1. www.stutteringhelp.org • 800-992-9392 • www.tartamudez.org
T HE S TUTTERING F OUNDATION
The Podcast
Clinical Trial
A Nonprofit Organization WINTER 2009 Since 1947... Helping Those Who Stutter
on Cognitive
Three Guys Who Stutter...
Behavior Therapy
By Susan Block
StutterTalk is a weekly podcast
Social anxiety (i.e. anxiety aris- where three guys who stutter talk
ing in social encounters) cannot be openly about stuttering.
overlooked in the management of Co-hosts Peter Reitzes, Greg
chronic stuttering. The evidence for Snyder and Eric Jackson get to-
a relationship between anxiety and gether and talk about
stuttering is con- stuttering and life.
siderable. Adults Peter explains, “We
who stutter have have fun, laugh, argue
reported high lev- and agree, talk about
els of trait, state, the stuttering world, Nan Ratner and
and social anxiety music, movies, and Lee Caggiano
on standard mea- our wives and girlfriends. We try Joe Donaher share their
surement instru-
talk s to the
and make sense of the whole stut- “3 Guy s” from
thoughts.
ments (Hancock tering thing by talking about it.” StutterTalk .
& Craig, 1998; Susan Block, Ph.D. Recently, StutterTalk’s “3 guys”
Kraaimaat, attended the Stuttering Foundation Eric Jack son
Janssen, & Vandambaggen, 1991). Workshop Reunion reception and holds the
Those who stutter appear to experi- interviewed several Foundation microphone.
ence higher than normal levels of workshoppers for their podcast,
anxiety, independent of speech. A asking their opinion of the training
recent, large-scale population study they received at SFA workshops
of Australians (Craig, Hancock, through the years.
Tran, & Craig, 2003) found trait “The workshops include really
anxiety levels to be higher in stut- intense practice and knowledge-
tering participants than in controls. able discussions. You walk away see Dr. Hugo Gregory “in action”
This paper presents the results of feeling comfortable with treating during the workshop she attended.
a study in Australia in which the people who stutter,” comments Dr. Joe Donaher, who now leads the
authors examined social anxiety Nan Bernstein Ratner. She noted Philadelphia workshop, added, “It
and stuttering. The study examined how stimulating it was for her to
the rate of social phobia among 32
Continued on page 4
adults who stutter, the effects of
James Waitus Garrison Remembered
speech restructuring treatment on
social anxiety, and then the effects
on anxiety and stuttering of a cog- 1917-2008
nitive-behavior therapy (CBT) Longtime Stuttering Foundation its inception in 1947.
package for social anxiety. Board member, James Waitus “He was razor sharp and always
Garrison, passed away at home in asked the tough questions,” noted
Continued on page 6 Memphis on Sept. 29, Foundation President
2008, the morning of his Jane Fraser.
91st birthday. “He kept me on my
Inside... Jimmie was SFA toes and made sure we
10 Downing Street . . . . . . . . 3 Founder Malcolm were on track at all
Brochure for Teens .. . . . . . . 4 Fraser’s most trusted times, fulfilling my fa-
Windy City Hosts ASHA . . . 5 friend and colleague and Garrison celebrate their ther’s hopes of making
Jimmie and Louise
Golfing for a Cause . . . . . . . 7 had been on the 70th wedding anniv er- a real difference for
Awareness Worldwide . . . . 10 Foundation Board since sary in September 2008. those who stutter.” K

2. 2 800-992-9392
THE
www.stutteringhelp.org
STUTTERING
Distinguished ʻFind Yourself a Dreamʼ Wins Emmy
FOUNDATION
Professor Emeritus “Find Yourself A Dream - The school, getting an education, per-
Bill Perkins Bob Love Story,” a documentary severing over adversity, and
Remembered
about Bob Love and his struggle achieving one’s dreams.
to overcome his More recently,
William H. Perkins, a nation- stuttering, has won SFA Board mem-
ally recognized authority on an Emmy in the ber, Jean Gruss rec-
stuttering, died Oct. 6, 2008. c a t e g o r y , ommended Love as
He was 85. Outstanding keynote speaker for
Perkins received the American Achievement for a the 2008 Southwest
Speech-Language-Hearing Documentary Florida Blue Chip
Association’s high- Program. The an- Community
est honor in 1973. nouncement was Business Award
Perkins was profes- made on Saturday, luncheon in Fort
sor emeritus of October 18, 2008, Myers, Florida. It
speech pathology by the Chicago/ was a most fitting
and otolaryngology Midwest Chapter setting for him as
at the University of of the National this award recog-
William H. Southern Califor- Academy of nizes small busi-
Perk ins nia’s Keck School Television Arts & ness leaders who
of Medicine, and speech com- Sciences at their New 2009 SFA poster with have overcome ad-
munication at the Annenberg 50th Annual Chicago Bulls’ legend Bob Love. versity to achieve
School for Communication. He Chicago Midwest success and shares
was awarded Distinguished Emmy Awards ceremony. their stories as models for other
Emeritus status at USC in 1991. Love is not only a spokesman entrepreneurs just as Love him-
“Bill was a delightful and for the Stuttering Foundation but self has.
stimulating person, always also is featured on the Love autographed his book
ready to challenge traditional Foundation’s Famous People and Stuttering Foundation posters
ways of seeing a problem,” said Who Stutter poster and brochure. for hundreds of banquet guests. K
Jane Fraser, who worked with As Director of Community
Perkins editing several SFA Affairs for the Chicago Bulls, The SFA’s
books. “He possessed a quick Bob Love makes over three hun- Famous
wit and a great sense of humor.” dred appearances each year, and People Who
As director of The speaks to over 250,000 young Stutter poster
Stuttering Center at USC, he people and their parents about and brochure.
