29th Annual Convention · July 23-25, 2026
Embassy Suites by Hilton O'Hare Rosemont · Chicago, ILYour Friends Await in Chicago
Spend three unforgettable days with our vibrant, supportive stuttering community
Never been to Friends? Watch this.
Whether you’re a young person who stutters searching for community, a parent seeking support, or a speech-language pathologist looking to grow your understanding, this short video gives you a glimpse of what Friends is all about, and why our annual convention might be just what you need.
What is Friends all about?
Our mission is 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. Learn more here »
How to join us & where to stay
Join us as we celebrate 29 years of providing support and community for young people who stutter and their families.
Thursday, July 23th at 1:00 PM to Saturday, July 25th at 11:00 PM
Embassy Suites by Hilton Chicago O’Hare Rosemont
5500 North River Road, Rosemont, Illinois, 60018
Hotel phone number: (847) 678-4000
Click here to view on Google Maps
If you haven’t already joined our mailing list, please do so below to hear the latest updates about the convention, including information about registration, speakers, panels, and a detailed schedule. If you have any questions, please email us at friends@friendswhostutter.org.
What to expect
You can expect to meet young people who stutter, parents and relatives, siblings, significant others, and SLPs all hoping for the same support, growth, and 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!’
The magic of a Friends convention is made up of:
- Individualized workshops for all attendees: Young people who stutter, their loved ones, and professionals attend sessions tailored to their needs.
- A supportive foundation to learn about stuttering: You are always among peers at the convention, from start to finish. Community wisdom, professional insights, and moments of connection with others who are committed to living well with stuttering all go hand in hand at Friends.
- Chances to normalize stuttering: From panel discussions and keynotes to open mics and hospitality suites, the opportunity to learn and grow alongside others can be found throughout the whole experience, and sometimes when it’s least expected.
- Immersion in our stuttering community: For three days, people who stutter aren’t the 1%… we fill the room! As attendees have shared time and again, the weekend becomes a treasured time to be in a place where stuttering doesn’t need explaining. It’s understood from the moment you walk in.
Kids, Teens, & Adults
Increase your confidence
communicating
Meet others who stutter
Find role models who stutter
Have fun talking!
Learn about stuttering
Parents & Caregivers
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
SLPs & Teachers
Receive invaluable education from experts and researchers
Gain more confidence in working with people who stutter & their families
Learn more about stuttering, effective social/clinical strategies, & support services
Support someone’s chance to attend
Friends touches many lives every year, but not everyone who wants to attend our annual convention can afford to. Our scholarships are often the difference between them joining us and them staying home.
Will you help an individual or family get to Friends? 100% of your donation will go towards scholarships. Give to our scholarship fund here »
Snippets
Hear from a teen who stutters, adult who stutters, parent, and speech-language pathologist on what it’s like to attend a Friends conference.
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
Our 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 1.2 ASHA CEUs.
CONFERENCE OBJECTIVES for CEUs
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
Rick Arenas, Ph.D. is a salaried employee of the University of New Mexico and a compensated board member of Friends: The National Association of Young People Who Stutter. He has no non-financial disclosures.
Hope Gerlach, Ph.D., CCC-SLP is a salaried employee of Western Michigan University. She has no non-financial disclosures.
Heather Grossman, Ph.D., CCC-SLP is a salaried employee of the American Institute for Stuttering. She has no non-financial disclosures.
Caryn Herring, M.S., CCC-SLP is a salaried employee of Friends. She has no non-financial disclosures.
Eric Jackson, Ph.D., CCC-SLP is a salaried employee of New York University. Non-financial disclosures include: board member of Friends: The National Association of Young People Who Stutter.
Sara MacIntyre, M.A., CCC-SLP owns YouSpeak Stuttering Therapy and receives an honorarium from the Stuttering Foundation as the Director of Programs. Non-financial disclosures include: board member of Friends: The National Association of Young People Who Stutter.
Hallie Mintz, M.S., CCC-SLP owns Philly Speech Services and receives an honorarium from Friends as the Social Media Coordinator. She has no non-financial disclosures.
Mark O’Malia, M.S., CCC-SLP is a salaried employee of the American Institute for Stuttering. Non-financial disclosures: board member of Friends: The National Association of Young People Who Stutter.
Ryan Pollard, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, BCS-SCF is a salaried employee of the University of Colorado Boulder. Non-financial disclosures include: board member of Friends: The National Association of Young People Who Stutter.
Naomi Rodgers, Ph.D., CCC-SLP receives a salary from the University of Iowa. She has no non-financial disclosures to report.
Arin Sheeler, M.A., CCC-SLP is a salaried employee of Ohio State University. Non-financial disclosures include: board member of Friends: The National Association of Young People Who Stutter.
Patricia Zebrowski, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, BCS-SCF has no financial disclosures. Non-financial disclosures include: board member of Friends: The National Association of Young People Who Stutter.
