Alexandra D’Agostino here, Family and Youth Programming Coordinator of the CSA!

A Message from the Family and Youth Programming Coordinator

Hello families of the CSA! My name is Alexandra D’Agostino and I am the Family and Youth Programming Coordinator for the CSA.

The CSA held its fifth Let’s Talk on-line webinar on Sunday, June 26. If you missed this event, it is possible for you to view a recording of the session at your convenience. Simply register and you will receive a link to the video. The video will be available until August 1, 2022.

Based on who was in attendance, the topic appealed to persons who stutter, speech-language pathologists, speech-language pathology students, and parents of children who stutter.

This is a continuation of a review of selected essays in the text, Stammering Pride and Prejudice: Difference not Defect. In this essay, "One Story at a Time: Using the Narrative Approach to Self Therapy," Joshua Walker describes how Narrative Therapy helped him change his outlook and approach to his stuttering, and move forward with his career as a medical doctor.

This is a continuation of a series of reviews of selected articles featured in the text, Stammering Pride and Prejudice. In this essay, “How We Can Work Together To Decrease Stigma”, the “we” in the title refers to advocates for people who stutter and professional speech-language pathologists. Michael P. Boyle explains that while these two groups share many of the same goals, they are to some extent at odds.  He describes ways the groups can collaborate and learn from each other. 

Doreen (Dori) Lenz Holte’s web site and  book Voice Unearthed have helped many parents find a new approach to dealing with their children’s stuttering.

On Sunday, March 27th, the CSA hosted a new Let's Talk instalment, focussed on dating with confidence. This event featured Jaleesa Bygrave and Devon Kirchner, women who stutter with diverse backgrounds.

Calling all youth of the Canadian Stuttering Association! In the coming months, the CSA will be working towards the preparation of a new stuttering support group for youth between the ages of 8 and 13. The group, dubbed the “CSA’s Support Group for Youth Who Stutter,” aims to provide kids and pre-teens with a safe, supportive environment to develop their unique voices around other youth their age who stutter.

CSA, in partnership with the network “SingWell” (singwell.ca), is organizing a unique virtual choir of people who stutter. Anyone who stutters across the globe can participate! No singing experience is required. Participation is entirely free! The aim of the project is to create a "virtual choir", a video composed of the voices of people who stutter. Individuals from all over the world will record the same song and all the performances will then be assembled together.