Frequently Asked Questions
Creative Arts Program FAQs
My Stutter Project FAQs
Participants can receive many important benefits from The My Stutter Project, including enhanced confidence, new friendships, greater independence, increased school participation, and, very importantly, young people learning how to most effectively advocate for themselves!
Nope! The My Stutter Project is offered FREE of charge.
All your participants need to participate in most sessions is a reliable internet connection and a device to connect to Zoom. A laptop or tablet is preferred for maximum visibility and access to features. Phones are also just fine to use as well.
Currently, The My Stutter Project is only offered in English.
Parents, caregivers, and family members are welcome to be in the room during the program, and we ask that everyone present during programming work to support the participant’s experience. As much as we can, we want everyone in our program to have a focused and independent experience. We ask that family members present in the room during programming allow participants to answer and ask questions on their own, allow participants to appear on camera by themselves, and refrain from other conversations or activities that may be distracting. If more hands-on support is needed, just let us know, and we can find a supportive middle ground.
Having your camera on is ideal for us to build a connection with everyone, so we will encourage participants to have their camera on, but we do NOT exclude anyone or require cameras to be on. Even if it is a gradual process, we would love to see everyone’s face as we work together and get to know each other more.
Online sessions are typically one hour per week, with a final share being typically 90 minutes. We will confirm times for each session at the time of enrollment opening.
Each child or teen decides the level at which they wish to participate in all aspects of our programming. Everyone will certainly have an opportunity to share their voice and ideas for all of the projects we create, and even if participants choose not to participate in the final share, we still make it a point to acknowledge everyone’s contributions in our last session.
The benefits that participants and teens receive from our My Stutter Project programming are so profound that 80% choose to enroll for multiple sessions in a year, and for multiple years. Similar to Confident Voices, we have begun to see our community of My Stutter Project alumni grow as the program continues with each year.
When your child joins The My Stutter Project, you will be welcomed into a dynamic community of parents. We offer a monthly parent education series designed to forge strong relationships among families so you may access and share information about a broad range of topics. Our parent community is a powerful support system and a safe place for families to learn more about stuttering and how best to support their children.
Click here for dates and information about The My Stutter Project sessions.
Confident Voices FAQs
Children and teens receive so many significant benefits from our weekend program, including enhanced confidence, new friendships, greater independence, increased school participation, and, best of all, young people learn how to advocate for themselves effectively!
Our weekend programs are offered FREE of charge.
Each child or teen decides the level at which they wish to participate in all aspects of our programming. Some children want to appear center stage, while others may opt for an equally important behind-the-scenes role – with each choice being meaningful and empowering.
The benefits that children and teens receive from our Confident Voices weekend program are so profound that 80% choose to enroll for another season. Many children remain in the SAY weekend program until they turn 18 and continue to be a part of the SAY “family” as program mentors.
When your child joins the weekend program, you will be welcomed into a dynamic community of parents. We offer a monthly parent education series designed to build strong relationships among families, allowing them to share experiences and information about a broad range of topics. Our parent community provides a powerful support system and a safe place for families to learn more about stuttering and how to support their children best.
Click here for dates and information about SAY’s Confident Voices program sessions.
SAY’s Confident Voices welcomes young people who stutter, ages 8-18. Participants are teamed up with peers in their own age groups. Confident Voices also incorporates a crucial mentoring component, where teens work with younger children to help them build confidence and communication skills.
You can begin the enrollment process online by clicking here. For more details or to ask additional questions, please get in touch with our Confident Voices team:
- Travis (travis@say.org) or
- Danielle (danielle@say.org
Absolutely. SAY is committed to educating schools and communities about stuttering, and we offer a variety of options tailored for each type of audience.
Please submit an inquiry or contact Travis Robertson, Vice President, at Travis@SAY.org or 646.403.3516.
SAY: DC FAQs
Children and teens receive so many important benefits from SAY: DC, including enhanced confidence, new friendships, greater independence, increased school participation, and, very importantly, young people learn how to most effectively advocate for themselves! One of the most significant benefits is being part of a larger community of people who stutter, where each person has as much time as they need to speak.
No. Central to our mission is the breaking down of all financial barriers to attendance. We are dedicated to providing our award-winning programming completely free of charge, because it is of the utmost importance to us to bring together a socio-economically diverse range of the population — a group that is truly representative of our larger community and of all young people who stutter.
