Annual Convention

For all attendees

For kids, tweens, teens, adults | Facilitators: Eric Jackson & Joel Korte

To kick things off at this year’s convention, we’re hosting a Friends Coffeehouse. Participants are encouraged to play a song, perform stand-up, rap, or read poetry! If you are interested, please submit a video of what you will perform, not more than four minutes, on our online form here. If you have any questions, please reach out to Eric Jackson (eric.jackson@friendswhostutter.org).

A conversation for parents new to Friends | Facilitators: Erin Samenuk, Barbara Saleh, Rick Arenas, Stacy Jolley

What does showing up for our children look like? | Facilitators: Lee Caggiano, Tricia Zebrowski, Cheryl Goettsche 

For all attendees | Panelists: John Hendrickson, Akaiya Bryant, Onur Tekiner, Jackson Hunter, Gianna Parisi

For teens who stutter

For adults who stutter, parents, SLPs | Facilitator: Stacy Jolley

For all kids ages 6-9 | Facilitator: Bridget Allen Chapman

For middle school & high school | Facilitator: Nina G

For middle school & high school (limited seats) | Facilitator: Barry Yeoman

Working with an award-winning journalist, you’ll have a chance to tap deep into your creative energy and explore the power of words. You can write on your computer, or use pen and paper instead: whatever inspires you most.

For adults who stutter, parents, SLPs | Facilitators: Eric Jackson & Nan Bernstein Ratner

For kids | Facilitator: Kristel Kubart

Bring paper and markers to have fun drawing and sharing about stuttering!

For middle school & high school | Facilitators: Caryn Herring & Mark O’Malia

Often people who stutter are told what they “should” do with their stuttering. This workshop will empower participants to question what is best for them while highlighting what they find truly important.

For adults who stutter, parents, SLPs | Facilitator: Vivian Sisskin

For all attendees

For teens who stutter

For adults who stutter, parents, SLPs | Facilitator: Jessica Hudson

For all attendees

For all kids ages 6-9 | Facilitator: Bridget Allen Chapman

Hang out and enjoy your lunch and games with Friends!

For middle school, high school, adults who stutter |  Facilitator: Michael Boyle

For parents & SLPs | Facilitator: Heather Grossman

Children who stutter often receive the message that fluent speech is better than stuttering. Once this core cognition is created, it unfortunately leads to increased physical struggle to be fluent and engagement in an ever-increasing list of avoidances. This workshop will help participants be aware of ways to send healthier messages of self-acceptance and self-compassion to children who stutter.

For all attendees | Facilitator: Lee Caggiano

One last time to show up for each other as we end our first virtual convention

For SLPs | Facilitator: Jason Cassell

In this workshop we will explore the qualities of an effective counselor and help speech therapists feel more comfortable providing counseling to those who stutter. This workshop will also provide SLPs with techniques to help them engage their clients, improve their listening skills, and manage the intense affect that often arises.