country for 20 years. An experienced editor, translator, and interpreter, she previously worked for the Institut Gustave Roussy and for the Assemblee Nationale in Paris.

Among her many professional affiliations, Ms. Fraser lists: Member, NIDCD Advisory Council of the National Institutes (1996-2000); Vice President, Action for Stammering Children in London; President, The Malcolm Fraser Foundation; Member, Societe Francaise de Phoniatrie; and Member, International Association of Logopaedics and Phoniatrics. 

Other affiliations: Member, Advisory Council, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communicative Disorders (1996-2000); Member, Board of Trustees, Hamilton College, Clinton, New York (1991-1997); Board member, The Orianne Society; Co-Chairman, Regional Campaigns, Hamilton College; Co-Chairman, Parents Association, Pitzer College, Claremont, California; Board Member, National Association for Hearing and Speech Action (1984-1987); Member, Board of Trustees of The Alexander Hamilton Institute.

Personal honors and awards include a past Carnegie Foundation grant for Russian studies in Russia and the Distinguished Alumnae of the Century Award, Hutchison School Centennial, 2002; the Outstanding Contribution Award from the International Stuttering Association at their World Congress in Dubrovnik, Croatia, on May 9, 2007; was chosen Nonprofit Executive of the Year by the Nonprofit Times in 2008. On Sept. 17, 2014, she received an honorary fellowship from the Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists for her distinguished service in promoting the profession of speech and language therapy.

Personal honors and awards include: Distinguished Alumnae of the Century Award, Hutchison School Centennial, 2002; the Outstanding Contribution Award from the International Stuttering Association, 2007. She was chosen Nonprofit Executive of the Year by the Nonprofit Times in 2008. 

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Caryn Herring, M.S., CCC-SLP joins Sara MacIntyre, M.A., CCC-SLP to talk all things Covert Stuttering. They discuss and thoroughly define covert stuttering clinically, while weaving in elements of their personal stories as individuals who have covert stuttering backgrounds. Caryn and Sara then move on to breakdown what the 'components' for change may include when moving from concealment to openness. Caryn and Sara weave their personal stories within their discussion throughout. We hope you enjoy this episode!

Organizations mentioned:
FRIENDS: The National Association of Young People Who Stutter
National Stuttering Association
Stutter Social

For questions, comments, suggestions: [email protected]

Caryn Herring, M.S., CCC-SLP is a person who stutters, an SLP, and a doctoral candidate at Michigan State University. Her research interests include the process of desensitization, exposure therapy, and the impact of voluntary stuttering. She is involved in stuttering support organizations and serves as the Chairperson of Friends–The National Association of Young People Who Stutter.

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Dr. Hope Gerlach-Houck, Assistant Professor at Western Michigan University, joins Sara MacIntyre, M.A., CCC-SLP to share her recent research related to better understanding concealment and the overall impact on well-being for individuals who stutter. Dr. Gerlach-Houck explores the importance of understanding stigma and identity, intersectionality of identities in relation to concealment, clinical implications, and future areas of research in order to continue to learn more about concealment- ultimately to help people who stutter improve quality of life outcomes and well-being.

Relationships between stigma-identity constructs and psychological health outcomes among adults who stutter (Gerlach et al 2021)

Bio: Hope Gerlach-Houck is an assistant professor at Western Michigan University. Her research focuses on how context shapes the ways in which people cope with stuttering and how those different ways of coping affect their psychosocial wellbeing. She is particularly interested in exploring relationships between stigma, concealment of stuttering, and wellbeing. Hope had a unique opportunity to learn about stigma this past summer when she was accepted to attend an intensive training on stigma research methods through the NIH. She has been actively involved in support organizations for people who stutter and has worked as a speech therapist at summer camps for youth who stutter. She also oversees stuttering therapy groups for both kids and adults at Western Michigan University. 

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Ellen Kelly, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, BCS-F joins Sara MacIntyre, M.A., CCC-SLP for a 'Dear Stuttering Foundation Part 2' question and answer episode with a specialized school-based focus! Dr. Kelly and Sara talk through clinical questions submitted to Stuttering Foundation with a variety of school-based focuses such as: supporting clinical development of school-based SLPs, recommendations for teachers, supporting children through the transition back to in-person school, accommodations, and more!

To submit questions/ comments email Sara: [email protected]

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Voon Pang returns for an 'all-things stuttering' chat with Sara! They discuss Voon's path towards gaining greater clinical expertise in stuttering, the positive shifts in climate of the New Zealand/ Australia stuttering world that he is noticing, best hopes for change for clients, allyship and the stuttering pride movement, and more!

Links Referenced in Episode:

Chapter referenced, "The Therapeutic Journey- Guided by Road Map or SAT-NAV" by Frances Cook (2012)

Mary Weidner's Virtual Learning Webinar, "Building a Supportive Community for Children Who Stutter"

Click to Register for Voon's Virtual Learning Session in October 2021:
"Cultivating Stuttering Pride: Guiding Principles for Speech Language Therapists"

Voon Pang, BSc Speech Pathology, MNZSTA, CPSP, University of Auckland: Lives in Auckland, New Zealand with his partner and dog. He is a speech language therapist and clinical educator at the University of Auckland and owns a practice specializing in working with people who stutter and students with language and literacy related difficulties. His passion is to help people become the best communicator they can be as well as standing tall and being proud of their individuality. 

For any questions/ comments/ suggestions, please e-mail [email protected].

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Ellen Kelly, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, BCS-F joins Sara MacIntyre, M.A., CCC-SLP for a 'Dear Stuttering Foundation' Question and Answer episode! Dr. Kelly and Sara talk through clinical questions submitted to Stuttering Foundation ranging from parent concerns, clinician training inquiries, clinical case questions, 'frequently misunderstood topics,' and more! 

There will be more to come, please submit questions or clinical case concerns for future 'Dear Stuttering Foundation' episodes to Sara: [email protected]. 

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Rob Dellinger, M.S., CCC-SLP of the Wake County Public Schools in Raleigh, NC is back for Season 3 to continue our 'Stuttering in the Schools' segment. Rob begins by reflecting briefly on the challenges of this past school-year due to the pandemic, while also highlighting the 'silver linings' and areas of growth he's had as a clinician, and has witness among his colleagues within the schools. The conversation shifts to focus on looking ahead to what hopes to be a 'more normal' year as a school-based clinician and discusses what recommitment to best practices in school-age stuttering therapy means to him. Rob describes the core components to a comprehensive evaluation for children who stutter. The episode concludes with a reflection on hope and resiliency as key takeaways from the year.