Meet us in Baltimore
Our mission continues to be what it has always been—to provide support and education to young people who stutter, their families, and clinicians. Instilling a sense of empowerment, providing an environment where feelings of isolation disappear and growing confidence and self-esteem continues to be the foundation of our vision. We want our young people who stutter to know they are strong, they have support, they are not alone, and they have FRIENDS who will listen to them.
Join us in Baltimore, Maryland for the 23rd Annual Convention, July 16-18, 2020. Meet kids, parents, siblings, and SLPs all hoping for the same unforgettable time as you. When you leave on Sunday, we are positive you will tell your new FRIENDS how happy you are that you decided to come to a FRIENDS convention, followed by a ‘See you next year!’
For Kids and Teens
Increase your confidence
communicating
Meet others who stutter
Find role models who stutter
Have fun talking!
Learn about stuttering
For Parents
Meet other parents & share experiences
Hear tips and support from fellow parents & young people who stutter
Join in roundtable discussions
Find out what you can do to support your child
For SLPs & Teachers
Receive invaluable education & CEUs by the Stuttering Foundation
Gain more confidence in working with people who stutter & their families
Learn more about stuttering, effective social/clinical strategies, & support services
A past keynote address
Read excerpts and key points from Michael Boyle’s 2019 Keynote Presentation at the 22nd Annual Friends Convention in Rosemont, IL. The talk was titled “My story of stuttering: Memories, lessons learned, and advice.”
Read 2019 Convention Reflections
“I truly believe that FRIENDS teaches people how to be better listeners, more empathetic and advocate for what they want/believe in — all of which are and continue to make the world a better place.”
A Snippet
Research Corner
Why attend a Friends Convention? We partnered with researchers at the University of Iowa to understand the positive impact our conventions have on young people who stutter. They found the following five results:
- Children and teenagers built strong relationships and a sense of community in a safe environment.
- Collaborative learning facilitated personal growth.
- Communicative and cognitive changes persisted beyond the convention.
- Hearing and sharing personal stories increased self-acceptance and acceptance of others.
- Living with stuttering can be hard, but the convention helped normalize stuttering.
FOR SPEECH PATHOLOGISTS AND STUDENTS
The FRIENDS Annual Convention is a fantastic place for speech-language pathologists and students to learn more about stuttering, current treatments and the support available to people who stutter, while earning 1.15 ASHA CEUs.
This activity is offered for 1.15 ASHA CEUs (Intermediate level, Professional area)
At the completion of the conference, participants are able to:
- Explain the relationship between effective intervention, support services, and self-esteem in children and adolescents who stutter;
- Identify social and clinical strategies for supporting children who stutter and their families;
- Apply problem-solving skills to address common treatment obstacles.
Read Financial and Non-Financial Disclosures
Non-Financial: Lee Caggiano – FRIENDS President (non-compensated); Heather Grossman – none; Joe Klein – none; Sara MacIntyre – none; Rita Thurman – none; Patty Walton – none
