A generous gift to the Communication Sciences and Disorders program at UVM will allow more children, teenagers and young adults to benefit from stuttering support. A donor who wishes to remain anonymous has committed $50,000 to establish an endowed fund to support stuttering programs in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

The gift honors Communication Sciences and Disorders Professor Barry Guitar, who retired from a 42-year career at UVM in May 2018. Dr. Guitar taught and supervised clinical work in stuttering, researched stuttering treatments and conducted support groups at UVM’s Eleanor M. Luse Center for Communication. The stuttering therapy and support groups he led continue to serve people who stutter, their families, and students who want to learn how to help them.

The funds will help people who stutter afford therapy at UVM, participate in stuttering support group events and attend presentations by inspirational speakers. They will alsohelp families of young people who stutter attend meetings of the National Stuttering Association, an experience Guitar calls a transformative opportunity for parents and children alike.

For further information about giving to the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, contact Deb Dever or call (802)233-6866.