Join our FREE monthly parents’ and caregivers’ group and 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!
February’s special co-host is Dr. Ryan Pollard.
This special event presentation will explore the concept of “first, do no harm.” Within the medical field, it’s a reminder to healthcare professionals to be conscious of not inadvertently adding unnecessary challenges. For parents and families of kids who stutter, it speaks to how they are supporting their child. How much should parents follow their child’s lead vs push for changes that the child may not be ready for or may not yet appreciate the benefits of? What should parents do if their own views on stuttering differ from their child’s? When is a gentle nudge helpful and when can well-meaning encouragement backfire? These are complex questions with no easy answers, so we’ll make some time for group discussion. Part of the presentation will also focus on parents of middle and high schoolers. We’ll discuss how they can support adolescents who stutter as they navigate those uniquely challenging (and, let’s not forget, exciting!) years.
Co-Host Bio:
Dr. Pollard Dr. Ryan Pollard is an associate clinical professor at the University of Colorado Boulder. Along with teaching undergraduate and graduate courses (including the graduate fluency and counseling classes), he supervises individual therapy for clients who stutter and clutter, and an adult stuttering support group. He also started the Colorado Speaks summer camp for adolescents who stutter. Ryan has a passion for training clinicians in holistic stuttering therapy and advocating for those who stutter. To that end, he leads workshops for SLPs and parents, has been involved with SAY for over a decade, and is a board member of FRIENDS: The National Association for Young People Who Stutter and the American Board of Stuttering, Cluttering & Fluency Disorders. Alongside his work as an academic and speech therapist, Ryan is a published author of literary fiction that centers the experiences of people with disabilities.
Each month, our very own Director of SAY: Speech, Brooke Leiman Edwards, MA, CCC-SLP, BCS-SCF, will host with special guest co-hosts including our founder, Taro Alexander, our artistic director, Travis Robertson, our Development Manager, Kate Detrick, and many more! There is no commitment- just register for the months you want to attend to receive your zoom link.
To learn more about the SAY: Parents program, please contact Brooke Leiman Edwards at 646.403.3519 or Brooke@SAY.org.
2025 Dates: January 6, February 3, March 3, April 7, May 5, June 9 (2nd Monday), July 7, August 4, September 8 (2nd Monday), October 6, November 3, and December 1.