oversaw a speech clinic that the importance of staying in
specialized in the treatment of
stuttering. At the end of his ca-
reer, Perkins became an outspo- entific approach that accounted 1983 as a lieutenant commander.
ken critic of his field, calling for the subjective experience of After retiring in 1988, Perkins
into question the conventional the stutterer. devoted his career to solving what
understanding of stammering “If science requires objectify- he called “the unsolvable problem
and how it should be treated. ing stutterers to the extent of di- of stammering.” It was his contro-
“I realized that the road we vesting them of their subjective versial book, Tongue Wars:
were on was not leading to an experience because it cannot be Recovery from Stammering, which
measured traditionally by what is challenged the profession to re-
understanding of the fundamen- consider long-held orthodoxy.
readily observed,” he said, “then
tal nature of stammering; it was science is the loser.” He is survived by his wife, Jill
a circular track that was being After receiving his B.S. in and sons, Scott, Kyle,
repaved regularly,” he wrote. “I 1943 from Missouri State Christopher, and his daughter-in-
left the paving crew to blaze my College, Perkins enlisted in the law, Denise. The family requests
own trail in a different direction Navy and served in World War II that donations be made to the
by following markers of those as a gunnery officer stationed in Alzheimer’s Association in Dr.
who stammer.” the South Pacific. He retired Perkins’ name to further scientif-
He went on to advocate a sci- from the U.S. Naval Reserve in ic research. K

3. 800-992-9392 3
THE
STUTTERING
2009 FOUNDATION
10 Downing Street
WINTER
Stuttering Foundation representa-
tives Joe Fulcher and Jane Fraser
joined actor Michael Palin and the
staff of the Michael Palin Centre for
Stammering Children at the
September 11 reception at 10
Downing Street hosted by Mrs. Sarah
Brown, wife of the Prime Minister
A portrait of Queen Elizabeth I graces
the room abov e the crowd.
Gordon Brown, in honor of the work
done on behalf of children who stutter. Lord Max Egremont, Cabinet Minister Ed
“It was a most remarkable experi- Balls, Sarah Brown and Michael Palin.
ence at such an historic site,” com-
mented Jane Fraser.
Speakers at the reception included
Michael Palin, The Right Honorable
Edward Balls, and noted author,
Lord Max Egremont. The Right Honorable Edward Balls,
Cabinet Minister Ed Balls spoke Sarah Brown and Michael Palin.
eloquently of his difficulties as a
stuttering child. In the past year, he
has been a driving force in obtaining Jane Fraser,
additional funding for children who Joe Fulcher,
stammer. This funding will help ex- Trav ers Reid
pand the work the Centre does in and Mrs. Reid.
training therapists throughout the
United Kingdom.
The Stuttering Foundation, in
turn, is striving to promote these ef-
fective treatment ideas worldwide.
Back row: David Botterill, Oliver
Rawlins (a Trustee of the Michael
Lord Max Egremont also recalled Palin Centre), Kit Sparkes andWillie
his school days as a child who stam- Botterill. Front row: Sharon Millard,
mered and the difficulties that they en- Sarah Broadhead, Jane Fry, Frances
tailed. Both joined in praise for the out- Cook, Diana de Grunwald, Elaine
standing work on behalf of children Kelman, Ali Berquez and Liz Jorden.
and young people being carried out by
the staff of the Michael Palin Centre. Michael Palin and Sarah Brown.
In a recent letter to Jane Fraser,
Balls emphasized, “Helping children
and young people who stutter is vital.
Meeting and talking to so many peo-
ple who work with the Centre, or are
patients, really demonstrated just
how important its work is.” K
Frances Cook , Michael Palin, Jane
Fraser and Joe Boulding.
Joe Fulcher and Jane Fraser at
10 Downing Street.
Lord Max Egremont and Jane Fraser. Michael Palin, The Right Honorable
Edward Balls and 15-year-old Catherine.

4. 4 800-992-9392
THE
www.stutteringhelp.org
STUTTERING
Hot Off the Press
FOUNDATION
The Stuttering Foundation
just published a new brochure Co-host Bios:
StutterTalk
for teens.
Stuttering: Myths, Greg Snyder is an adult stut-
Beliefs and Straight terer and is currently an assis-
Talk is written by tant professor at
Peter Reitzes, M.A., the Department of
CCC-SLP, and Greg Communicative
Disorders at the
Snyder, Ph.D.
University of
In addition to Mississippi.
addressing issues He earned a Ph.D.
facing teens and Caroly n Gregory is interv iewed by from the Department of
debunking myths, Eric Jack son.
Communication Sciences and
the brochure lists numerous re- Disorders at East Carolina
sources, many of them new and Podcast Continued from front page University. After graduation,
available free on the Web. has been 10 years since I attended Greg was assistant professor in
The brochure can be down- the Northwestern workshop with the Department of Hearing,
loaded at www.stutteringhelp.org, Hugo, June Campbell and Diane Speech, and Language Sciences
click on “brochures” or call 800- Hill. It was incredibly valuable not at Gallaudet University. Greg
992-9392 for information on our only in terms of treatment but also in and his family currently reside in
printed version. terms of networking with other clin- Oxford, MS.
icians.”
