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From: Gene Cooper
Date: 22 Oct 2004
Time: 10:51:15 -0500
Remote Name: 24.233.173.179
John: First of all, thank you for those kinds words at the conclusion of your comments. I found them to be unassailable. Secondly, thank you for alerting us to the web site and the "new" thinking issues. I look forward to following those up. Your well deserved reputation for keeping us academicians and clinicians honest and informed is once again reinforced. You have been more than a good friend to my wife and I for many years and you know that admire and agree with most if not all that you have contriibuted to our thinking about stuttering. I'm glad you picked-up on Bill's not-so flattering comments. I met Bill about 30 years ago and visited in his home in Ellensburg, WA. He was as open then as he was on the tape about his concerns that the "person" was frequently replaced with the "stutterer" in the profession's treatment of those who stutter. Unfortunately, as you note so well, that problem continues even today. We see it evidenced by those who continue to focus on what we have long called the "frequency fallacy." That is that the clinician focuses so much on the disfluences the individual experiences that the more significant components of the problem are over-looked. I know you are aware that you and I have long worked to change that stance in the clinicians who serve those who stutter. I think Van and Joe also shared our view as their discussions of treatment in their writings and in their treatment programs amply demonstrated. So, over all, as you know, you and I share the concerns you express. Not to be critical, however, I think you may have painted your criticisms of the profession with a rather heavy brush. Although many sins were undoubtedly committed and opportunites for progress were stunted by over-zealous behaviorists during the past century, there were always a few voices of reason. I think Van and Joe were were two of the finest of those few. John, it's always a please to hear from you. Like that Eveready bunny, you just keep going - and we all benefit from it. Indeed, you are one of the insightful and forward-looking giants of the self help movement. Your comments are most helpful. Be well. Gene