The Friends One-Day Conference is a wonderful opportunity for families to come together and learn more about stuttering, supporting their child, and to begin building community. Children’s programming is activity-based and focuses on exploring attitudes and emotions, increasing understanding of stuttering, and instilling a greater sense of confidence — while making FRIENDS! SLPs and students will learn more about stuttering, current therapies, and the support available for those who stutter.

Financial assistance is available. If you would like to attend this one-day conference but you are experiencing financial difficulties and find the cost prohibitive, please reach out to Nic Brow at: nic@friendswhostutter.org 

Nan Bernstein Ratner, Ed.D., CCC-SLP is a professor at the University of Maryland, College Park, who has spent more than 40 years working with children who stutter and their families. As a long time member of the Steering Committee of the ASHA Special Interest Group on Stuttering and Fluency Disorders, she was a co-founder of the stuttering specialization initiative (stutteringspecialists.org). She has published extensively in the field of stuttering and is a co-author of A Handbook on Stuttering, now in its 7th edition (with the late Oliver Bloodstein and Shelley Brundage).. For her work, the National Stuttering Association has recognized her as a Professional of the Year, and the World Stuttering and Cluttering Organization (WSCO, previously IFA) named her a distinguished researcher. She likes hanging out in the San Francisco area because that’s where her kids and grandkids live.

Joe Klein, Ph.D., CCC-SLP is a person who stutters and an Associate Professor in Communication Sciences and Disorders at Eastern Washington University in Spokane, WA.  Joe is the co-director of the Successful Stuttering Management Program, teaches classes in fluency disorders and research methods, and supervises therapy for people who stutter. Joe has presented at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and The National Stuttering Association annual conventions in the United States and for Friends: The Association of Young People who Stutter in India and the US. He has also published articles about stuttering in Contemporary Issues in Communication Sciences and Disorders, Perspectives in Fluency Disorders, and The Journal of Fluency Disorders. Joe’s research interests are in the areas of support and therapy for people who stutter. 

Annick Tumolo M.S., CCC-SLP is a dedicated speech language pathologist with 21 years of experience working in the public schools. She opened up her private practice, Naturally Speaking San Francisco in 2014 and currently splits her time between her private practice and working part-time for the Las Lomitas School District. She enjoys working with children from early childhood through the high school years and has extensive training in the area of stuttering. Annick recently completed the CSHA Leadership Development Program and her project focussed on stuttering. In her free time, Annick enjoys traveling, playing pickleball, snuggling with her French Bulldog and having fun with family and friends.  

Nic Brow M.A., CCC-SLP works as a speech language pathologist at the Sisskin Stuttering Center and as an Adjunct Faculty at George Washington University. 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.

Jessica Chizen M.S. CCC-SLP has been practicing as a speech language pathologist in the Bay Area for over a decade. She works at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health in the pediatric outpatient clinic and also has her own private practice in San Francisco seeing children at home and in preschools or private schools. Within both the medical and private practice settings, Jessica enjoys working with children and teenagers who stutter, specifically prioritizing a family-centered approach. Jessica has presented at California Speech Language Hearing Association (CSHA) in the area of stuttering within an episodic model of care. Outside of work, Jessica enjoys discovering new restaurants, new hiking trails, and new bodies of water to swim in.

Maya Chupkov, M.P.A. is a person who stutters and the founder and executive director of Proud Stutter. Maya produces and hosts an award-winning podcast of the same name and is working on a documentary film project on stuttering. She is passionate about breaking the stigma around stuttering through storytelling and bringing together intersectional communities. Maya’s day job is  Media & Democracy Program Manager at California Common Cause where she advocates for local journalism in California, North Carolina, and other states.

Beth Oliverio M.S. CCC-SLP is a speech language pathologist in San Carlos School District supporting students in 4th-8th grade. She has worked with a number of kids and teens who stutter throughout her career. Beth enjoys empowering her students who stutter by fostering their self advocacy skills and teaching them the facts about stuttering. When she’s not at work, you can find Beth at a beach buried in a library book or playing with her dog Nessie.

Lindsey Pollack is a mother, business owner, and volunteer living in Los Altos. She has had a varied career from astrophysics researcher to Apple program manager to home designer, but by far the thing she is the most passionate about is raising her two amazing and unique children. Her 9 year old son is joyful and outgoing, and has stuttered as long as he has talked. Lindsey is grateful to have learned resilience, compassion and patience on her journey to educating herself about stuttering, supporting her son, and becoming an ally of all people who stutter.

Layla Safinia, MA, CCC-SLP is a speech language pathologist who practices at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health and in her own private practice, Embrace Speech and Language Therapy. She is passionate about working with children, teens, and young adults who stutter, focusing on affirming, individualized approaches to communication. Outside of work, Layla enjoys running, hiking, and spending time with her family and friends. She enjoys working with children, teens, and young adults who stutter.