Financial assistance is available

If you would like to attend this one-day event but find the cost prohibitive, please reach out to Nic Brow at: nic@friendswhostutter.org 

Join our individualized one-day program!

Young people who stutter

Meet other people who stutter, share challenges and successes, learn about stuttering and ways to increase your confidence, and have fun communicating

Adults who stutter

Share your story, connect, and support young people who stutter across workshops, shared meals, and large group activities

Parents & Caregivers

Learn how to best support your child, meet other caregivers of people who stutter, and share experiences and concerns with people who get it

SLPs & Students

Learn more about stuttering, current therapy practices, and the support available to people who stutter and their families. SLPs earn 0.55 CEUs

Presenters and Facilitators

Nic Brow M.A., CCC-SLP works as a speech language pathologist at the Sisskin Stuttering Center and as the Friends One-Day Events Director. He has worked as a speech therapist within multiple public schools with students from the preschool to high school level. Nic frequently presents on stuttering affirming therapy both nationally and internationally. He predominantly works with youth who stutter and their families, within the framework of Avoidance Reduction Therapy for Stuttering (ARTS®). In his free time, Nic enjoys surfing, pickleball, and spending time with family and friends.

Tricia Krauss-Lehrman, M.M.S., CCC-SLP, BCS-SCF worked at the Callier Center for Communication Disorders, part of the University of Texas at Dallas, for 28 years providing evaluations and therapy to individuals of all ages, with a special emphasis on fluency disorders for the last 15 years there.  In 2010, Tricia retired from UTD to open a private practice in Dallas devoted to working with individuals of all ages who are impacted by fluency disorders and continues to guest lecture at UTD.  Because of a deep belief in the power of support/self-help, Tricia has participated in and created support groups in the Dallas area for the past 43 years.  She has actively participated in the Dallas adult chapter of the NSA since it began in 1982; created a support group for elementary-aged students who stutter and their parents in 2000 which is still active; revived the NSA Dallas TWST chapter for teens with the help of an adult client who stutters in 2011; and created S-POPS, Support for Parents of Preschoolers who Stutter in 2015.  She received the Professional of the Year award from the NSA in 2017.  In her free time, Tricia enjoys creating functional pottery, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

Chelsea Maxey, M.S., CCC-SLP, is a speech-language pathologist who works at the Shelton Speech-Language Center. She has been at Shelton for 5 years and previously worked in the hospitals and home health settings. At Shelton we provide screenings, evaluations and therapy to clients with language, speech sound disorders, and other learning differences. Chelsea has training in the Michael Palin Parent-Child Interaction approach and is working towards becoming a Qualified Orofacial Myologist, (QOM), Chelsea’s passion is working with clients who stutter and their families. She is thrilled that we are hosting the Friends One-Day Event at Shelton, an inclusive school that promotes self-advocacy and confidence!

Jaime Michise, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-SCF, has been a speech-language pathologist for over fifteen years. She owns a private practice in Frisco, Texas and specializes in working with people who stutter of all ages. Jaime teaches graduate stuttering at Stephen F. Austin State University, is a faculty member at Camp Shout Out for Youth Who Stutter, and co-leads the Dallas TWST Chapter of the National Stuttering Association. Jaime also presents regularly on the topics of stuttering, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and mindfulness. In her spare time, Jaime loves running, trying new coffee shops, and traveling with her husband and two little girls! Jaime has a passion for supporting people who stutter and their families and is so excited to be part of this wonderful event!

Laura Sheppard, M.S. CCC-SLP, BCS-SCF, is a speech therapist and owner of North Dallas Speech, a private practice serving people of all ages with communication goals in Dallas, Texas. She has worked as a speech therapist in both hospital and school settings before establishing her private practice ten years ago, where she serves people of all ages who stutter, clutter, or present with other fluency disorders. Laura is a co-chapter leader of the NSA Dallas Teen Group, is involved in S-POPS (a support group for parents of preschoolers who stutter), and is excited to help bring the Friends One-Day Event to Dallas this Spring! She strongly believes in client-centered care and providing individualized support to each person and family who walks through her door. In her free time, Laura enjoys puzzles, the television show “Survivor”, and Texas Longhorn sports.