If your child is between the ages of 5-18 and is a person who stutters, they are welcome to be part of the SAY: DC family.
Yes. We make the arts accessible to everyone. We design all programs to be of equal interest to those who already like the arts, as well as those who do not. Each child or teen decides the level at which they wish to participate in all aspects of our programming.
When your child joins SAY: DC, you will be welcomed into a dynamic community of parents. Our parent network is a powerful support system and a safe place for families to learn more about stuttering and how best to support their children.
The process is simple. You can begin by clicking here. If you have questions about enrollment, please contact Leigh Pennebaker at Leigh@SAY.org or by phone at 202.919.4848.
Absolutely. SAY is committed to educating schools and communities about stuttering, and we offer a variety of options tailored for each type of audience. For more information, please contact Taro Alexander at Taro@SAY.org or by phone at 202.919.4848.
SAY: DC is centrally located in the vibrant Golden Triangle, just two blocks from the Farragut North and Dupont Circle Metro Stations. Our open and expansive studio space is awash with natural light and stunning views of the city. It is a place for the SAY: DC community to feel welcomed and inspired.
When a young person joins the SAY: DC community, they, along with their parents, are also joining the broader community of SAY: The Stuttering Association for the Young. SAY is a non-profit organization that has been impacting young people who stutter and their families since 2001. In addition to SAY: DC, SAY offers Camp SAY – a two-week overnight summer camp, individualized speech-therapy, and creative arts programs from young people who stutter.
We fully realize the seriousness of signing up to attend a program every week. It is precisely this deep degree of time-investment that builds a sense of family, belonging, ownership, and pride in the young people of SAY. Being part of SAY: DC is very much like being part of a basketball team or a band. Each participant is important and adds a unique and vital aspect to the team experience. With that said, we know life is busy, and if your child can’t come every week, that won’t be a problem. We do ask each family to make a commitment to SAY: DC, the same way you would make a commitment to speech therapy, learning an instrument, or being part of Little League.
If you have any questions about whether SAY: DC will fit into your family’s schedule, please contact Leigh@SAY.org or by phone at 202.919.4848.
Camp FAQs
Camp SAY FAQs
Yes! Camp SAY is an American Camp Association (ACA)-accredited program, so you can feel confident that our camp program meets exceptional quality and safety standards.
Children and teens leave Camp SAY with so many important benefits, such as increased confidence, new friendships, greater independence, and feeling better prepared to begin the new school year in a very positive way. That’s the reason that about 80% of campers return to Camp SAY the following year.
Camp SAY offers a broad range of sports activities: basketball, soccer, tennis, volleyball, kickball, and more. Arts activities: arts & crafts, singing, dance, acting/improv, creative writing, and more. Outdoor/adventure activities: swimming in the pool, ziplining, hiking, ropes courses, and more!
Please visit CampSAY.org to learn more and enroll!
Camp SAY Across the USA FAQs
Currently, we offer Camp SAY Across the USA in Memphis, Tennessee, at the Halloran Centre for Performing Arts and Education, which is part of the historic Orpheum Theater in Downtown Memphis.
Building confidence and community are two of the greatest benefits of being part of our program. Participating in our weekend camp can lay the foundation for friendships that we hope will last throughout the year, and being able to explore their creativity and imagination in our program can transfer to increased confidence at home, at school, and just in everyday life.
Nope! Camp SAY Across the USA is offered FREE of charge.
Currently, we offer a weekend day camp (Saturday and Sunday from 9:00am to 5:00pm) twice a year, once in the fall and once in the spring.
Day one of our two-day camp begins with check-in, breakfast, an introduction to who we are, and then getting to know you games and activities. We have lunch, then typically focus on a larger collaborative creative art-based project for the afternoon (visual art, music, writing, etc).
Day two begins with check-in and breakfast as well, and we begin work in small groups crafted by age and interest. These groups will work on a presentation to share on stage at the end of the day. After a lunch break, we invite friends and family to see and support the original creations of our campers. The day closes with a parent/caregiver meeting and our closing moment all together.
Having participation for the whole weekend of camp is ideal, but making a connection even for part of the time is valuable. Let us know at the time of registration if your camper can only participate for part of the time.
Participation in our Memphis programming opens the door to SAY’s greater network of programming and resources for campers and parents, as well as the Orpheum Theatre’s network of programming and resources.
