The event is designed for kids, teens, and adults who stutter, their families, and speech-language pathologists (SLPs). Workshops will be designed for kids (ages 7-12); teens (ages 13-17); adults who stutter; family and friends of people who stutter (such as parents and significant others); and SLPs. SLPs can earn 0.35 ASHA CEUs and deepen their knowledge of stuttering and treatment strategies. Anyone who wants to attend can use the "pay what you can" option when registering, allowing folks to join for whatever they can afford, including attending for free.

Presenters:

• Professor Danra Kazenski, Ph.D., CCC-SLP: Dr. Kazenski is a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Vermont. She specializes in clinical supervision and education of students working with children and adults who stutter. Dr. Kazenski leads the Vermont National Stuttering Association’s (NSA) school-age and teen stuttering support groups and was recognized with the NSA Advocate of the Year Award for her work developing this conference and the #normalizestuttering challenge.
• Katie Paris: Katie Paris currently teaches a communication sciences and disorders class focused on stuttering at the University of Vermont.
• Professor Kim Bauerly, Ph.D., CCC-SLP: Dr. Bauerly is an Associate Professor at the University of Vermont. Her research interests include the effects of emotion on speech-motor control in people who stutter. She has received numerous awards for her research and has published extensively on stuttering and speech-motor control.
• Panelists from the UVM Eleanor M. Luse Center’s Avoidance Reduction Therapy for Stuttering (ARTS) group: This group provides weekly therapy meetings to help adults who stutter reduce fear and struggle associated with stuttering.
• UVM Communication Sciences and Disorders alum Sullivan Kiley: Sullivan “Sully” Kiley, M.S., CCC-SLP, is the owner and operator of Northern Pine Speech Therapy in Stowe, Vermont. His practice includes fluency, articulation, language, social-communication, and Augmentative-Alternative Communication.

Conference Q&A with Dr. Danra Kazenski:

Q. What inspired the creation of this conference? 

A. We have been a National Stuttering Association (NSA) Chapter since 2014, with three free stuttering support groups for adults, teens, and children who stutter along with their families. We have attended five of the annual NSA Conferences, which are game-changing in helping people accept their stuttering. We are fortunate to have this first-ever opportunity to host a smaller hometown event right here in Vermont!

Q. What are some unique features of the event? 

A. We are bringing in amazing speakers, panels of adults who stutter, local musicians, SLPs who specialize in working with people who stutter, and enthusiastic UVM Graduate Students. Kids will start the day with music, play stuttering Jeopardy, and create art. Adults will meet with a world-renowned leader in the stuttering community, discuss a short comedy film, attend meaningful panels of people who stutter, and talk about stuttering in the workplace. SLPs will gain insights directly from people who stutter, while also learning about acceptance-based and lesser-known approaches for stuttering, cluttering, and atypical disfluencies.

Q. Who will benefit from this conference? In what ways do you expect it to be meaningful to those who attend? 

A. If you stutter, it can feel like you are all alone. These groups are a place where you can feel totally accepted and understood, while meeting amazing people who just “get it.” Parents who have questions about their children’s stuttering will also be able to speak openly about that journey with other parents who understand. SLPs will learn ways to collaborate with people who stutter, which will hopefully ripple out to hundreds of kids who stutter in Vermont. We hope that everyone walks away feeling more empowered and knowledgeable about themselves, so they feel more confident as a person who stutters, and are more willing to show their true authentic selves.

Q. What are you most looking forward to about the conference? 

A. The energy at conferences is unmatched. There is a vibration with all the love and energy that people bring with them. Our hope is that this leads to more “regulars” at our free stuttering support groups and more Vermonters at the NSA Conference next year in Denver! The wider we can spread the “stamily” (AKA stuttering family), the better!

Q. What other support is available in Vermont for people who stutter? 

A. We have three free monthly NSA stuttering support groups for adults, teens, and children who stutter along with their families here in Vermont that meet in person at UVM and by Zoom for those who live farther away. We also have a free Avoidance Reduction Therapy (ARTS) group that meets weekly for adults who stutter. If interested in any of these groups, please reach out to dkazensk@med.uvm.edu.

IF YOU GO:

• What: Vermont's first National Stuttering Association (NSA) stuttering conference
• Who: Kids, teens, adults who stutter, families, and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) from all over New England
• Where: Edmunds Middle School, Burlington
• When: May 3rd from 9 AM – 2:30 PM
• Cost: $39 Adults, $49 Families, $59 SLPs/CEUs (Vermonters who stutter can sign up for free using the code NSAVERMONT)
• Questions? Contact sarahonofri@westutter.org

Don't miss this unique opportunity to connect, learn, and grow with the stuttering community. Register here: NSA Vermont 1-Day Conference