This therapeutic program provides a supportive environment and empowers youth to develop speech and stuttering goals. They will be taught more about stuttering phenomena and embrace their own meaning of what it means to be a stutterer.

Students will develop their plan of action for practicing speaking techniques through reading, audiotapes, software programs and will work with speech therapists to assist in achieving their plan.

In the group, students will talk amongst each other about their struggles and inadequacies to develop strategies that manage the social and emotional challenges they face inside and outside of the group. They will learn how to communicate with their parents, family members, friends and teachers about stuttering.

Students will also develop decision learning trees around self-worth, self-advocacy, self-reliance and self-esteem incorporating their personal communication goals. They will be partnered with peer mentors who are on an upward path of progress toward overcoming stuttering and are seen as peer leaders.

Audience: Middle – high school E1VM participants

Program length: Year Round

The program includes: Guest lecturers of successful people who have overcome stuttering, workshops, mentoring, fun activities, fluency skills and speech therapists

Anticipated Start Date: Jun 2018