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From: Walt Manning
Date: 10/6/03
Time: 5:59:42 PM
Remote Name: 141.225.97.53
I find myself agreeing with nearly all of the comments on this theme. Maybe the most amazing thing I've learned from this conference so far is that Ken St. Louis had published in the Bulgarian Journal of Special Education. I didn't even know there was one. The lack of decent training that several have pointed out continues to be indicated in the journals (for a recent example see Yaruss, J. S. & Quesal, R. W. (2002)Academic and clinical education in fluency disorders: an update. Journal of Fluency Disorders, 27, 43-63. That is not likely to change and may get worst given the new ASHA "standards". As John said, and others have suggested, now and in the future if you want to get decent training in working with PWS you have to pick your school. Clinician who stutter can have an advantage since they tend to have some wisdom about the phonomenon and some "street smarts" about the experience. It doen't make them an expert, just someone with experience on the playing field. Some people who don't stutter don't understand and are focused solely on the surface characteristics of the experience (such as %SS). Most of the people that I know who are professional clinicians (those that stutter and those that don't) understand what they are dealing with and have good ideas about how to help. Textbook information is necessary but not sufficient for being a good helper. As several have said already, listening to and understanding the client and where the person is in their process of change is basic to success. While we need to know several strategies and associated techniques I am absolutely sure that success is not associated with techniques or a particular treatment program (ANY treatment program).