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From: Dana Lebovic Graduate Student Kean University
Date: 16 Oct 2012
Time: 14:29:33 -0500
Remote Name: 24.0.95.103
Because stuttering is often difficult to treat, many SLPs simply do not want to work with individuals who stutter. They feel that their training did not adequately prepare them. As a current graduate student, I can agree. I have completed two clinics at my school, and I did not have any clients who stuttered. I am currently at my first externship, with no individuals who stutter on my caseload. In our fluency class, there is a woman who is currently working in the school system. She said because she feels comfortable working with individuals who stutter, other SLPs send them to her, because of their lack of comfort. I recently attended a National Stuttering Association support group meeting, where one woman attended with her son who stuttered. She spoke about the difficulties he had faced throughout his life in both private religious school, as well as in the public school system in regards to his stuttering. If you keep brushing something under the carpet, and sending fluency clients to other people, the problem will not go away. It is important to treat every child with an optimistic outlook and appropriate goals. However, if you feel uncomfortable, seek help from others!