Fluency Friday supports teens, children who stutter

Fluency Friday is hosted by the University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Hamilton County Educational Service Center and Pathways Forward Center for Stuttering. This year’s event will be from 8:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Nov. 8 at the Hamilton County Educational Service Center Conference Center, 11083 Hamilton Ave., Cincinnati.

The National Stuttering Association estimates that more than 79 million people worldwide live with a stutter. The goal of Fluency Friday isn’t to eliminate stuttering but rather to learn about stuttering and show children and teens that they’re not alone.

“Our aim is not to cure stuttering or stop children from stuttering because stuttering is neurophysiological in nature,” said Katrina Purcell, a speech-language pathologist at Cincinnati Children’s. “While some children may recover from stuttering, other children have a variety of contributing factors, making it more likely they will persist in stuttering.  Our message is that we want you to keep talking — we have strategies to help talking be easier — but it’s OK to stutter.”

The theme of this year’s Fluency Friday program, which is in its 24th year, is “Tell Us Your Story.”

Students in the third through 12th grades will share their personal experiences in an understanding and accepting environment, participating in group therapy sessions as well as engaging in team-building and confidence-building activities. It gives them the chance to draw support from professionals, graduate students, their families and especially their peers. Most of all, it is a chance for students to come together, have fun and learn from one another.

“It feels like everyone’s birthday when we’re all together,” said Robert Reichhardt, a board-certified specialist in stuttering, cluttering and fluency disorders and director of Pathways Forward Center for Stuttering. “It’s a lot of fun, and we enjoy celebrating the kids and their unique gifts.”

Throughout the day, parents will attend presentations from local and national experts in the field of stuttering and have the opportunity to ask questions. They will also meet with adults who stutter from the Tristate area.

“This is a great opportunity to help parents understand that even if their child continues to stutter, it does not have to limit the opportunities they have in life,” Reichhardt said.

Therapy for children and teens is provided by graduate clinicians from UC’s College of Allied Health Sciences under the guidance of licensed speech-language pathologists.

The registration fee of $5 includes one student and up to two caregivers. Scholarships are available.

Caregivers must be present for all elementary and middle school/junior high students. Parents of high school students are encouraged to attend, but it’s not required.

Find more information and register for Fluency Friday.

Featured image at top: A child speaks during a Fluency Friday event. Photo/Cincinnati Children's