Tricia Krauss-Lehrman, M.M.S., CCC-SLP, BCS-SCF worked at the Callier Center for Communication Disorders, part of the University of Texas at Dallas, for 28 years providing evaluations and therapy to individuals of all ages, with a special emphasis on fluency disorders for the last 15 years there. In 2010, Tricia retired from UTD to open a private practice in Dallas devoted to working with individuals of all ages who are impacted by fluency disorders and continues to guest lecture at UTD. Because of a deep belief in the power of support/self-help, Tricia has participated in and created support groups in the Dallas area for the past 43 years. She has actively participated in the Dallas adult chapter of the NSA since it began in 1982; created a support group for elementary-aged students who stutter and their parents in 2000 which is still active; revived the NSA Dallas TWST chapter for teens with the help of an adult client who stutters in 2011; and created S-POPS, Support for Parents of Preschoolers who Stutter in 2015. She received the Professional of the Year award from the NSA in 2017. In her free time, Tricia enjoys creating functional pottery, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

David Alberto Alpuche Ramírez is a photographer, entrepreneur, and author from Mexico City. He began stuttering at the age of two, and he’s pretty good at it by now. David has been active in the stuttering community for more than a decade as a member of the National Stuttering Association (where he was awarded Chapter Leader of the Year in 2017), a consultant at the University of Texas at Dallas, hosting the online support group Stutter Social, and as one of the leaders in the nonprofit To Be Like Me. David is the author of “1000 Answers: What Everyone Should Know About Stuttering.” When he’s not working, he enjoys playing chess, reading, and diving into the occasional mosh pit at metal festivals.

Cole Oehlers is an entrepreneur, business owner, and lifelong person who stutters, originally from Minnesota and currently based in Dallas, Texas. He has been involved with FRIENDS: The National Association of Young People Who Stutter since 2009 and has spoken at numerous FRIENDS conferences over the past fifteen years. Cole is a co-founder of the Minneapolis–St. Paul Adult Stuttering Group (MSP Stuttering Group) and has extensive experience in sales and public speaking, where communication is central to his professional success. He was named a Top 10 finalist out of more than 27,000 competitors on The Great American Speak-Off television show. Cole is committed to supporting people who stutter in developing confidence, self-advocacy, and a strong sense of identity around their communication.

Christine Hekmat Abasi, MS-SLP is a recent speech-language pathology graduate and a current PhD student conducting clinical therapy research across a range of motor speech communication disorders, including stuttering. She has experience presenting topics related to stuttering research at local, state, and national conferences. As a person who stutters, she is deeply involved in the stuttering community and serves as a co-leader of the Dallas TWST Chapter of the National Stuttering Association. Her work is grounded in affirming, evidence-based approaches to stuttering intervention. In her free time, Christine enjoys reading, running, and participating in game nights with friends.

Stacy Nunnelee, MA, CCC-SLP is a Principal Lecturer at the University of North Texas and has been a practicing speech language pathologist for over 32 years. She has specialized in working with adults with neurogenic disorders, adolescents and adults with high functioning autism, and people of all ages who stutter. She currently runs the North Texas Stuttering Support Community group (a National Stuttering Association support group chapter) serving the Denton and surrounding areas for 4 years. She is involved with the Stuttering Association for the Young (SAY) through a group called Intervision where professionals meet quarterly to learn, explore, and discuss stuttering, therapy techniques, and case studies. Most recently, she has been working with SPACE (Stuttering, People, Arts, Community, Education) to create a theatrical performance that will be utilized by people who stutter across the nation to help spread awareness, enhance education, and invoke advocacy for stuttering. In her free time, Stacy enjoys reformer pilates, walking and hiking, spending time with her husband and 3 children, and planning parties and events for her family. She is committed to working with people who stutter and helping them find their confidence and feeling the freedom to use their voice.

Ana Paula G. Souza Mumy, SLPD, CCC-SLP, is a trilingual Speech-Language Pathologist, Program Director and Associate Professor. She teaches stuttering at the graduate level and has provided and supervised clinical services for people who stutter across the lifespan. She is the co-founder and president of Spero Stuttering, Inc., a nonprofit organization that seeks to help, empower, and advocate for the stuttering community and their families by equipping those who work with people who stutter. Ana Paula is also a facilitator at Camp Shout Out, a one-of-a-kind camp for youth who stutter. She received the NSA’s 2022 Professional of the Year award and the 2024 Burtis-Vogel-Elkins Community Service Award for her service and initiatives through Spero Stuttering. She enjoys singing, writing, reading, and traveling with her husband and kids.

Sample Schedule

Learning Outcomes

After attending this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Explain the relationship between effective intervention and self–esteem for children who stutter.
• Describe the need for a management approach to childhood stuttering that includes parents, professionals and support networks.
• Identify specific social and clinical strategies for supporting children and their families.

Friends Accommodation Statement

Friends is committed to providing accessible programming in accordance with ASHA standards and our values of inclusion and equity. Accommodation requests will be reviewed individually, and we will make every effort to meet those needs based on available resources.

To request accommodations or ask questions, please contact Nic Brow at nic@friendswhostutter.org at least 5 days in advance.