Course Information

Course Title: Fluency Plus: Comprehensive Treatment for School Aged Children who Stutter

Collaborative Offering: Speech Research Centre Inc. & The Speech and Stuttering Institute

Instructional Level: Introductory Level

Target Audience: Speech-Language Pathologists or CDAs/SLPAs working with school age children (ages 10 and up) who stutter.

Dates & Times (3 Day Course):
Wednesday, March 26th, 2025 - 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM EST
Thursday, March 27th, 2025 - 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM EST
Friday, March 28th, 2025 - 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM EST

Location: Synchronous Live Webinar on Zoom (Link to be sent to participants 2 days before course start date)

ASHA CEUs: 1.5 (mandatory to attend all days to receive CEUs)

Cost:
Early Bird Rate (Before March 4): $675 CAD ($485 USD)
Standard Rate (After March 4): $750 CAD ($540 USD)
Groups of 4+: $600 CDN ($425 USD) per person

Fees include a PDF of client manual and set of clinician’s program notes

We will send you an email with information regarding payment of registration fees. Complete this form only if you have plans to register and attend all 3 days.

Short Course Description:
This course provides comprehensive training on Fluency Plus, stuttering treatment for children ages 10 to 18. It covers fluency assessment, skill practice, transfer, maintenance, cognitive restructuring, treatment activities and home practice. Participants will also engage in small group skill practice with instructor feedback, client video demonstrations and Question and Answer Sessions.
Full Course Description

This highly interactive workshop provides comprehensive training on one treatment approach - The Fluency Plus Program for School-Aged Children & Teens Who Stutter (ages 10-18). This workshop will include both small group skill practice with instructor feedback as well as large group learning. The Fluency Plus Program is a fluency shaping approach to treatment with the inclusion of cognitive restructuring goals to reduce negative thoughts and improve confidence in speaking situations. Due to the stretched syllable as the foundational skill of this program, it is not suitable for a child under the age of 10, or a child with special learning needs who is not functioning at grade level. A brief discussion about adaptations for clients with these needs will be provided.

Workshop participants will be provided with a detailed client manual (which can be shared with clients), clinician’s guide, helpful parent and teacher handouts, an intake questionnaire and audio recordings of fluency skills.

Day one begins with the nature of stuttering, pre-treatment considerations and the components to a comprehensive fluency assessment. Participants will learn about the three phases of the Fluency Plus Program, and begin learning fluency shaping skills including respiration, rate control (at exaggerated speech rates) and voice onsets. Lots of Intensive skill practice will be offered in small groups with instructor feedback.

Day two focuses on more fluency enhancing skills including reduced articulatory pressure, further rate manipulation, constant phonation and articulatory movements. Participants will have the opportunity to learn the skills in the large group and practice in small groups with instructor feedback, client video demonstrations and Q & A for hands-on learning.

Day three will address transfer of fluency skills into real life speaking situations and the psychology of stuttering/challenging negative thoughts about speech. Participants will learn how to set cognitive restructuring goals, apply cognitive restructuring techniques, set goals for transfer and maintenance, plan engaging therapy activities, target therapy goals through various treatment activities, assign home practice activities, communicate with parents, and problem solve difficulties clients may encounter. Participants will also learn how to adapt the program for those not ready for such an intensive treatment program. Throughout the workshop, each topic is explored through practical strategies, with opportunities for large and small group discussion and Q&A. Day one and two are heavy on small group skill practice, with day three involving more large group lecturing.
Refund, Cancellation + Complaint Policies

Customer satisfaction is a top priority at the Speech and Stuttering Institute. As a customer, it is your responsibility to pay the necessary fee and supply a credit card for fee payment.

Complaint Policy: Please send an email to SSIASHA@speechandstuttering.com and include a detailed summary of your questions, comments, and/or concerns you may have, along with your full name and contact information within 30 days of course completion.

