Caryn Herring, Christopher Constantino, Mark Baer and Dhruv Gupta join Reuben Schuff at the 2016 annual convention of FRIENDS: The National Association of Young People Who Stutter. They discuss ways to change public perceptions about stuttering such as actively stuttering and grapple with issues such as moving from “stuttering is okay” to “stuttering is fun and pleasant.”
The quote of the episode goes to Mr. Constantino who observes, “I think this is a cool time to be a stutterer.”
Much of the conversation touches upon Mr. Constantino’s powerful keynote address at FRIENDS regarding tearing down walls of ignorance and discrimination. Other topics include urging others who stutter to listen to each other’s experiences with the physical pain and struggle of stuttering. While acknowledging the importance of educating others about stuttering, Caryn points out that she doesn’t want to be responsible for educating society every time she opens her mouth. The team discuss wanting to advocate for others who stutter while also wanting to live and speak with little struggle.
The FRIENDS conference took place July 28-30 in Columbus. Ohio.
Caryn Herring is a person who stutters and a speech-language pathologist, currently pursuing her PhD at The University of Pittsburgh. Caryn is also an adjunct clinical instructor at Duquesne University, supervising graduate students and teaching the Stuttering Course. She is an active member of numerous stuttering organizations.
Christopher Constantino is a person who stutters, a StutterTalk host and a PhD student in Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Memphis. Chris is doing his clinical fellowship in the Shelby County Schools in Memphis and is conducting a research study to understand and contextualize the experiences of passing as fluent for people who covertly stutter.
Reuben Schuff is an author and roving host for StutterTalk. By profession and passion he is an aerospace engineer, and also, a traveler, a juggler, a Toastmaster, and a person who stutters. He is a workshop presenter for the National Stuttering Association (NSA) annual conference and is the co-founder of the Raleigh Teens Who Stutter (TWST) chapter of the NSA. Reuben also facilitates and presents with FRIENDS (the National Organization for Young People who Stutter). Reuben is author of the chapter Fluency: My Untrustworthy Friend in the StutterTalk book: Stuttering: Inspiring Stories and Professional Wisdom.
Dhruv Gupta is a sustainability advisor at cBalance, a volunteer with The Indian Stammering Association, and the founder of Speak: Stammering Foundation. In 2015, Dhruv facilitated a two day FRIENDS workshop in India and has appeared a number of times on StutterTalk.
Mark Baer is a speech-language pathologist at Sisskin Stuttering Center and for the District of Columbia Public Schools. He earned his M.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Memphis. Mark is a person who stutters and an active member of the National Stuttering Association.
REUBEN SCHUFF (pictured right) is a StutterTalk host and co-leader of the Teens Who Stutter (TWST) chapter of the National Stuttering Association (NSA) in Raleigh, NC and a national conference presenter. He also facilitates for FRIENDS regional and national conventions. By day he is an Aerospace Engineer, and a Toastmaster by night, and a juggler when ever possible. Reuben brings support, encouragement and growth to PWS around the world. Reuben has been a guest on StutterTalk a number of times and began hosting episodes when he attended the 2014 National Conference of The Indian Stammering Association (TISA).
Dhruv Gupta, Jacquelyn Revere and Reuben Schuff from the 2014 National Conference of The Indian Stammering Association (TISA). Dhruv, Jacquelyn and Reuben discuss communicating joyfully, how people who stutter are connected across languages and cultures and the importance of saying “yes” to opportunities.
“Confidence to stand and speak effectively is not based on fluency.” Reuben Schuff
JACQUELYN REVERE is an actor in New York City and hopes to unite stutterers around the world through visual content. Visit Ms. Revere’s website and much discussed video blog at jacquelynrevere.com.
DHRUV GUPTA is a volunteer with TISA, a social entrepreneur, a tech enthusiast, and an Indian with a global outlook.
