The National Stuttering Association’s Annual Conference is a life-changing event where people who stutter, their families, and the professionals who help them gather to learn from one another with the focus on self-help and support. Imagine a place where the “experts” include researchers and clinicians who specialize in stuttering, children and adults who stutter, and those who support them!

This year, special attention has been given to providing speech-language pathologists a wide variety of session formats and experiences in which they can earn ASHA-approved CEUs both during the conference and at pre-conference activities. We suggest that SLPs arrive on Tuesday for the Pre-Conference Reception, attend Master Classes on Wednesday and Thursday, and then stay for the rest of the conference, with more CEU and social/networking opportunities through Saturday.
 

Agenda

Will be posted in April
 

Registration Material

Master Class Series

Four 3-hour Master Classes, offered by expert clinicians and researchers in stuttering, will provide speech-language pathologists with an in-depth understanding of important topics/areas related to intervention for stuttering. There will be ample opportunity to discuss controversies, explore cases, gather therapy ideas, and interact with known experts in the field of stuttering treatment. Non-professionals with a background in the basics of stuttering treatment are also welcome to register. Each Master Class offers .3 ASHA CEU’s (in addition to our regular conference offerings).

A separate registration fee is required for Master Classes (separate from the registration for the Annual Conference). Registration by March 31, 2012 is $35 for each individual Master Class, or register for all four at the discounted rate $100. Prices go up after April 1st so register early!

 

Master Class #1 - Wednesday, July 4th, 9:00AM – 12:00PM
Nancy Ribbler, When a Student Stutters: Meeting Challenges in the School Setting
School-based SLPs frequently encounter challenges when working with students who stutter. This Master Class is focused on addressing eligibility, scheduling and documentation challenges with school-age children who stutter.

Nancy Ribbler, M.A, CCC-SLP, BRS-FD is a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist and Board Recognized Specialist in Stuttering and Fluency Disorders. She has worked in speech pathology and fluency disorders for over twenty-five years. She is a full-time school-based SLP in Broward County School District in South Florida. She consults as a fluency specialist in Broward County and developed the On-Line Fluency Assessment Course in Broward County School District. Nancy served on the ASHA Steering Committee for Fluency Disorders and was the Liaison for the Schools Task Force on Fluency. She has published articles on stuttering and has presented on stuttering disorders at the national, state and local levels. She currently serves on the Specialty Board in Fluency Disorders and reviews credentials and portfolios of individuals applying for Board Recognition on Fluency Disorders.


Nancy Ribbler M.A., CCC-SLP, BRS-FD
Broward County Schools
Board Member, Specialty Board on Fluency Disorders

Master Class #2 - Wednesday, July 4th, 1:00PM – 4:00PM
Dr. Heather Grossman, Stuttering Desensitization: Rationale and Practical Applications
This workshop will explore the concept of desensitization to stuttering. A brief review of the literature will provide a framework for understanding the importance of this construct as it applies to stuttering treatment. Practical, evidence-based strategies will be presented that are useful to help children, teens and adults who stutter work toward desensitization including self-disclosure, and voluntary stuttering. This workshop will be highly interactive and participants will be encouraged to share personal experiences and challenges in stuttering intervention. The group will then problem-solve and practice strategies that may be employed to meet these challenges..

Dr. Heather Grossman was among the initial group to receive Board Recognition as a Specialist and Mentor in the treatment of fluency disorders. She has worked with children and adults who stutter and their families for over twenty years and is an active member of the stuttering self-help community. Her research includes exploration of parameters of stuttering modifications including voluntary stuttering. She has presented original research at both national and international conferences including those of ASHA and the IFA (International Fluency Association). She is currently the Clinic Director at the American Institute for Stuttering in New York City, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to stuttering treatment and clinical training.   

Heather Grossman PhD, CCC-SLP, BRS-FD
Clinic Director at the American Institute for Stuttering

Master Class #3- Thursday, July 5th, 9:00AM – 12:00PM
Dr. David Luterman, Sharpening Your Counseling Skills
A listening/valuing model of counseling will be presented and demonstrated via a lecture and video presentation. Counselor responses will be destined and demonstrated to client feelings. Some experiential learning will be provided.