K
Peter Reitzes is an adult stutterer
Joe Klein, who attended this
and an ASHA certified, speech-
year’s Philly workshop, joked that language pathologist
since then he now knows every-
Gets National Press thing there is to know. On a more
working in an ele-
Trouble at Recess
mentary school and
serious note, he added how much in private practice in
The October issue of the na- he valued his five workshop days.
tional publication, American Brooklyn, New
Lee Caggiano said, “It was York. He is the au-
Teacher, generously spread the tremendous to be able to be at a
word that Trouble at Recess is thor of 50 Great
workshop with Dr. David Luterman Activities for
available free of charge to school and interact with him and with Children Who Stutter: Lessons,
libraries across the country. other clinicians! The workshops are Insights, and Ideas for Therapy
Through this affordable, and Success (PRO-ED), is co-editor
exposure, the you get to see the Contact of the Journal of Stuttering
Miami-Dade world’s best thera- Information: Therapy, Advocacy and Research
County school Web s i tes :
pists doing therapy http://stutter (www.JournalOfStuttering.com),
system quick- live.” In addition talk .com and and is adjunct professor at St.
ly got the to her work as a http://stutter John’s University and Touro
word to the therapist, Lee also 101.com l : University.
media spe- Vo i cemai
heads up Friends: 206-888-4619
cialists in The Association of Emai l : Eric Jackson is an adult stutter-
their elemen- Young People Who stuttertalk@ er and a graduate student in the
tary schools Stutter.
stuttertalk Speech-Language
and in one week the Stuttering Other podcasts
.com
Pathology program
Foundation received 55 re- feature special at Brooklyn College
quests for the book! To date, guests, such as workbook author in New York. As a
hundreds have been sent to li- Kristin Chmela, SFA Board mem- Graduate Fellow in
brarians in 15 states throughout ber Dennis Drayna, Counseling the program, he
the country. teaches an under-
DVD “star” David Luterman, and graduate course in
many others. public speaking. Eric is also a
K
musician in two Brooklyn-based
Listen to the podcasts online bands.
at http://stuttertalk.com. K

5. 800-992-9392 5
THE
STUTTERING
FOUNDATION
Windy City Hosts
WINTER 2009
Setting up...
ASHA 2008
Charlie Osborne
sits on 800
pounds of SFA
materials - all
needing to be
unpack ed.
Carol Eck e, Frances
Cook , Willie Botterill,
and Charlie Osborne -
The Setup Team.
The temperature in Chicago was
chilly, but the Stuttering
Foundation booth was
bustling with warmth and
activity at the American
Speech-Language–Hearing
Association Convention in Carol Eck e tak es a picture
mid-November. The newest of the crowds waiting for
items were hot: Trouble at
the ex hibitors to open.
Recess flew off the shelf and Traffic Was Hot!
sold out on the first day!
Many were disappointed
to discover the 8 Tips for
Teachers and 7 Tips for
Talking with Your Child fly- Jones get the Stuttering Foundation
Renee Shepherd, Carol Eck e and Terri
ers had already disappeared booth ready for the big rush.
by the second day of the
convention. Other items proving to be
popular were the old and the new: The
DVD Working with Preschoolers Who
Stutter: Successful Intervention
Strategies and Sharpening Counseling Carol Eck e and Terri
Skills with David Luterman, D.Ed.
Jones discuss a book
Susan Cochrane, with an attendee.
A record number of volunteers helped Vianne Bjornberg
staff the thirty-foot booth – 33! A special and Caroly n Gregory .
thanks to Steffi Schopick, Katerina Ntourou,
Willie Botterill, Frances Cook, Patrice
Carothers, Robin Jones, Sheryl Gottwald,
Joseph Donaher, Rita Thurman, Vivian
Sisskin, Judy and Tom Kuster, Jennifer
Watson, Charlie Healey, Julie Gasway,
Anthony Buhr, Ryan Pollard, James Panico,
Glenn Weybright, Peter Reitzes, Charlie
Osborne, Susan Cochrane, Bill Murphy,
Lynne Shields, Kristin and Tom Chmela,
Kim Krieger, Susan Short, Kathleen Scaler-
Scott, Tom and Maria Gurrister, Dahye Choi Peter Reitzes
and Kristel Kubart. helps SLPs
Watch the video from the ASHA confer- select the per-
fect resources.
ence at www.stutteringhelp.org. K

6. 6 800-992-9392
SFA Spokesman
www.stutteringhelp.org
Remembering Courtney Stromsta
THE
STUTTERING
FOUNDATION
Stuttering: Its Nature Several years after his death, in the News
In the Nov. 3, 2008, issue of
and Management by his daughter Sveri asked her
mother (Rose Stromsta) if there Newsweek, the magazine writes,
Courtney Stromsta, was perhaps a briefcase that “Alan Rabinowitz, a long-time di-
Ph.D., is now available at Sveri could have. They located rector at the Wildlife Conservation
one that had belonged to Society (WCS) in New York, is
www.stutteringhelp.org. Courtney. Just as they were taking a new ap-
Click on “eBooks.” reaching for it, Sveri said to proach to big cat
Rose “what if there is a book conservation. Not
Courtney Stromsta (1922-1995) manuscript in there?” and indeed only is he working
was a profes- there was. to bring back the
sor of Speech This man- world’s vanishing
and Hearing uscript was tiger populations,
Science at originally he is establishing
We s t e r n edited by passageways for
Michigan Gordon those populations to mix and pre-
University in De Young serve genetic diversity.
