The following was composed for #ISAD2021

Lighting A Global Campfire

Big change begins with one idea. 
Lasting impact, starts by working inside-out.

My path to change was a lifetime in the making.
Now, I’m collaborating with other SLPs and people who stutter (PWS); igniting change and empowering PWS to make shift happen in their own lives.  We can all leverage a practical framework and community of encouragement and support, to Transcend Stuttering together.

Since I was 6 years old, I've been asking questions, challenging the status quo. 

Friends and colleagues may likely ask me, “Why try changing what has been in place for so long?  It’s not possible.”  

I often respond, “Why not?”  

Sometimes wondering to myself, “How could we afford not to try?!”  

These “hungry” questions led me to discover my meaning and purpose.
I learned how genuine curiosity leads to connecting with others. It’s in this connection that a partnership for lasting change emerges

I grew up in the world of stuttering and speech therapy.  Pictures show me on father's chest in a snuglee, while he wrote research and prepared lectures at Queens College, CUNY.  And I remember being at his side as we walked the halls of national ASHA and state NYSSLHA conferences.  

Wherever Dr. Phil (Schneider) went, there were those connections.  People would approach to seek counsel and share with my father.  My father created this organic web of human connections, including world-renowned professionals and extra-ordinary people who happen to stutter.  The common thread connecting all was the focus on being human.  

In March 2020, as COVID rattled the planet, people scattered into isolation.  Very quickly, I felt determination bubbling inside of me. It was clear to me; the antidote for this lonely world was a dose of human connection.  And we had abundant tools and resources to deliver meaningful experiences for people around the world.

So, we kicked-off monthly meetings on Zoom, free-of-charge. 
Quite honestly, we wondered if anyone would show-up...

And then, they showed up.  Month after month after month.

A meetup for teens — Brayden Harrington is there from New Hampshire. 

A meetup for parents — moms and dads are logging in from around the world - USA, England, Israel, UAE, Australia and Canada - getting real, sharing their parenting challenges and triumphs.

A meetup for adults - PWS, SLPs and an array of friends being vulnerable and honest with newfound friends from the global village, with special guests like Cody Packer (filmmaker and PWS from New Zealand), John Gomez (filmmaker and SLP from LA), and Dan Greenwald (entrepreneur and PWS from NY).

These open meetups sparked more and more private Zoom meetings with colleagues and PWS.  At that point, it hit me - this would be great to share with the global village as Facebook Live, and ultimately we produced a weekly podcast, Transcending Stuttering.

Lives were changing and courage was emerging because of the power of human connection. 

It really resonated with people.  SLPs and people who stutter.  Parents and young people.   
It made an impact. 
People felt connected. 
People started to change, and they told us;
They made a phone call, ordered their own food, applied for a job, got engaged...

In a world of fragmented silos and competition for resources, I saw myself as a bridge of service — a platform to connect and energize individuals and organizations to be their best, together.

The idea of Transcending Stuttering is growing into an organic ecosystem of diverse learners, joining together to achieve what was impossible alone.

And as it grows, I experience my own transformation - changing the way I work and life my own life with more courage and strength. 

The foundation soil of Transcending Stuttering is the practical framework.  The fertilizer is the community of peers and mentors cultivating a safe-space to share experience, ideas, challenges and “wins.”  

The first layer of growth in this ecosystem is the Transcending Stuttering for SLPs (later complemented by layers for people who stutter and families.)

Dana Stewart (SLP from Indianapolis, Indiana) said,

"’Surround yourself with talented people who challenge you.  It helps you grow, and inspires you to maximize your potential (unknown author). Transcending Stuttering offers a group of people who reflect the compassion, knowledge, encouragement, and teamwork [the kind] I strive to instill in my therapy environment every day. Collaborating and sharing with each other in this community has a profound impact on change, [in a way] courses and seminars cannot quite generate.”

Jean Jordan (SLP from Connecticut) says it changed her view of the entire profession, describing it as the embodiment of JFK’s “A rising tide lifts all boats” aphorism.

“Transcending Stuttering has transformed my perspective on my relationship with clients and students — away from ‘How can I (the SLP) help you (the PWS )with your speaking problems?’ to ‘How do we share and grow from this together?’

 

I view my work with PWS as a collective human experience now. I use my group’s support, collective knowledge, and guidance to shape my intervention, and look forward to meaningful relationships with both clients and colleagues of similar mindset.”

People are coming out of the shadows, stepping into the light. 

Patti Bohlman (SLP and PWS from Wisconsin) thought she retired from the Milwaukee Public Schools in 2013. Then, she joined the Transcending Stuttering cohort, and found herself in a mix of seasoned SLPs, like herself, as well as early- and mid-carreer SLPs and graduate students.  Some brought master level skills and experience, while others brought fresh passion, boundless interest and natural talent demonstrating the self-evidence of their rising star. 

“We learned, but we also created. We created a community where it was safe to ask questions, give ideas, and admit we did not know it all.” 

Transcending Stuttering led with human spirit, while using best practice tools to collect data and measure impact.

Not only were these SLPs impacting the lives of people in their care, these SLPs were transforming themselves.  

This is what it looks like when a group of SLPs want to learn and grow as guides for people who stutter.  The perimeter is the array competencies needed.  The center represents 0/10 and the outer circle represents 10/10. Each one of these SLPs came with its own profile of aptitude.  And each one developed an attitude of gratitude (recognizing their unique assets and strengths); embraced a growth mindset (opening-up to listen and consider other perspectives); and flexed their “Courage Muscle” (thanks to Dan Greenwald) to stretch their comfort zone leaning-in to a remarkable community of peers and mentors.