Dr. Luterman has dedicated his career to developing a greater understanding of the psychological effects and emotions associated with communication disorders so as to encourage professionals in the field to incorporate counseling strategies in their clinical interactions. He has successfully translated this understanding into a model of counseling which allows for content and affect exchange and has extended his model to include families. He has lectured and written extensively on counseling and communication disorders throughout the United States, Canada and abroad. He is a fellow of the American Speech and Hearing Association.

 


David Luterman D.Ed.
Professor Emeritus Emerson College in Boston
Director of the Thayer Lindsey Family Centered Nursery for Hearing Impaired Children

Master Class #4 - Thursday, July 5th, 1:00PM – 4:00PM
Dr. Lisa Scott, Application of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Techniques to Stuttering Intervention
Cognitive-behavioral therapy focuses on changing thoughts as a means to changing behavior. This workshop will first outline the cognitive model of the interaction between thoughts, feelings, and behavior. Then, methods for identifying helpful vs. unhelpful thoughts and their roles in behavior change will be explored. Finally, concrete strategies for changing unhelpful thoughts will be presented. Case studies will be used to highlight various components of the CBT process.

Dr. Scott directs the L. L. Schendel Speech and Hearing Clinic, teaches courses in stuttering and counseling, and maintains an active clinical practice. She is the Vice President for Education for the Stuttering Foundation of America and is a former Coordinator for the American Speech-Language Hearing Association’s Special Interest Division 10, Issues in Higher Education. Dr. Scott has made numerous presentations at district, state, and national meetings, and co-authored several publications in the area of fluency disorders.

Lisa A. Scott, PhD CCC-SLP
Director of Clinical Education in the School of Communication Science and Disorders at Florida State University

 

Annual Conference Workshops and General Sessions

Workshops are designated in the conference program as recommended for SLPs, teens, young adults, parents, etc. Those sessions that have been approved for ASHA CEUs will be marked. Workshops are scheduled throughout the day on Thursday, Friday and Saturday with an opportunity to earn up to an additional 1.0 CEU's in addition to Master Classes. Topics cover the latest research in stuttering, evidence-based treatment approaches, and self-help strategies from those who stutter. Highlights include panel discussions with covert stutterers, teens who stutter, roundtable discussions with spouses and parents of those who stutter, and strategies for approaching everything from job interviews to dating. General sessions feature inspiring keynote speakers and invited guests. These are times when we all gather in the spirit of support and celebration.

There will be a variety of opportunities for SLPs to attend workshops designed with their needs in mind. Roundtable discussions with teens and adults who stutter as well as the parents of children who stutter will allow the SLP to hear the personal stories of individuals who stutter and their families in a setting that encourages SLPs to ask questions. Many workshops led by leading SLPs will be offered throughout the conference. There will be a number of not to be missed adult workshops offered including an informative Research Update, Covert Stuttering and other, educational, and enlightening seminars. (Offerings to be posted in April)

Poster Sessions

Poster sessions will feature topics on stuttering research, treatment, self-help, awareness and education. Posters approved for ASHA CEUs will be indicated within the conference program. Posters will be visible during one day of the conference with a designated time for authors to be present. Consider submitting a poster session proposal of your own!

Networking and Fun!

Reception for Master Class participants Tuesday evening July 3rd: {Details to come}

Saturday Night Banquet: To wrap up this four day event, our big finale is the Live Auction and Banquet held on Saturday night. Enjoy a top-notch catered dinner with friends, old and new, bid on quality items donated by our members (or by yourself), and dance the night away afterwards!

Excursions: Click here  to check out all the details.

Make your hotel and flight arrangements now! We have a large block of rooms reserved at the hotel with a special price negotiated for our attendees. Click here to register and reserve your rooms early to take advantage of the special price.

Please feel free to contact us at Info@WeStutter.org with any questions you may have. We look forward to seeing you at the conference!!