Typically, we do not have parents volunteer with Camp SAY in order to promote an independent experience for our campers. We are interested in finding other ways to engage family and friends who want to support the work that we do. Just let us know if you would like to get more involved!
Camp SAY is a nut-free camp, and we can accommodate a range of food allergies and sensitivities. You will have the opportunity to share all of that information in the enrollment form. Additionally, we encourage all families to share as much information as they can about any other considerations their campers may need to help us prepare to fully support everyone.
Click here for dates and information about Camp SAY: Across the USA.
Speech Therapy FAQs
SAY uses a highly individualized and comprehensive approach that considers both the observable features of stuttering, but, more importantly, addresses how stuttering is impacting the child’s whole communication experience. In viewing stuttering holistically, we believe that we not only should be looking at the physical manifestations of stuttering, but also the child’s thoughts, feelings and reactions to stuttering, the reactions they are receiving in their environment from their peers and community, as well as the impact stuttering is having on their ability to confidently and effectively communicate in a variety of speaking situations. While your child is our focus, SAY believes that family and community involvement (ex., parents, siblings, teachers, friends, other service providers, etc.) is an essential ingredient to any successful therapy program.
Everyone’s experience in speech therapy is unique and largely determined by their individual therapy goal. These goals are created during the family’s initial consultation and evaluation and are continuously revisited to adapt to the child’s changing priorities and experiences. Treatment objectives often center around helping the child to develop healthy attitudes and feelings about speaking, reducing word and situational fears, addressing physical struggle, enhancing their confidence and enjoyment in social and academic settings, and, very importantly, providing them with the knowledge and skills to effectively advocate for themselves. While each child grows in unique ways during therapy, SAY helps young people who stutter discover that stuttering doesn’t have to define them or hold them back from enjoying communication.
SAY: Speech consists of certified speech therapists who have demonstrated advanced knowledge, experience, and a passion for working with children and teens who stutter. SAY: Speech staff operate under the direction of Brooke Leiman Edwards, MA, CCC-SLP, BCS-SCF, a board-certified specialist in stuttering who has years of experience directing stuttering clinics and volunteering in the stuttering support community. Brooke joined SAY in 2022 with a passion for empowering children and teens to be confident, effective communicators – a vision she shared with the organization. Brooke has dedicated her career to immersing herself in learning more about stuttering, both by staying up to date with evidence-based practice and, more importantly, by learning from her clients and those in the stuttering support community. Brooke understands the importance of sharing knowledge about stuttering with the key people in a child’s life. She has provided information and support to parents and teachers, as well as continuing education and mentorship to fellow speech-language pathologists who want to learn more about stuttering and stuttering therapy.
It shouldn’t be! However, unfortunately, sometimes it is. Research has shown that many speech therapists, unfortunately, lack the training and confidence to assess and work alongside people who stutter. To ensure that your child is receiving the best treatment, SAY’s speech therapists are happy to work with your child, family, and/or current speech therapist to determine if the therapy that you are receiving is a good fit for your specific needs and desires.
Currently, SAY: Speech is offering teletherapy sessions for children and teens who stutter in NY, DC, and MD. If you live outside of these three states, please let us know, and we will be happy to set up a consultation to discuss your options and to try and make outside referrals to specialists who are licensed in your state.
The duration of sessions varies depending on the individual, but will typically be scheduled from 30-60 minutes in length.
SAY is committed to providing the highest level of speech therapy at an affordable price. SAY wants to ensure that every child has the opportunity to receive speech therapy from a stuttering specialist, regardless of financial status, so we offer sliding scale rates.
SAY does not accept health insurance. However, we provide monthly “superbills” upon request. Superbills are general forms that families can submit to see if they qualify for reimbursement from their out-of-network benefits through their health plan. Our superbills include information that most insurance companies need, although since we aren’t in contract with any one particular insurance company, we cannot promise that our superbills will have the specifics for your company.
Whether you submit to your insurance company or not, sliding scale fees are available for all services, so that EVERY child has access to SAY: Speech. NO FAMILY WILL BE TURNED AWAY for financial reasons. Please reach out to us for more information.For more information or if you have additional questions? Please contact Brooke Leiman Edwards, MA, CCC-SLP, BCS-SCF at 646.403.3519 or Brooke@SAY.org, who will answer any questions you may have and schedule a consultation, if desired.
Kids & Teens FAQs
SAY is a place where kids and teens who stutter can be themselves, make friends, and speak freely. SAY is here for you. We celebrate every voice, exactly as it is.