Imagine when we hold empathy and expertise hand-in-hand

We celebrate each and every member of the diverse global SLP community, especially the exemplary PWS. 

Jennifer Mintzer Scharf (SLP and PWS from Florida) said,

“As an SLP, Transcending Stuttering has given me confidence; as a PWS it has given me hope.  Hope because these SLPs are committed to positive changes in stuttering therapy and are paving the way for a better tomorrow.  A tomorrow where all PWS know what they think matters, what they do matters and what they feel matters.   A tomorrow where they know they are heard, understood, and know they are limitless.”  

Bohlman remembers her childhood and young adult experiences in therapy herself.   

“I found myself wishing I had the therapy I was seeing spoken about. The caring and passion of everyone in the group was abundant. 

This is such a safe place for any speech pathologist that knows nothing about stuttering but wants to learn more. Everyone will cheer you on because when you succeed — people who stutter succeed.” 

When one succeeds, we all succeed.
When one shares, everyone benefits.

“What do we (as speech therapists) treat?"

The answer isn't ‘stuttering’... it's "people".

We have the privilege of treating people who stutter.”

Chelsea Blanchard (SLP from Colorado) is raising a child who stutters and understands the importance of the dynamic between the client and the SLP.

“If I isolate a stutter and look at physical stuttering alone, I may be able to help a person modify their speech, but that is just a piece of the whole.  

If I am there to treat the person, to walk alongside the person that comes through my doors, then the path goes from a narrow strip to a wider expanse with so much more room for growth. As Uri organized in such a meaningful way, when you are person-focused, the entire 4-part framework - self-knowledge, self-adjustment, self-acceptance, self-advocacy become part of that path. 

That's the change I want to see - I want to see people who are met where they are at, seen for who they are, and supported in their journey with themselves and their stutter.“

Kyle Pelkey(SLP and PWS from Illinois) said,

“I looked up the word transcend. It says to be, or go beyond the range or limits of something abstract, typically a conceptual field or division. 

I think that applies to what I have gained through this course in providing concrete, functional ways for us to be able to actually implement this and do various activities with our clients in each stage and help them to live the life that's more congruent with their values or towards their values they want to live.”

Tammy Herman (SLP from England and New Jersey) is watching her child experience life as a PWS and finds the Transcending Stuttering cohort experience an enlightening window into demystifying stuttering.

“I have a child who stutters and I intuitively can understand the challenges, but I was never able to kind of describe what the iceberg analogy objectified and what the different components are. 

And I found, especially with the four-part framework and with the discussions going deep into each aspect, I kind of understood what makes up stuttering. And it's as if a light has been turned on.”

Ana Paula Mumy is the president of Spero Stuttering and clinical professor at the University of Kansas.  She said,

“I believe the collective heart in this group is absolutely one of ‘speaking the change we wish to see’. 

If I was to attempt to define that change, it would be SLPs who understand stuttering, who are not afraid of working with people who stutter, or the reverse would be who are comfortable and confident working with stuttering, and SLPs who are passionate about effecting positive changes in the lives of people who stutter by being attentive and empathic listeners, compassionate guides, and skilled clinicians in an area of speech-language pathology where maintaining the status quo is just not acceptable or beneficial to any involved. Individually and collectively, we are changing the existing state of affairs.”

Randi Weigle is the administrative lead, “Chief of Success” at Transcending Stuttering. Where I work to build the lighthouse, Randi is the lightkeeper - making sure the light stays lit for all those who seek it.

“Seeing the SLPs’ passion grow, hearing from parents how much of an impact the therapists and course have made for themselves and their children, I am impacted on a level I never expected simply being in an administrative role.  

The level of collective shared experiences, the amount of pooled knowledge, and the degree of human empathy and care impress me beyond words.  Sometimes I am brought to tears.  Tears of hope and purpose, for how life-changing this is in the lives of people we reach.”

I shared the following message with the Transcending Stuttering community;

“Keep the fire, keep the passion, keep the principles. Let's stay true, and keep the person-centered approach — the client-centered approach — the real-life stuff.  They (PWS and SLPs) need someone to be a beacon. Each of you can be a beacon. Each of you can be a lighthouse and a resource for others.”

Many thanks

I tip my hat to the tens of SLPs and people who stutter who form and inform the Transcending Stuttering community. A community is built with “others” - people with different backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. The fabric is woven through the connectivity to draw threads closer together and recognize the strength of the tapestry is a function of the way we stitch together. Too often, individuals feel too scared to step out of their comfort zone; too unsafe to be open-up in the presence of others. But this community demonstrates the values and benefits of the best of what we can do together.

Special thanks to the contributors to this piece; Chelsea Blanchard, Patti Bohlman, Tammy Herman, Jean Jordan, Jennifer Mintzer Scharf, Ana Paula Mumy, Kyle Pelkey, Dana Stewart and Randi Weigle.

Uri Schneider Bio

Uri Schneider, M.A. CCC-SLP is the team-leader at Schneider Speech (online and in-office speech therapy); creator and guide at Transcending Stuttering community; and faculty at the University of California at Riverside School of Medicine. 
Uri is recognized as a leading clinician, podcaster, educator, researcher and innovator.  
He says, “Transcending Stuttering is woven into my being... more than my work, it is my platform of growth and context of learning, touching so many aspects of my life. As a husband and father, as an SLP and an evolving human, I am #transcendingstuttering”
Beyond work, Uri enjoys running outdoors and his greatest joy is spending time with his family (wife and kids).