A recent Los Angeles Times story was published discussing how Vice President Joe Biden overcame and was impacted by stuttering. While interviewing AIS director Dr. Heather Grossman for the piece, writer Janet Hook was interested to learn that in addition to some of the word usage and naming errors Biden has publicly made, some of [...]
For a long time now, I've been comfortable with stuttering, and I haven't let it impact me on a day-to-day basis. I am open and honest about it and I have often advertised to people that I stutter. But there is something different about being in a work environment, and I have come to a [...]
Your child started stuttering and you are concerned. You go to your pediatrician to see what to do. You are reassured that you have nothing to worry about. A weight is lifted off of your shoulders. But 3 months later your worry returns because your child is still stuttering. And 6 months later your worry [...]
We often incorporate mindfulness and meditation practices in our work with people who stutter. What is mindfulness exactly? Jon Kabat-Zinn, the founder of the popular Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction program, defines mindfulness as “paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally.” While meditation is the formal practice of mindfulness, [...]
One of the great perks of helping people who stutter is celebrating their achievements. High School student and AIS client Benji gave effective, engaging presentations for two of his classes, spreading awareness about stuttering to his peers. Read on for details and video of Benji's presentations, and for more on self-advocacy in high school, check [...]
Kelly Severseike is an AIS client who a writer, blogger and poet. Kelly shared with us her poem "Before I Say Hello" in honor of National Stuttering Awareness Week. "Before I Say Hello" speaks to the uncertainties of stuttering and the power that comes from owning and speaking in her own voice. We applaud Kelly [...]
The stuttering community marks the second week of May as National Stuttering Awareness Week. This NSAW, we have a variety of events and other ways you can help spread awareness, open the door to conversations about stuttering, and shed negative stigma. 1. Stuttering Scavenger Hunt New York City | Tuesday May 7th 6:30PM - 8:00PM Have you ever [...]
Former Vice President Joe Biden announced this week that he is running for President in 2020. Mr. Biden is a person who stutters, and regardless of political leanings, it's hard to ignore what he has accomplished. He has been in public office for more than 40 years, and has been very open about his stuttering. [...]
If you've ever considered boldly embracing your stutter but are not sure how, I invite you to meet Samantha Roblyer. Samantha is a sophomore from Lincoln, Nebraska who uses the medium of poetry to share her stuttering experiences. With her powerful words, Samantha destigmatizes stuttering and provides healing for her listeners. Her poems “If My [...]
People who stutter (PWS) often lament that listeners’ ignorance about stuttering makes communication more challenging. We assert that PWS can change inaccurate public perceptions through self-disclosure and educating listeners. To test this idea, we have launched a qualitative research study and we encourage PWS to be actively involved. Purpose This study examines two questions: What [...]