All of our programs—creative arts weekend programs, Camp SAY, day camps, and more—are fun, supportive, and full of activities that help you grow in confidence and building meaningful friendships. You might act, write stories, play games, explore the outdoors, or just hang out and make friends who get it. Every program is about community, courage, and being yourself.
Learn more about our creative programs here and Camp SAY here.
Not at all. SAY is a community full of kids and teens who stutter. Many people tell us it’s the first time they’ve met others who speak like they do. You’ll meet people who understand what stuttering feels like, and you’ll never have to hide your voice here.
SAY doesn’t judge or place value on how you feel about stuttering or the choices you make. We meet you wherever you are in your relationship with stuttering. No matter how you feel about stuttering, SAY can be a place to find community, support, and space to discover who you are.
No one has found a technique or approach that stops or cures stuttering. At SAY:Speech, therapy can be a place to explore how stuttering is impacting you and experiment with different choices that may make communication feel easier and more enjoyable so you can say what you want to say and do what you want to do. The choices may look different for everyone, and SAY: Speech can be a safe place to begin to understand stuttering better and figure out what works for you!
Absolutely. SAY can help you find ways to talk about stuttering with teachers, classmates, coaches, and other people at school. You can schedule time to talk through your situation with a SAY staff member, have SAY staff connect directly with someone at your school, or get handouts and resources to help you come up with your own way of sharing information. We can help you explore self-advocacy and accommodations so you can participate and communicate more comfortably at school.
Parents & Caregivers FAQs
Of course! Come join our SAY: Parents Monday Night Group. This group meets on the first Monday of the month and is FREE of charge. You’ll find a community of loved ones that are asking tough questions, sharing their highs and lows, and building their confidence in becoming their child’s best advocate and ally!
There isn’t. Registration is month-to-month, so you can sign up for the dates that work best for you.
SAY: Parents Monday Night Group is hosted by our year-round speech therapist and board-certified stuttering specialist, Brooke Edwards, along with a variety of invited guest co-hosts who are involved in the stuttering community. While the hosts help to facilitate conversations, the meetings consist primarily of parent-led discussion. If you have any specific questions for the SAY staff, you are always welcome to email or set up a phone consultation to get your questions answered.
In addition to our typical Monday night group, SAY: Parents offers our “Speaker Series” where an invited speaker will provide an informational session on an important topic related to stuttering. This occurs 3-4 times per year. We recommend joining our newsletter and following us on social media to stay up to date on registration for our SAY: Parents speaker series!
Yes! In addition to our parent programming that is open to the general public, Camp SAY aims to expand support by offering exclusive programs for Camp SAY parents! We offer both in-person and virtual ways for family members to stay educated, connected, and boost confidence in knowing how they can best support their child throughout the year. Camp SAY parents can get involved in their own fun and learning through our Camp SAY Allies & Advocates Program (virtual), family Chats with Brooke (virtual), and visiting Day at Camp SAY (in-person!) Contact Rich@SAY.org (camp director) or Brooke@SAY.org (director of SAY: Speech) to learn more about parent programming for Camp SAY families.
Check out and share our handouts and resources, including Listening Tips, Stuttering 101, and more.
Speech Therapists & Educators FAQs
SAY invites speech therapists across the world to our FREE bi-monthly virtual peer mentorship group called Intervision. At Intervision, clinicians of all levels of knowledge and experience with stuttering therapy gather via Zoom to share and learn from one another through case presentations and breakout discussion groups.
Intervision is a type of peer learning method used in many organizations around the world. With typical supervision, there is one person providing training and feedback. However, there is no lead expert or speaker present at Intervision. All participants are recognized as being at the same level, and the roles in the group (ex., facilitator, presenter, reflecting group) are revolving. Intervision facilitates a safe and fun learning environment where participants work together to further their knowledge and tackle shared challenges. When you register, you will receive all the information you need to join your first Intervision meeting! No preparation involved- just bring your experience and questions with you!
Nope. You register separately for each meeting and only come to the ones that work with your schedule.
Yes and no. Intervision operates by participants volunteering to help facilitate, present cases, and brainstorm together. There won’t be a lead expert in the group to run the show if everyone decides to only observe. However, we understand that it can feel intimidating for first-time participants to sign up when they’re not sure what to expect. By signing up, you will receive a thorough outline of how Intervision runs, complete with a script for facilitators to use. There is no prep time involved! It’s truly a fun, casual, and low-pressure environment to learn in. But yes, of course, you can take your first meeting to acclimate to the process. We hope you come back to another meeting feeling comfortable to be a full participant!
