Ehud Yairi Receives Prestigious Award

1-800-992-9392 www.stutteringhelp.org • www.tartamudez.org THE STUTTERING FOUNDATION A Nonprofit Organization FALL 2005 Since 1947...Helping Those Who Stutter Research Highlights, page 5 Media Awards 2005, page 3 Library Outreach, page 7 Ehud Yairi Receives Prestigious Award By Nan Bernstein Ratner As recognition of his contri- butions to the field of stuttering, Ehud Yairi, Ph.D., was named the recipient of the Malcolm Fraser Award for Excellence during the Leadership Conference of the Special Interest Division 4 (Fluency) of the American Speech- Photo by Susan Walker Language-Hearing Association Conservationist Alan Rabinowitz, Ph.D., enjoys speaking with chil- Dr. Ehud Yairi receives the in Boston on Aug. 4. 2005 Malcolm Fraser dren during his exploration around the world. Recently, Rabinowitz Award from Jane Fraser. The selection committee in- established the Hukawng Valley Tiger Reserve in northern cluded Vianne Bjornberg, Myanmar. The reserve is the size of the state of Vermont. Susan Hamilton, Brett Kluetz, BIOGRAPHY Barry Guitar, and Dick Curlee. Ehud Yairi Poignant Speech Since his graduation from Education: B.A. the University of Iowa in from Tel Aviv 1970, Dr. Yairi has conducted Highlights Conference University; M.A. and research that has literally Editor’s Note: Following is the speech given by Alan Rabinowitz Ph.D. from University transformed our understanding on June 17 at SFA’s two-day conference in Minneapolis. A DVD of of Iowa. this extraordinary speech is now available from SFA. of childhood stuttering. Career: He has One of the first investigators contributed exten- early 20 years ago, I stood before the Prime to target close examination of Minister of Belize and convinced him to set up sively to the research the beginning stages of stutter- literature on child- Nthe world’s first and only jaguar preserve. Ten ing, Ehud was able to demon- years ago I sat with tribal headmen asking their help in hood stuttering for strate through programmatic more than 30 years. setting up one of the world’s largest Himalayan parks to investigation, over the span of preserve species of animals that few people have ever His work has focused more than a decade, specific seen or heard of. A little more than a year ago, in March on various analyses features that distinguish 2004, I sat with the military dictators of Myanmar of speech disfluency, preschool stuttering from nor- and signed into law the world’s largest tiger reserve, as well as the onset, mal developmental disfluency. 8,500 square miles, an area almost the size of the state development and ge- He was also one of the first of Vermont. Four weeks ago I was meeting with the netics of stuttering. Continued on page 4 Continued on page 6 Newly discovered families give impetus to genetics research By Dennis Drayna, Ph.D. tained at Mankato State identified 4 additional large Recent research in University, researchers had pre- families, ranging in size from Cameroon, West Africa, has un- viously identified a single 25 to 80 individuals, and in all covered the existence of an en- Cameroonian family of 100 in- of these families, almost half of tire group of previously un- dividuals, 45 of whom stutter. the individuals stutter. All the known families in which stutter- This unusual family moti- families found so far come from ing occurs as a simple inherited vated more field studies in a single region in Cameroon’s trait. Through the cooperation of Cameroon. These studies have Northwest Province, suggest- the Speak Clear Association of now shown that as remarkable ing there might be some com- as this family is, they’re not mon inherited factor at work in Cameroon (SCAC) and the Dennis Drayna, Ph.D. Stuttering Home Page main- unique. Researchers have now Continued on page 12 2 www.stutteringhelp.org 1- 800-992-9392 “Hot” Twin Days in Twin Cities for School Clinicians chool-based clinicians at the Stuttering Foundation’s annu- Sal two-day conference, Stuttering Therapy: Practical Ideas for the School Clinician, were moved and motivated by professionals in the field and by conservationist Alan Rabinowitz, Ph.D., who spoke about his own struggles growing up with stuttering (please see the full text of his speech, start- ing on the front page). Participants work in small groups, allowing for answers to specific questions and for practicing The conference, which was held treatment skills. June 17 and 18 in Minneapolis-St. Paul, brought together more than 100 people from schools, university clin- ics and private practices. Comments gathered at the end of the conference had attendees giving top marks. “This has been the best conference I’ve ever been to,” wrote one The Friday evening reception gave attendees an opportuni- participant. “The knowledge gained ty to network with other professionals. is