Kalamazoo, of Key “Two years ago, Rabinowitz part-
Michigan Publishing nered with philanthropist Tom
from 1968 to Services in Kaplan to form Panthera, a nonprof-
1987. Along 1994. It has it firm devoted to cat conservation.
with Dr. not been re- Their first objective is constructing
Charles Van edited for ‘genetic corridors,’ which will tra-
Riper, he more con- verse wilderness and cultivated land
conducted temporary alike to connect existing habitats
research into vocabulary. and allow individual cats to seek
the problem The term new territory for prey and new pop-
of stuttering, “stutterer” ulations for breeding. Think of these
looking for while not as a kind of underground railroad for
ways to improve therapy. used as frequently now, was the tigers: the conductors are the cats
In 1986, he published norm then, and has been retained themselves, and the endangered
Elements of Stuttering which is for this edition. cargo they bear is their genes.”
now available from the For the complete article, visit our
Stuttering Foundation. ~ Carroll Guitar K
Web site, www.stutteringhelp.org. K
Clinical Trial Continued from front page participants who had received on research by Ross G. Menzies,
CBT showed no social phobia Sue O’Brian, Mark Onslow and
Thirty-two adults with chronic and greater improvements than Ann Packman of the Australian
stuttering were randomly allocated control participants on a range of Stuttering Research Centre, The
to receive either speech restructur- psychological measures of anxi- University of Sydney, Australia;
ing (Prolonged Speech) following ety and avoidance. However, the Tamsen St Clare of The University
a CBT package for social anxiety CBT package made no difference of Sydney and Westmead Hospital,
or speech restructuring alone. Data to the speech outcomes of those Sydney, Australia; and Susan
were obtained on a variety of with social phobia. Block of La Trobe University,
speech and psychological mea- Consequently, it was concluded Melbourne, Australia.
sures at pre-treatment, post-CBT, that the CBT treatment was asso-
post–speech restructuring, and 12
Craig, A., Hancock, K., Tran, Y., & Craig,
ciated with significant and sus- M. (2003). Anxiety levels in people who stut-
months follow-up. tained improvements in psycho- ter: A randomized population study. Journal
Sixty percent of the cohort
of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research,
logical functioning but did not im- 46, 1197–1206.
were diagnosed with social pho- prove fluency. Hancock, K., & Craig, A. (1998). Predictors
bia. Speech restructuring treat-
of stuttering relapse one year following treat-
This article is from the Journal ment for children aged 9 to 14 years. Journal of
ment alone had no impact on the of Speech, Language, and Fluency Disorders, 23, 31–48.
social phobia of the cohort at 12 Hearing Research Vol. 51 1451- Kraaimaat, F. W., Janssen, P., &
Vandambaggen, R. (1991). Social anxiety and stut-
months follow-up. At follow-up, 1464 December 2008. It is based tering. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 72, 766. K

7. 800-992-9392 7
THE
WINTER 2009 STUTTERING
FOUNDATION
International Stuttering
Awareness Day Breaks Record!
Media coverage of International “I have a 10-year old who stut-
Stuttering Awareness Day, October ters — also father, grandmother,
22, surpassed all expectations. SFA and great-grandmother — any
embarked on a Letter to the Editor new hope in last 50 years?”
campaign sending letters to hun- Kentucky
dreds of media outlets and in turn “I am a 37- year old and have
many newspapers printed the letter! been dealing with this problem all
Here are of my life. I
a few ex- have had Jane Fraser holding a copy of the
Stuttering Foundation newsletter
cerpts from no luck with John Tarv er on Oct. 8 at the
e-mails re- with my Wedgewood Golf Club.
ceived from stuttering. I
Shelby Railroad
readers: need your
“My son help.”
is 14 years Florida Keeps on Track
for Stuttering
old. He “I have
stutters, an inter-
and I want mittent
to know stutter. It Kirk and John Tarver and
how I can comes and their Memphis-based Shelby
help him. Is g o e s . Railroad Services Inc. raised
it too late? However, I a record $6,000 to help those
New York work in an who stutter. Jane Fraser was
“I am the office envi- in attendance to receive this
parent of a ronment, outstanding gift along with
3-year old and it is Pat Hamm, the Office
boy. He just becoming Manager of the Stuttering
started hav- frequently Foundation.
ing trouble a source of The annual Tin-Cup
with the be- embar- Tournament took place on Oct.
ginning of rassment.” 8 at Wedgewood Golf Club in
sentences. Texas Olive Branch, Miss.
He has trou- “I have a This is the seventh year the
ble starting friend who company teamed up with the
the word has stut- Stuttering Foundation to honor
and seems tered hor- Ruth McGuiness Tarver, the
to stay stuck ribly his late mother of company presi-
on the initial whole life, dent and founder John Tarver.
sound and and I Ruth stuttered from the time
drag it out. would like she was a young child.
Any infor- to get some “She was a great lady,”
mation info to see Shelby Railroad Vice
would be if we can President Kirk Tarver said of
greatly appreciated.” help him.” his grandmother. “It didn’t
Rhode Island Idaho matter to us, but it embar-
“Sir, I need self-therapy, “I am both a parent and a rassed her. Back in the ‘30s,
there are thousands like me teacher. I teach high school, but there wasn’t any help.”
here ashamed of this disorder. I my 3 year old daughter has “We are so grateful for the
want to help myself and show been stuttering for the last five dedicated friendship and sup-
right way to others so that they months and lately has been get- port the Tarvers and Shelby
can live a dignified life.” ting worse.” Railroad have shown us,”
India Montana K Fraser said during the event. K

8. Dear SFA: Reader Response
8 800-992-9392
THE
STUTTERING
www.stutteringhelp.org
FOUNDATION
Send letters to SFA, P.O. Box 11749, Memphis, TN 38111-0749 or e-mail info@stutteringhelp.org.
