I walked in the hotel and saw the huge welcome poster that said “Friends, the National Association of Young People Who Stutter.” It was the realization that led me to a quick journey down memory lane. I was a little girl who stuttered, the only one. All the preserved...
I had no idea what to expect when I decided to enlist as a volunteer at the FRIENDS Convention in Chicago. Since I wasn’t sure what I was getting myself into, I decided to throw away any expectations and approach this new experience with an open mind. As an aspiring...
This was our first Friends convention. My husband and I attended with our 19 year-old son who stutters. Having been involved with my son and his therapy for many years I foolishly thought to myself, what can I learn? Boy, was I wrong. Dr. Rabinowitz’s presentation was...
There is a certain magical quality about being around people you know you can trust with your deepest, darkest secrets, that is hard to describe. It is a feeling of deep trust and security you get when you know that the person next to you, in front of, or behind you,...
The Chicago Friends Convention 2010 was just a perfect three days. I remember the convention in Philly and I as a parent came away from that one with such a wonderful feeling. My children, Gianna, 10, who stutters and Johnny, 8 who doesn’t stutter, were a little young...
My name is Vickie Drake and I am the parent of a person who stutters. The FRIENDS 2010 Convention in Chicago was our first convention. The convention provided the opportunity to interact with people from all over the world who have been affected in one way or another...