tremendous. It was just what I was looking for.” Another stated: “An exceptional conference. “One of the best I’ve ever attended in 19 years as an SLP!” One speech-language pathologist School clinicians discuss how to put it very simply, “Great conference. lead in-services, write meaningful Well organized!” goals and incorporate teachers dur- Many agreed they now have new ing the conference. ideas to incorporate into the many ac- tivities they are already doing. Presenters Lisa Scott, Ph.D.; E. Charles Healey, Ph.D.; Peter Ramig, Ph.D.; Bill Murphy, M.A.; Kristin Chmela, M.A.; and Patricia Zebrowski, Ph.D., offered practical strategies for therapy, counsel- ing parents, working with adoles- cents, measuring progress, and dealing effectively with emotions and attitudes. Some of the topics covered were including teachers in the therapy pro- cess, leading in-services, and writing meaningful goals and objectives for the classroom setting. Small groups were led by Minnesotans Katie Dauer, M.A., and Judith Kuster, M.A., along Time to talk about caseloads and with Susan Cochrane, M.A.; other topics is built into the two-day Joseph Donaher, M.A.; Elise conference. Kaufman, M.S.; and Ann McKeehan, M.S. The next two-day conference will It’s not often that you go to a conference be in June of 2006. For more infor- “where all the presenters are exceptionally mation, please contact the SFA at (800) 992-9392 or e-mail info @stut- terrific. This was such a conference. teringhelp.org. ❑ ” FALL 2005 1- 800-992-9392 3 Excellent Reporting Recognized Lifetime of For the 14th year, the Stuttering Rapids Press is honored for her Foundation recognizes the impor- work. Lubic is the second place win- Achievements tance of the media in raising aware- ner in the small newspapers category A Special Lifetime Achievement ness about stuttering and what can be for providing readers with useful Media Award goes to public rela- done to help. information about tions executive Michael Sheehan, The 2005 Media Awards for the different ways who dealt effectively with his stut- Excellence go to 10 journalists who people tackle stuttering and became one of the best- successfully enhanced public under- tering. known communications experts in standing of this complex speech disor- Third place goes the country. der during the year. to Sharon Emery of His story “Print and television journalists the Muskegon was chronicled have done an outstanding job of focus- Chronicle by Jennifer ing on the causes and treatment of stut- (Muskegon, Mich.) Reingold in tering over the past year,” said Jane Tamara Lubic for a column full of Fast Company Fraser, president of the 58-year-old emotion. Emery told magazine. nonprofit foundation. “All entries a first-hand account of how she Growing up showed increased sensitivity to a became a warrior in her fight to control in New York speech disorder that Michael Sheehan her stutter. City, Sheehan affects millions of In the magazines category, Elaine struggled with people.” Abrams of Family Doctor (Colorado stuttering from an earlyMichael age, Sheehan but Kim Brown and Springs, Colo.) is the winner. Her excel- that didn’t stop him from joining Leigh Woosley of lent article zeroed in the high school debate team and the Tulsa World on what parents can being involved in theater. (Tulsa, Okla.) earn do to help their chil- His passion for words now first place in the dren if they think makes him one of the most sought Kim Brown large newspapers they stutter. after public relations consultants category for their Jennifer Mesich in the nation’s capital. He is hired stories explaining of Chicago Parent by everyone from politicians and the complexities of (Oak Park, Ill.) is large corporations to unions — all stuttering in clear Sharon Emery honored with sec- relying on him to help them get and concise ways. ond place for their message across. They also provided explaining some of the most critical Not much stands in the way of readers with the ways people can overcome stuttering Sheehan, who later in life, had a tools parents need in young children. devastating stroke. to help children Leigh Woosley The television award goes to Just as he worked to deal with his who stutter. Angela Angelici, executive producer stuttering, he had the courage to beat Nancy Deville of the at WHBQ Channel 13 in Memphis, this new challenge and win. Tennessean (Nashville, Tenn.) receives Tenn. second place in the This segment large newspapers Here are several tips he provid- featured anchor ed to Fast Company to become a category. Deville Ron Meroney and wrote a poignant good communicator: Jane Fraser giving story about children tips on back-to- Know what you want to do who attended a flu- school help for chil- before you translate that into a ency camp to help dren who stutter.

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