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, and connect with other adults and 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

Brittany Coleman, MS, CCC-SLP, is an experienced speech-language pathologist specializing in the evaluation and treatment of speech and language disorders across the lifespan. She spent nearly eight years at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, where she provided care for children with diverse communication needs. Brittany has a passion for working with individuals who stutter, which led her to her current role as a Research SLP and Clinical Educator in the Department of CSD at the University of Pittsburgh.

Amanda Hampton Wray, PhD, CCC-SLP, is an Associate Professor and Vice Chair of Innovation in the Department of Communication Science & Disorders at University of Pittsburgh. Her research program examines the development of brain functions supporting language and attention using a multimodal approach, including behavioral and neurophysiological measures, with a focus on developmental stuttering. Her work also aims to increase support for people who stutter through clinical education.

Allison Ladavat, MA, CCC-SLP, is a person who stutters, a former speech-language pathologist, and a mom of 3. She lives in Pittsburgh, PA, where she works as the Director of Accessibility Services at Point Park University. Through the Friends organization, Allison helped to develop a partnership with the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation, coordinating unique experiences at each Penguins home game for local children who stutter.

Seth E. Tichenor, Ph.D., CCC-SLP is a person who stutters, a speech-language pathologist, and an Associate Professor at Duquesne University. He directs the Life Impact Lab and his research interests include better understanding and predicting individual differences in the experience of stuttering, understanding how adverse impact related to the condition develops, and determining how moments of stuttering occur in speech. His research is funded by the National Institutes of Health. He practices clinically and is actively involved in clinical education regarding stuttering assessment and treatment.

Carrie Van Soest, EdD, CCC-SLP, works in the Stuttering Clinic at Duquesne University. With over 20 years of clinical experience, she is a regular presenter at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, state and local conferences, and school district professional development days and trainings. Carrie received her educational doctorate from Slippery Rock University. In her personal time, she cleans up after her six kids. She loves swimming and vacationing! 

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.