REUBEN SCHUFF is a StutterTalk host and co-leader of the Teens Who Stutter (TWST) chapter of the National Stuttering Association (NSA) in Raleigh, NC and a national conference presenter. He also facilitates for FRIENDS regional and national conventions. By day he is an Aerospace Engineer, and a Toastmaster by night, and a juggler when ever possible. Reuben brings support, encouragement and growth to PWS around the world.
On today’s episode, Dhruv, Jacquelyn and Reuben discuss the advertisement below which Mr. Gupta states is as influential as the King’s Speech in India.
Jai Prakash Sunda joins Peter Reitzes today to discuss his experience using stuttering modification and melting the fears away.
JAI PRAKASH SUNDA, known to his friends as JP, is 27 years old and the current coordinator of The Indian Stammering Association. JP is freelancer in internet technology.JP discusses how a stuttering modification approach, self help and a determination to change have helped him cope with stuttering. JP discusses using bouncing to stutter on purpose and to work through stuttering moments. Mr. Sunda also discusses how he started a support group chapter for people who stutter in Pune, India.
Gaurav Dubey,Jugal Hemnani andDhruv Guptajoin Joe Klein in India to discuss stammering, the power of self help, growing up stuttering, treatment experiences, college, speaking with the opposite sex, the Indian Stammering Association (TISA) and much more. Guests discuss frustrations with being told “they don’t stutter much” and being dismissed from speech therapy for being “fluent” when in fact they were just experiencing the normal variability of stuttering during treatment. Hating one’s stuttering is discussed as leading to hating oneself. The importance of acceptance permeates this entire episode. This late night discussion took place a few days after the conclusion of the FRIENDS stuttering conference in Mumbai, India.
Gaurav Dubey from Mumbai is a software engineer and have been associated with TISA for the last 2 years
Jugal Hemnani from Mumbai works for an Indian television channel as a TV producer and has been associated with TISA for the last 2 years.
Dhruv Gupta is a volunteer with TISA, a social entrepreneur, a tech enthusiast, and an Indian with a global outlook.
Joe Klein, Ph.D, CCC-SLP is a person who stutters and an assistant professor in Appalachian State University’s Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. Dr. Klein is the author of numerous papers and articles including his chapter Stuttering: The Great Paradox in the book Stuttering: Inspiring Stories and Professional Wisdom, published by StutterTalk.
Jane Fraser, Elaine Kelman, Craig Coleman, and Bob Quesal join Peter Reitzes to discuss a recent proposal by Speech Pathology Australia (SPA) which has many professionals and people who stutter concerned. In an ASHA blog post, Craig Coleman explains this serious issue:
“Recently, Speech Pathology Australia (the national speech-language pathology association of Australia) submitted a proposal to the Australian Government Department of Treasury that would require Medicare rebates be made available for children who stutter, but only if they are treated using the Lidcombe Program.”
Much is said on today’s episode. Jane Fraser begins by sharing her experience at the Stuttering Foundation hearing from families who do not always find success using Lidcombe Treatment. Jane stresses that a major concern about the SPA proposal is that “one size does not fit all” in stuttering treatment. Ms. Fraser is asked about the Stuttering Foundation’s statement on this issue and a recent Stuttering Foundation blog post. Next, Elaine Kelman is asked about the International Fluency Association’s press release which explains why they feel the Australian Proposal is not fully consistent with evidence based practice. Craig Coleman and Bob Quesal then join the conversation and discuss how there are better ways to advocate for people who stutter then by choosing only one treatment approach to reimburse. Mr. Coleman and Dr. Quesal share their concerns about the possible negative ramifications of the SPA proposal and much, much more.
StutterTalk invited Gail Mulcair, Executive Director of Speech Pathology Australia or another SPA representative on air to discuss these issues. SPA did not accept the invitation to participate.
