Parents of children who stutter write letters of appreciation for CSD's UI SPEAKS camp

Wednesday, August 17, 2016

One of the Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders' numerous outreach programs is UI SPEAKS (University of Iowa Summer Program to Educate Adolescents and Kids who Stutter). UI SPEAKS offers two summer programs, one for elementary school children and one for teens. The camps are held at the Wendell Johnson Speech and Hearing Clinic at the University of Iowa. Professors Toni Cilek and Patricia Zebrowski are the clinical coordinators of the program.

Two families whose teen daughters attended UI SPEAKS wrote to the Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders to voice their appreciation for the program.

"I am writing to tell you how much I appreciate and honor the hard work and effort Dr. Zebrowski and all her students have done to make this the best camp in the country.

UI SPEAKS has played a pivotal role for our family with a teen who stutters. My daughter has stuttered since she was a toddler. My husband and I have argued with insurance companies to help us cover the costs of countless rehabilitative programs in elementary schools, private offices, and home care. Luckily, our therapist found this program and we eagerly signed up.  

I was instantly in tears as Dr. Z talked to parents in the waiting room. She explained what it was like to stutter for a teen. Dr. Z gave many analogies that totally made sense to my husband, my son, and I about what our daughter lived with on a daily basis. I was hit with an overwhelming feeling of compassion for my daughter. The amazing amount of therapy in numerous settings helps the teens to learn, practice, and embody the lessons while keeping the camp fun. This is a challenge with this age group too.

UI SPEAKS allows the children to be themselves with no judgment at all. As my daughter states, she feels like this a retreat for her to speak without any pressure. I cannot imagine this program or Dr. Z not being a part of my or my child’s life. I attribute much of her confidence and success to this camp and will continue to make the 5 hour drive as long as we can. Every year this camp dives deeper and deeper into this misunderstood act and my daughter takes away a different lesson as she grows intellectually. She has come so far and worked so hard to embody all that has been taught and, after talking with Dr. Z last week, left with tears herself when we departed Wendell Johnson at U of I."

-- Lee Anne Jester

Related: Read an article about UI SPEAKS

"Dear Dr. Z,

I wanted to write you to thank you and your wonderful staff, and to let you know how much our family benefited (once again!) from our daughter attending the UI SPEAKS summer camp this June. In the parent meeting, you asked each of us what we wanted for our children, what we thought our child might get out of the camp. Given that this was our daughter’s 3rd summer attending…I really didn’t know as she has gained so much confidence and fluency because of attending your camp the first two summers! What she came away with was more than I ever would have guessed.

Going back to that first summer 2 years ago, I had a teenager that avoided talking in class, avoided social situations, and was quite tearful anytime we suggested she see a speech pathologist. Being a speech pathologist myself, this was so difficult as I knew how to help her but she wasn’t in a place that she wanted me to. She had managed to find many creative ways ‘not to talk’ or interact with people to deal with her stutter. Then I heard about your camp. I wanted to find a place that she could receive effective, direct treatment and also a place she felt comfortable being who she is, with a little fun mixed in. Long story short, our family has been very fortunate to have found UI SPEAKS, and to have the opportunity for her to work with you and all the therapists there. She now tackles her stutter head on, does not shy away from any talking situation, and has a very, very active social life! This year she came away with the ability to tell others openly about her stutter, and even more confidence in sharing her thoughts and ideas than ever before. She also wants to start a group here for teenagers who stutter. She is very aware how fortunate she is to have attended UI SPEAKS, and she wants to share her knowledge with teens that may be struggling with some of the same issues she did. I’m very proud of her.

From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank you for your time, knowledge, compassion, and wonderful sense of humor that you have shared with my daughter for the last 3 summers. Our lives have changed because of your dedication to this field and to UI SPEAKS in so many ways!

Sincerely,

Kathy Bourque"

The Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders is part of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences.

The University of Iowa College of Liberal Arts and Sciences offers about 70 majors across the humanities; fine, performing and literary arts; natural and mathematical sciences; social and behavioral sciences; and communication disciplines. About 15,000 undergraduate and nearly 2,000 graduate students study each year in the college’s 37 departments, led by faculty at the forefront of teaching and research in their disciplines. The college teaches all Iowa undergraduates through the college's general education program, CLAS CORE. About 80 percent of all Iowa undergraduates begin their academic journey in CLAS. The college confers about 60 percent of the university's bachelor's degrees each academic year.