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From: Russ Hicks
Date: 03 Oct 2008
Time: 15:25:44 -0500
Remote Name: 70.104.19.41
Hi Heather. Thanks for your encouraging words! They really mean a lot to both Jan and me. ... I've thought for many years that Jan had hit on a unique concept (which of course has MANY variations!), and I've encouraged her to somehow publicize this program so other schools could profit from our combined experience. And what better way to do this than this ISAD conference! <smile> The key ingredient is FUN! If it's fun, people will learn from it. (At least most of the time, ha, ha, ha!) .... You asked about one bit of advice: It's absolutely critical that future SLPs learn to treat people who stutter as PEOPLE rather than as VOICE BOXES. With the understanding that comes from the stuttering iceberg (see my 2003 ISAD paper called "The Iceberg Analogy of Stuttering at http://www.mnsu.edu/comdis/isad6/papers/hicks6.html it's clear that stuttering is a WHOLE PERSON problem, not just a fluency problem. And getting to know the whole person is the trick to successful stuttering therapy. And if we can inject FUN into this learning process, it becomes a win-win proposition for everyone involved. .... I wish you the best of luck in getting a similar program started at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. We actually have an NSA chapter in Omaha/Lincoln that I know would be very eager to help you and your professor in this effort. The contact information is: Joan Cahalan, phone 402-493-7617, email is djcahalan@cox.net or Steve Marcum at smarcum@inebraska.com. Meetings: Second Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. Swanson Library - 90th & Dodge Street, Omaha, NE. .... Please contact them or get back with me at russhicks@mail.com if I can be any further help. .... Thanks for your comments and question, Heather. I hope you are enjoying all the wonderful papers at this ISAD conference. ..... Russ