Certificates of attendance will be provided for 1 professional development hour (PDH) to all certified speech therapists!
We sure do! Through our SAY: Speech School-Based Speech Therapy Outreach Program, we invite the speech therapy departments of public schools to partner up and enhance their knowledge and support of the students who stutter in their district. Depending on the level of programming agreed upon, staff clinicians will be provided with access to live or recorded webinars on stuttering, clinical resources, and/or 1:1 virtual “office hours” with a board-certified stuttering specialist.
There is! You’re invited to become a Camp SAY SPEAKS member. SPEAKS stands for “Speech therapists Promoting Education And Knowledge-Sharing.” SPEAKS membership is FREE and only available to staff at Camp SAY who are speech therapists and speech therapy students. Join us to create a community of clinicians that you can go to year-round with successes, challenges, and questions that you may face at work. You’ll be able to network with other like-minded students and professionals about mentorships, jobs, etc., and enjoy exclusive educational opportunities and professional development hours (PDH) available only to Camp SAY staff (that happen to be in the field)!
Yes! Whether you are a day care provider, teacher, guidance counselor, school administrator, or other professional, SAY is dedicated to helping our community better understand stuttering and evidence-based stuttering therapy & resources. Professionals can connect with SAY staff via phone/Zoom consultations, school presentations, and more!
We hope to continue to grow and develop learning opportunities for speech therapists and other professionals. Check out and share our handouts and resources, including Listening Tips, Stuttering 101, and more. We recommend joining our newsletter and following us on social media to stay up-to-date on professional trainings and resources.
Contact the Director of SAY: Speech, Brooke Edwards, MA, CCC-SLP, BCS-SCF, at Brooke@SAY.org for all questions related to professional trainings and opportunities.
My Beautiful Stutter FAQs
My Beautiful Stutter follows five kids who stutter, ages 9 to 18, from all over the United States and all walks of life, who, after experiencing a lifetime of bullying and stigmatization, meet other children who stutter at an interactive arts-based program, The Stuttering Association for the Young, based in New York City. Their journey to SAY find some close to suicide, others withdrawn and fearful, exhausted and defeated from failed fluency training, societal pressures to not stutter or the decision to remain silent. Over the course of a year we witness first hand the incredible transformation that happens when these young people of wildly different backgrounds experience for the first time the revolutionary idea at the heart of SAY: that it’s okay to stutter.
Buy or rent the film today on Amazon Prime Video
Stream NOW in the US on Peacock
Buy or Rent outside the US on Vimeo On Demand
Now available on all domestic US flights on American Airlines
Executive Producers: Paul Rudd, Mariska Hargitay, Peter Hermann, George Springer, Patrick James Lynch
Producers: Ryan Gielen, Michael Alden
Director: Ryan Gielen
Writer: Steven Sander
Yes!
WINNER SHORTY SOCIAL GOOD AWARD THE 2020 SHORTY AWARDS
WINNER BEST DOCUMENTARY 2019 BOSTON INTERNATIONAL KIDS FILM FESTIVAL
WINNER AUDIENCE AWARD BEST FILM, SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS 2019 NAPA VALLEY FILM FESTIVAL
WINNER VIOLA MARSHALL AUDIENCE AWARD BEST DOCUMENTARY 2019 RHODE ISLAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
WINNER BEST DOCUMENTARY 2019 GOLDEN DOOR FILM FESTIVAL
WINNER BEST DOCUMENTARY 2019 DOC SUNBACK FESTIVAL
OFFICIAL SELECTION Napa Valley Film Festival
OFFICIAL SELECTION Heartland International Film Festival
OFFICIAL SELECTION Indy Film Festival
OFFICIAL SELECTION Boston International Kids Film Festival
OFFICIAL SELECTION Rhode Island International Film Festival
OFFICIAL SELECTION Alexandria Film Festival
OFFICIAL SELECTION Doc Sunback Film Festival
OFFICIAL SELECTION Golden Door Film Festival
Click here to learn more about hosting a screening.
Do you have additional questions or want more information about SAY Programs?
Please submit an inquiry or contact Travis Robertson, SAY’s Artistic Director, at Travis@SAY.org or 646.403.3516.