Speech class is fun tongue, shake my head and say
Dear SFA: “ahhh.” When that happens I feel
I was 5 when I started noticing nervous, so I try to forget that it
that I was stuttering. Then when I happened and use easy speech to
got older I kept getting madder keep talking. Easy speech is a
and madder at my stuttering. But great technique because I talk
when I was 5, I didn’t mind it more fluently and now I’m OK
‘cause I didn’t know how bad it with my stuttering.
would be. Now I’m in 2nd grade. Edgard
I’m getting used to my stuttering Orlando, Fla.
and I’m getting better. Sometimes
I still get mad at my mouth. By 6th Be proud of who you are
grade I hope I stop stuttering. I Dear SFA:
went to summer speech school and My name is Maddy. I'm 10 years
that helped me a lot. We read and old. I enjoy going to speech class
recorded stories. It was F-U-N! A self-portrait of Carter. because I want to learn and get bet-
My school speech teacher teaches ter at my stuttering. My friends don't
me to relax my body. I get pluses with my friends. I’ve been in tease me because we all know that
for the words I am fluent on. I say speech class for 2 years. However, no one is perfect, but unfortunately
words with 2- and 3-syllables, and that doesn’t bother me anymore. there are people in the world who
I did it perfectly. Ever since my speech teacher told make fun of other people. You have
Carter me that everyone stutters — even to remember stuttering is okay and
Minnesota she does now and then — it makes over 3 million people in America
me happy to be who I am. stutter, so don't be ashamed. Be
Technique helps My teacher teaches me how to proud of who you are. Everyone is
Dear SFA: use easy speech. Sometimes we perfect in their own way. You can do
I am Edgard. I’m 10 years old have homework for easy speech, everything that you want to.
and in 5th grade. My hobbies are and it helps me use my strategies. Maddy, 10
being with my family, playing When I stutter, I stick out my St. Charles, MO
with my brothers, and playing Continued on page 9
Young author writes books
Josette, 10, from Brooklyn, N.Y., has been working on a
book series titled “Stuttering Sara.” She is writing the se-
ries in hopes of helping other children who stutter. In the
first book, Sara was chosen for the lead in a school play.
But she is scared to perform because she might stutter. At
first, Sara doesn’t even show up and the stage remains
empty! Sara finally decides she would rather perform than
quit the play and she comes up with an idea. She knows that
when she speaks in unison chorus with another person, it
helps alleviate her stuttering. So she enlists the help of a
friend and together they successfully perform in front of the
whole school. The play is a big success and Sara is happy
to have conquered her stage fright with a great solution.
Josette is a student of Peter Reitzes, M.A., CCC-SLP. A n em pt y st age.

9. 800-992-9392 9
THE
STUTTERING
World War II Veteran Shares Journey
FOUNDATION
WINTER 2009
Tips for teasing
Dear SFA:
I have gone through a lot of Dear Stuttering Foundation, always hold a special place in
things like kids picking on me After seeing an article for my memory.
and calling me names. The way your organization in the Journal In 1946, I joined the U.S.
I deal with it is to not pay atten- of the American Medical Army Air Corp and became an
tion to them and not listen to Association, I decided to send aircraft mechanic. I then passed
them. Now I am 10 years old you this letter to hopefully help exams to become a flight engi-
and people don’t pick on me that others who stutter today. neer on B29s. Because I liked to
much because I’ve gotten better First off, I have to brag a little. talk they made me a classroom
at not stuttering. Today, I no longer stutter as I and “hands on” flight instructor.
Desmond once did. Giving speeches to This duty lasted for 21 years.
Chicago business or classroom groups is One week after retiring in
a pleasure for me. I have been a 1967 I was hired by Douglas
School, baseball are favorites Toastmaster president and won Aircraft Company to teach sys-
Dear SFA: many speech tems to air-
I am 9 years old. I like to play contests! line pilots and
baseball. I have been going to I started off flight engi-
speech for 6 years. My favorite in life as a neers. Now it
subjects are science and math. I New York was all jet air-
like school. Stuttering is like City youngster craft (DC8,
somebody hitting you in the who could not DC9 and
face. I sometimes get worried, say my own DC10), but I
but I know its okay. I have two name. Kids learned fast
brothers and one sister, and she would jeer me. and became a
is so cute. I had zero top classroom
Tripp friends. I got into many fights and instructor. After another 21
E-mail was expelled, failing elementary years, I again retired.
school and not attending high I took two subsequent jobs,
Encouragement for others school. one as a DC10 pilot instructor
Dear SFA: In 1943, the U.S. needed mer- at Continental Airlines, and
My name is Cricynda (crih- chant sailors in the war with one as a certified teacher of an
sin-dah ). I am 11 years old and Japan and Germany, so at age 16, aviation course at the Long
in the 5th grade. I like to do my Dad signed me into Beach City College. My ability
many things, like swimming and Sheepshead Bay Merchant to talk as a teacher, instructor,
drawing. I’ve been in speech Marine School. Dad said I might Toastmaster, and everyday per-
class for two years. I feel okay learn a trade and off I went to sea son makes me feel very good.
about my stuttering. I’ve been in the cold Atlantic. Education is never-ending. I
learning about one thing … Easy Disliking icy weather, I volun- am also a self-taught cartoonist
speech! Easy speech is slowing teered for engine room duty. It and often go on cruise ships to
down when you’re talking. We was warm but the job required entertain people with my art. I
use this very often. Our goal is yelling information above the started to draw because my
to use it outside of class. Thank engine noise to the watch engi- writing was terrible. I can
you for reading my letter. I hope neer. I found that by yelling, I “draw” in any language!
this helps other kids know that didn’t stutter! No one can stutter Today, I am 81 years old, re-
other people stutter as well. when you yell or sing! I soon tired three times, married 61
They are not the only ones. learned to fake a hearing loss and years to the same lady, and am
Cricynda talk louder. I was so pleased to in relatively good health except
Orlando, Fla. be fluent, I talked to anyone who for profound hearing loss.
would listen. Stuttering can be overcome!