Cancellation Policy: You may place cancellations by emailing SSIASHA@speechandstuttering.com

For a full complaint + cancellation policy, see here
Primary Speaker Biography & Disclosures

Marni Kinder, M.H.S.C., Reg. CASLPO, S-LP (C)

Marni has been practicing in fluency disorders since completing her Master of Health Science degree from the University of Toronto. She began her career treating children in the school-system; however, shortly after, she joined The Speech & Stuttering Institute to pursue her passion of helping individuals who stutter. At the Institute, Marni serves as the Team Leader of the Stuttering Program, where she has worked exclusively with people who stutter since 2008. She enjoys providing group and individual treatment programs for school-aged children, adolescents and adults who stutter. For many years, Marni has served as a fluency adjunct lecturer and Clinical Educator for SLP Masters’ students at the University of Toronto. She has extensive training in the use and application of the Fluency Plus Program, and she has delivered multiple fluency training workshops to practicing clinicians. Marni has assisted many stuttering research projects (in the areas of motor learning and the Fluency Plus Program) and has presented on Fluency Plus at a provincial conference.

Marni Kinder has the following relevant financial and non-financial relationships to disclose:

Financial Relationships
  • Speech-Language Pathologist & Stuttering Program Team Leader (full-time) for The Speech and Stuttering Institute, Toronto, Canada
Non-Financial Relationships
  • Member of Speech-Language and Audiology Canada (SAC)
  • Member of College of Audiologists and Speech Language Pathologists of Ontario (CASLPO)
  • Adjunct Lecturer – University of Toronto
  • Clinical Educator – University of Toronto
Breakout Group Facilitator Biography & Disclosures

Lori Scott-Sulsky, M.Sc., Reg CASLPO, S-LP(C)

Lori is the senior clinician and subject matter expert for the Stuttering Program at the Speech and Stuttering Institute. She provides assessment, treatment and professional consultations for people who stutter of all ages. She has worked intensively to develop group and individual treatment programs for children, adolescents and adults who stutter. She is the co-author of The Fluency Plus Program: A Comprehensive Treatment Program for Stuttering and has been published in Guitar and McCaulay’s current stuttering textbook. A graduate of McGill University in 1998, Lori received her training in fluency at the Montreal General Hospital, the Montreal Fluency Centre and the Stuttering Centre in Toronto. She completed her master’s thesis on the gesture-speech relationship in children who stutter. Lori is a consortium trained practitioner of the Lidcombe Program for young children who stutter and has received training in the Palin Parent-Child Interaction Program. She currently serves as the lead clinician on the Provincial Preschool Fluency Project engaged in clinician training, research, and consultation to the Ministry of Children Community and Social Services. In addition to her clinical practice, Lori enjoys serving as a fluency mentor, a clinical educator in fluency, and providing advanced fluency training workshops for practicing clinicians. Lori has dedicated her practice to stuttering for more than 20 years.

Lori Scott-Sulsky has the following relevant financial and non-financial relationships to disclose:

Financial Relationships
  • Speech-Language Pathologist & Stuttering Program Senior Clinician and Subject Matter Expert for The Speech and Stuttering Institute, Toronto, Canada
Non-Financial Relationships
  • Member of Speech-Language and Audiology Canada (SAC)
  • Member of College of Audiologists and Speech Language Pathologists of Ontario (CASLPO)
  • Clinical Educator – University of Toronto
Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, attendees will:
  • Classify treatment in the broad context of behavioural, cognitive, emotional, and psychosocial aspects of stuttering
  • Identify the components of a comprehensive stuttering assessment
  • Explain and deliver the three phases of the Fluency Plus Program: Establishment, Transfer and Maintenance
  • Demonstrate and model six fluency facilitating skills at four different rates of speech
  • Select appropriate and engaging therapy activities to target treatment goals
  • Develop effective goals and procedures to achieve transfer and maintenance of fluency skills
  • Describe cognitive restructuring goals and help clients overcome speech fears through cognitive restructuring techniques
Day 1 - Agenda
Day 2 - Agenda
Day 3 - Agenda
Certificate of Completion Requirements

To get the Certificate of Course Completion and/or ASHA CEUs, course participants must:
  • Attend the full duration of the course (attendance will be tracked automatically).
  • Complete a test based on learning outcomes and receive a score of >80%.
  • Complete a post-course online program evaluation survey.

DEADLINE: Complete the test and post-course program evaluation survey by Friday, April 4, 2025 – 11:59 PM EST

For certified members of Speech-Language & Audiology Canada (SAC), the Speech Research Centre Inc. is pleased to provide a Certificate of Completion which can be used as proof of the continuing education achieved in our programs. This course includes 15 hours of continuing education equivalents (15 CEEs), for more information on how to track your hours please visit https://www.sac-oac.ca/membership-certification/sac-certification.
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