Author Tove Selvåg-Drott was kind enough to snail-mail me a copy of her book Hello? Still there? for review and it was indeed a pleasure to read. Tove is a teacher in Sweden who stutters and this book not only presents her experiences but brings in multiple perspectives including from family members, Speech Language Therapists, and athletes.

As Catherine Moroney’s mother, I was the object of repeated requests to attend the conference this year (2025) and I finally agreed. I didn’t know what to expect as I took a seat on the first morning in Kingston, but then I was quickly asked to stand with four others at my table to be introduced as first timers at the conference. The vigorous welcome stayed with me for the rest of the conference, and I saw that the same feeling was generally in play for others: so many joyous reunions, conversations, friendships, warmth.

Tove Selvåg-Drott's Story

In September 2025, I decided to finally do something I had been thinking about for a long time

A few years ago at my former job, I was asked about my stutter by those who were genuinely curious.

The 2025 CSA Conference in Kingston, Ontario was my second. This annual event is certainly a time for people who stutter, their families and friends to get together, reconnect and celebrate. It was also an opportunity to meet new people who attended the conference for the first time.

Imagine for a moment you’re a musical note with a stutter. What does your dynamic and texture sound like next to the other notes in your song? What kinds of conversations would you have with other musical notes?

I have always stuttered as far as I could remember my earliest memory of speaking. I could barely get past two phrases without being impeded by a speech block. I couldn’t fathom why my speech never came out smooth like everybody else’s. Kids and some simple-minded adults would pose random questions to me and laugh their lungs out as I tried to answer. I could barely utter a word without instigating a war between my vocal cords and articulators.