Craig Coleman, MA, CCC-SLP, BCS-F is an assistant professor at Marshall University and a Board-Certified Specialist in fluency Disorders. Mr. Coleman is currently serving as coordinator of ASHA SIG 4 (Fluency) and as a member of the ASHA ad-hoc committee to revise the scope of practice in speech-language pathology. Craig is an adjunct instructor at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and Co-Director of the Stuttering U. summer program for children who stutter, their families, and SLPs.
Robert Quesal, Ph.D., CCC-SLP is a person who stutters, a professor emeritus of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Western Illinois University, a fellow of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) and a retired board certified specialist in fluency disorders.
Related Links:
Speech Pathology Australia’s proposal/budget submission to the Australian Government for 2015-2016 – link
The Stuttering Foundation’s Response/Statement titled Another Blunder from Down Under – link
Craig Coleman’s post/petition – A Dangerous Precedent from Australia: What It Means and What Happens Next – link
Speech Pathology Australia’s Response/Statement – link
Craig Coleman’s ASHA blog post, A Controversial Proposal on Stuttering Treatment from Speech Pathology of Australia: What It Means and What Happens Next – link
ASHA blog post by Ann Packman, Mark Onslow and Deborah Theodoros – link
International Fluency Association Press Release – link
StutterTalk® is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to talking openly about stuttering. StutterTalk is the first and longest running podcast on stuttering. Since 2007 we have published more than 700 podcasts which are heard in 180 countries.
1 Aug 2016
This is a Cool Time to be a Stutterer (Ep. 593)
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Caryn Herring, Christopher Constantino, Mark Baer and Dhruv Gupta join Reuben Schuff at the 2016 annual convention of FRIENDS: The National Association of Young People Who Stutter. They discuss ways to change public perceptions about stuttering such as actively stuttering and grapple with issues such as moving from “stuttering is okay” to “stuttering is fun and pleasant.”
The quote of the episode goes to Mr. Constantino who observes, “I think this is a cool time to be a stutterer.”
Much of the conversation touches upon Mr. Constantino’s powerful keynote address at FRIENDS regarding tearing down walls of ignorance and discrimination. Other topics include urging others who stutter to listen to each other’s experiences with the physical pain and struggle of stuttering. While acknowledging the importance of educating others about stuttering, Caryn points out that she doesn’t want to be responsible for educating society every time she opens her mouth. The team discuss wanting to advocate for others who stutter while also wanting to live and speak with little struggle.
The FRIENDS conference took place July 28-30 in Columbus. Ohio.
Caryn Herring is a person who stutters and a speech-language pathologist, currently pursuing her PhD at The University of Pittsburgh. Caryn is also an adjunct clinical instructor at Duquesne University, supervising graduate students and teaching the Stuttering Course. She is an active member of numerous stuttering organizations.
Christopher Constantino is a person who stutters, a StutterTalk host and a PhD student in Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Memphis. Chris is doing his clinical fellowship in the Shelby County Schools in Memphis and is conducting a research study to understand and contextualize the experiences of passing as fluent for people who covertly stutter.
Reuben Schuff is an author and roving host for StutterTalk. By profession and passion he is an aerospace engineer, and also, a traveler, a juggler, a Toastmaster, and a person who stutters. He is a workshop presenter for the National Stuttering Association (NSA) annual conference and is the co-founder of the Raleigh Teens Who Stutter (TWST) chapter of the NSA. Reuben also facilitates and presents with FRIENDS (the National Organization for Young People who Stutter). Reuben is author of the chapter Fluency: My Untrustworthy Friend in the StutterTalk book: Stuttering: Inspiring Stories and Professional Wisdom.
Dhruv Gupta is a sustainability advisor at cBalance, a volunteer with The Indian Stammering Association, and the founder of Speak: Stammering Foundation. In 2015, Dhruv facilitated a two day FRIENDS workshop in India and has appeared a number of times on StutterTalk.
Mark Baer is a speech-language pathologist at Sisskin Stuttering Center and for the District of Columbia Public Schools. He earned his M.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Memphis. Mark is a person who stutters and an active member of the National Stuttering Association.