Please include contact informa- I studied the engines and sys- Find your way, the sooner the
tion and parent’s permission when tems and learned fast since this better. I do hope this letter and
sending children’s drawings and was my first real “school.” No my story serves someone some
letters. You can e-mail them to stuttering and no laughing kids. I value.
info@stutteringhelp.org or mail passed the required Coast Guard Respectfully yours,
them to P.O. Box 11749, Memphis, exams and advanced to better James Walker
TN 38111-0749. K jobs. The war-time sea duty will Lakewood, CA K

10. 10
The Second African Conference on Stuttering
800-992-9392
THE
www.stutteringhelp.org
STUTTERING
FOUNDATION
By Joseph Lukong • The need for collaboration
Secretary & Board Member of among African stuttering associa-
the International Stuttering tions to share information on self
Association Coordinator General help issues, treatment and research
of Speak Clear Association of in stuttering with each other.
Cameroon • The creation of a Federation of
African Stuttering Associations. A
The International Stuttering provisional committee of three
Association (ISA) and Stuttering persons was formed: Moussa Dao
Association of Burkina Faso
Attendees at the conference.
from Burkina Faso, Joseph
(Action Contre Le Bégaiement - Lukong from Cameroon and Zan
ABC) organized and sponsored the Camera from Mali.
Second African Conference on • Emphasis on the need for
Stuttering in Ouagadougou training of African speech pathol-
Burkina Faso during October 27th After the conference, Anne
ogists who specialize in stuttering.
– 30th. The conference explored
Marie Simon works with a
person who stutters. - Advocacy efforts to be made to-
Stuttering In Africa: Strategies for ward African governments in view
Effective Reawakening. Moussa Dao, president of of recognizing stuttering as a com-
The opening ceremony took place the Burk ina Stutterers’
munication disorder and for it to be
at the auditorium of the Burkinabe Association.
given due attention.
Shippers Council (Conseil
Burkinabe des Chargeurs) and was • The ISA and other internation-
chaired by the Representative of the al bodies should offer financial
Minister of State in Charge of and other assistance to young
Foreign African associations to enable
World Event Affairs and Anne Marie and Dr. Moussa Dao them to take off and work for PWS
Approximately Regional discuss stuttering on liv e TV. in their respective countries.
230 delegates at- Integration of • The wish to continue hosting
tended the confer- Blind children
Burkina Fas play musical African conferences on stuttering
ence with 60 dele-
gates from
Speeches instruments
for African PWS to meet and learn
Burkina Faso. were made during the
closing from each other. To this effect, it
Other countries by Dr. ceremony . was resolved that the next African
represented were Moussa Dao,
Conference Media outlets conference will take place in
Mali, Niger,
Nigeria, Senegal, Convenor
cov ered Kenya, East Africa in 2011.
the ev ent.
Mauritania, Cote and President • A million thanks to the
D’Ivoire ( Ivory of the Action International Stuttering Association
Coast), Ghana, Contre Le and the Stuttering Association of
Togo, Benin, Begaiement; Burkina Faso for organizing and
Chad, DR Congo, T h o m a s Traditional sponsoring this conference.
Burundi, Rwanda, K r a l l ,
clothing and
dancing.
The Representative of the Minister
Kenya, in charge of Basic (Primary)
Cameroon, Coordinator
of the Board Education of Burkina Faso presid-
Germany, France, the international self-help move- ed over the closing ceremony
the United States of Directors,
ment for people who stutter, promising that much attention
of America, presented
renowned speech language patholo- would be given by her ministerial
Lithuania, and the B e n n y
United Kingdom. Ravid’s gists, researchers, and leaders of ex- department to stuttering in
speech as isting national stuttering associa- Burkina Faso.
ISA Chairman Ravid was unable to tions in Africa. Fourteen African del- Certificates of honor were given
attend. All the major newspapers, egates recounted their personal ex- to people and organizations in
television and radio stations in periences as people who stutter and Burkina Faso to Anne Marie
Burkina Faso were present and car- what the situation is for those who Simon from France to the ISA rep-
ried the story of the conference. stutter in their respective countries. resentative, Joseph Lukong, for
The twenty-one presentations The following resolutions were the ISA’s support of conferences
were made by leading members of made … on stuttering in Africa. K

11. 11
THE
800-992-9392
STUTTERING
I Kid You Not! Paar is an Inspiration to Others
FOUNDATION
WINTER 2009
While Jack Paar is among the months. During this time, the future was in several B-movies. He co-
most prominent of the entertain- television legend became obsessed starred in the 1951 movie “Love
ers on the Stuttering with radio, constantly fantasizing Nest,” with another newcomer,
Foundation’s list of Famous about overcoming his stuttering Marilyn Monroe; ironically
People Who Stutter, he deserves and becoming a radio star. Every Marilyn Monroe also struggled
special recognition as he was day he hosted “make believe” radio with stuttering.
among the first to openly address shows in which he was the star. Paar then turned to television,
his stuttering in public. As host of hosting quiz shows and game
“The Tonight Show” from 1957- shows. In 1954, he became the co-
1962, he spoke of his difficulties host of CBS’ “Morning Show”
as a stuttering child and teenager, and in 1957 received the defining
giving hope to young people. role of his career, taking over the
Born in 1918, Paar stuttered reins of “The Tonight Show” on
from an early age and faced the NBC from Steve Allen.
typical problems of a child who Paar made “The Tonight Show”
stutters. He described his stutter- a staple of American culture.
ing in his 1959 autobiography, I Writing in the New York Times in
Kid You Not. “I didn’t mix much 1997, critic John O’Connor put it
with the other children growing best: “Before Jack Paar, there were
up. It seems strange to me now, various variety shows doing the
when I make my living talking, midnight watch. He simplified the
mostly without written material or format into a talk show, complete
rehearsal, but I stuttered badly as a with the sofa–and-desk set that re-
child. This made me ill at ease in Stev e Allen, Bob Hope and Jack Paar.
mains a fixture. His secret?
