What happens when stuttering and immigration intersect? This workshop draws on a doctoral case study of a newcomer youth navigating communication disability and resettlement in Canada. Through research findings, guided reflection, and the illustrated children's story "Kareem's Words," attendees will explore how storytelling can bridge understanding between clinicians, educators, and the newcomer families they serve.
Attendees will gain an understanding of how stuttering and immigration intersect to shape identity, belonging, and self-advocacy for newcomer youth. They will recognize how cultural stigma around communication disability creates additional barriers for newcomer families navigating settlement. Through guided reflection, participants will examine their own assumptions when working with individuals who stutter across cultural contexts. Attendees will also learn how narrative tools like "Kareem's Words" can reduce stigma and open conversations with children, families, and communities.
About the presenters
Shahd Abu Nahel
Shahd Abu Nahel is a PhD candidate in Linguistics at MUN University, researching language, immigration, and identity through a narrative case study. She works at the Association for New Canadians, supporting newcomer settlement and employment. She created "Kareem's Words," an illustrated children's story about stuttering from her doctoral research.