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From: Pam
Date: 18 Oct 2010
Time: 21:26:10 -0500
Remote Name: 67.248.218.106
Hi Annie, I can tell you from the three conferences I have attended that their are lots of activities that foster communication. In 2009, there was this great workshop where all the parents sat in a circle and kids stood in a circle around them. One by one, kids whispered in a parents ear something they wanted parents to know about their stuttering. And they went around the circle. Then the parents and kids switched. It was all whispered.Imagine how empowering that was -to hear these heartfelt messages from kids to parents and vice versa. It was so special.... There are also panel presentations where teens tell their stuttering stories to parents and adults. And their was a workshop last year called, In Our Shoes, where people who stutter told adults and parents how it feels to be told to use targets or strategies. One 16 year-old-boy told the group, and his parents, that he wanted to stop therapy because he thought he was OK just the way he was, and if he decided to resume therapy, it would be his decision. You could hear the hearts pounding and the silent applause for this kid;s bravery. Yes, there are plenty of well thought-out and facilitated activities for kids and parents be comfortable talking with each other. That's what Friends does so well-bring the whole family in, so nothing is secret and taboo. Come to a conference or One-Day workshop and see for yourself the magic that is worked when kids and parents know it is OK to talk about stuttering.