school and with other children. Interesting guests, far more so than
“Like many youngsters who Paar left school at age 16 to the celebrity hordes working on
stammer, I lived a great deal in the work full-time for a radio station. product plugs today, and an uncan-
world of imagination and books. At first the station only let him an- ny ability to listen carefully and ac-
One day I read about nounce the words “This is Station tually engage in clever and often
Demosthenes, the great Greek or- WIBM, Jackson”. Other tasks in- witty conversation.”
ator, who had cured himself of cluded sweeping the floor and Fans were shocked and sad-
stammering by putting pebbles in emptying the waste baskets. In his dened with his leaving “The
his mouth and declaiming over autobiography, he wrote, “They Tonight Show” in 1962. Retiring
the roar of the sea. Since we were wouldn’t let me do commercials early to a secluded life, Jack Paar
living in Michigan, with no sea because I stuttered, and the station did the occasional network special.
handy, I made the best I could do. was so small you could walk out One special, “Jack Paar Comes
Instead of pebbles, I used buttons of its coverage area by going down Home” aired in 1986, and featured
from my mother’s sewing box. the street for a cup of coffee, but I Paar talking about his past stutter-
And with no sea shore nearer than was a real live radio announcer.” ing problem and how he never gave
a thousand miles, I used my room Eventually the station let him up trying; urging people with chal-
at home. Then I would stuff some spin records and do a few commer- lenges to strive for their dreams and
buttons in my mouth and practice cials; though he still stuttered on not listen to the nay-sayers.
speaking. I read papers and maga- the commercials, the sponsors ac- Jack Paar died on January 27,
zines. I talked about anything that tually received a bit more airtime 2004. Younger generations may
came into my head. I read books, because of it and did not seem to not be familiar with him. He not
watching myself in the mirror. mind. Making radio his life’s goal, only created the late night talk
Apart from once nearly swallow- his speech greatly improved on the show format that has been copied
ing a shirt button in a burst of ora- air; and he was finally able to do by his “Tonight Show” successors
torical fervor, the system worked the news and interviews, develop- Johnny Carson and Jay Leno as
very well. Little by little my ing the “hemming and hawing” well as so many others, but he con-
speech improved.” style that became his trademark. tinues to give hope and inspiration,
At age 14 Paar was bedridden After service in World War II, as well as a sense of pride to the
with tuberculosis for several Paar tried his luck at acting and stuttering community. K

12. 12 800-992-9392
THE
www.stutteringhelp.org
STUTTERING
Tools for Success!
FOUNDATION
The Stuttering Foundation in 2009
will release a new DVD, Tools for
Success, a “taster” on cognitive be-
havior therapy and how it may be
used in stuttering therapy.
Jane Fraser, Matt Murphy , Katherine
K
Preston and Bob Wellington after their
interv iews on December 14th.
Katherineʼs Myths
Katherine Preston is traveling
the United States, interviewing
Videographer Bob O’Brien films people who stutter and gathering
Frances Cook and Willie Botterill in information for her book.
Nov ember at the ASHA Conv ention “The book will be a compila-
in Chicago. tion of interviews with people
who stutter around America. It
will be aimed at debunking the
myths that many ‘fluent’ people
Reaching Out to School-based therapists! have about stuttering and stop
October 10-11, 2008: Two-day conference at Cal. State - Fullerton stuttering from being such a taboo
subject. The stutterers I am talk-
ing to are different ages and have
varying backgrounds and person-
alities,” shares Katherine.
She has already interviewed 35
people from all walks of life.
Some are well known like Jack
Welch of GE, conservationist Alan
Carol Eck e at Rabinowitz, and geneticist Dennis
the booth. Drayna and others are not so fa-
All the SFA resources on display . mous but just as important to her.
Katherine adds, “I would be
Bravo to the Rileys very interested in hearing from
for starting the 2-day anyone who would like to be in-
event in Fullerton terviewed. My email address is
and kudos to Gary k.e.l.preston@hotmail.com.”
Montooth, Sherri
Wolff and the local Dav id Daly and
NSSLHA Chapter Ads Strike a Chord
Walter Manning
hold their awards.
for keeping it alive. Public service ads have appeared
Sherri Wolff and Drs. Jeanna
and Gly ndon Riley . in many magazines this year – ev-
erything from Good Housekeeping
July 2008 and Newsweek to The
National Hog Farmer!
ASHA School Delta Sky Magazine,
Conference in which reaches millions
Orlando reach- of travelers each
es hundreds of month, has donated
school-based Carol Ecke discusses
space for PSAs several
SLPs too! an SFA DVD with
Ellen Estomin, the di- times this year. If you
rector of special educa- spot a PSA, be sure to
tion for the Pittsburgh thank the magazine for
Renee Shepherd and Carol Eck e Schools, and Wendy
answer questions. Wingard-Gay. donating space to charity. Their gen-
erosity is making a difference.

13. 800-992-9392 13
THE
STUTTERING
Hip Hop Rap Artist Finds His Voice
2009
17th Annual Media
WINTER FOUNDATION
AMybutgreatestfreely andnot to
Awards Competition
QWhat ainspired you to be-
Interview with Travis Kruck obstacle is
The Stuttering Foundation an- not focus on trying to
AImyselffoundable toway at the
nounces that it will recognize jour- stutter, speak learn
come rap artist? to control my speech as I go
nalists for the thir-
teenth consecutive wasn’t express along. Lately I've been doing
year for excellence in any other rather well on this, but when all
reporting that fur- time and joy and great eyes are on me I tend to be as
thers the understand- satisfaction in doing choppy as the sea below
ing of this complex disorder. something well, vocally. the storm and my control
“We are happy to announce Performances are amaz- goes out the window. I’m
these awards to further public ing! Being on stage, learning to block all dis-
awareness of stuttering,” said under the lights, doing tractions out though and
Jane Fraser. “Media coverage my thing is probably the just try to focus on the
Qdream? your biggest
has grown substantially in vol- only time I feel like a free subject I’m speaking on.
ume and sensitivity in recent spirit where thoughts
years. We want to continue rec- don’t control me; my What is
QIs there any memory your Aabout alwaysbydream
ognizing outstanding reporters.” spirit and heart do. Trav is Kruck
The seventeenth annual You
Stuttering Foundation Awards specific that big break,
will be given to journalists in two childhood that that hit single, followed your
stands out regarding
A
categories: print and electronic prize work of an album and just
media. They will recognize news speech? making a living doing what I love
stories over the last year that: One story that sticks in my to do. If you would have asked
• Advanced the public’s un- head was auditioning for a me this a couple years ago, I
derstanding of stuttering; school play. I had to walk up on probably would have said to
• Introduced information on stage, in front of a cafeteria full speak fluently and not stutter. But
stuttering to a significant new of classmates and first say my I’ve realized I will never speak
audience. full name, followed by the song perfectly nor can anyone else. I
Print and electronic journalists I was going to sing for the play. shouldn't take it so seriously, but
are invited to submit copies or When my turn came up, of just live and have faith in myself
DVDs of their news items to the course I was nervous and unde- that I can do what I want to do
Stuttering Foundation, 3100
QIf you couldteenagerssimple
niably expecting to stutter, but as and in turn say what I want to say.
Walnut Grove Road, Suite 603, I was waiting in line for my turn
P.O. Box 11749, Memphis, TN to speak I tried to focus and give a
38111-0749. All entries must have block those thoughts out. Sure message to who
ARunning awayfrustrationprob-
been published or aired between enough as the pressure I was stutter, what would it be?
Jan. 1, 2008, and April 20, 2009. holding back came thundering is not the an-
In addition to a public an- in, I couldn’t even say my first swer. Hiding from the
nouncement of the Award recip- name, only the first letter of my lem and letting and
ients, each honoree will receive name about a thousand times. anger build up inside will only
a cash award of $250.00 from And to make it worse, the in- hurt you more. Building confi-
the Foundation. structor had thought the mic was dence the is key in learning to
T
turned off or not working prop- cope with your stutter. Find out
K
erly, so he instructed me to say what it is you like to do and makes
"mic check" and when I couldn’t you feel worth something more
he Stuttering Foundation of say that, I desperately resorted to
America is a tax-exempt or- than your stutter. Soon you’ll
ganization under section tapping the mic head to show have left your negative stuttering
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue him the mic was in fact working. thoughts and judgments far be-
Code and is classified as a private oper- But I guess I wasn’t supposed to hind, and you’ll be on your way to
ating foundation as defined in section do that, he yelled at me pretty a future of your own choosing.
Q
4942(j)(3). Charitable contributions and bad for that move!
bequests to the Foundation are tax- If you would like to hear
deductible, subject to limitations under What is your greatest obstacle, Kruck’s music, visit www.my
the Code. and how do you deal with it? space.com/dapoetking. K

14. 16 www.stutteringhelp.org 800-992-9392
THE
STUTTERING
FOUNDATION
Jennifer Watson, Ph.D., Texas
Christian University;
The Eastern Workshop:
Newsbriefs
and Ellen Reuler,
Diagnosis and Treatment of M.A., Portland State
Preschool and School-Age University.
Children Who Stutter Fellowships cover tuition, room
June 10-14, 2009 and board, and CEUs are avail-
at Boston University able. Download application at
Speakers include Diane Parris, M.S., www.stutteringhelp.org or call
Boston University; Edward G. 800-992-9392.
Conture, Ph.D.,
Va n d e r b i l t The Sixth IFA World Congress Chinese celebrate 2008 International
University; Sheryl on Fluency Disorders will be held Stuttering Awareness Day .
Gottwald, Ph.D., University of New August 5 – 8, 2009 at
Hampshire; and Adriana DiGrande, the Veiga de Almeida
M.A., Boston University. University located in
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The Midwestern Workshop: For more information,
Diagnosis and Treatment of visit www.theifa.org.
Children Who Stutter
June 22-26, 2009 The 9th World Congress of
at the University of Iowa the International Stuttering
Speakers include Patricia M.
Zebrowski, Ph.D.,
Association will be August 1st - Happy new year from...
7th, 2010 in Beijing, China.
University of Iowa; For an overview Renee Shepherd, Joan Warner, Roberta
Toni Cilek, M.A., of the theme - Brugge, Terri Jones, Lisa Hinton,
University of Iowa; Anne Edwards, Jane Fraser and Pat
Benefit the People Hamm, Susie Hall, Patty Reed, Scot
and Lisa Scott, Who Stutter, Benefit Squires, John Bell and Carol Ecke.
Ph.D., Florida State University. the Society, and a list
of speakers, as well as fees, vis-
The Western Workshop:
This newsletter is published quarterly. Please
itwww.bj2010isc.cn/index.ph. e-mail address changes and story ideas to
Diagnosis and Treatment of
info@stutteringhelp.org.
Children Who Stutter
July 15-19, 2009 You can donate to the
Volume18, Issue 1
Stuttering Foundation
at Portland State University
Renee Shepherd . . . . . . . . . . . . . Editor
di rectl y thro ug h the
Directed by Susan Hamilton, M.A.,
Scot Squires . . . . . . . . . . Writer/Designer
United Way.
University Way Speech Services;
Special thanks to Joan Warner, Patty Reed,
Susie Hall, Pat Hamm, Lisa Hinton, Terri
Jones, and Carol Ecke.
THE
STUTTERING
FOUNDATION
3100 Walnut Grove Road, Suite 603
P.O. Box 11749 • Memphis, TN 38111-0749