Friends: The National Association Of Young People Who Stutter

### Context Profile for Friends: The National Association Of Young People Who Stutter

1. **Organization Mission & Cause**:
   - **Mission**: Friends is dedicated to providing support and education to young people who stutter, their families, and clinicians. The organization aims to instill empowerment, reduce feelings of isolation, and foster confidence and self-esteem among young people who stutter. They emphasize that these individuals are strong, supported, and not alone.
   - **Cause**: The organization focuses on creating a community for young people who stutter, helping them navigate their challenges through support and education.

2. **Type of Activities**:
   - **Annual Convention**: The organization hosts an annual convention where young people who stutter, their families, and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) gather for support and community-building activities.
   - **One Day Conferences**: They also organize one-day conferences in various locations, such as Ohio, to provide localized support and resources.
   - **Educational Resources**: Friends offers various educational materials and resources for families and clinicians to better understand stuttering and support young individuals.

3. **Tone of Voice**:
   - The tone of the website and communications is **friendly**, **supportive**, and **inspiring**. The language is inclusive and emphasizes community, empowerment, and positivity. The use of exclamation points and encouraging phrases conveys enthusiasm and warmth.

4. **Emoji Usage**:
   - The website and email communications do not prominently feature emojis. The tone remains professional and warm without the use of visual emojis, focusing instead on clear and supportive language.

5. **Key Facts**:
   - **Founding Information**: Friends has been active for 27 years, indicating a long-standing commitment to the cause.
   - **Scale**: The organization has hosted numerous conventions and conferences, fostering a large community of young people who stutter and their families.
   - **Impact Metrics**: Specific metrics on the number of attendees or success stories are not detailed on the website, but the emphasis on community and support suggests a significant positive impact on participants.
   - **Volunteer Information**: The website encourages involvement and may provide opportunities for volunteers, although specific details are not highlighted.

6. **Writing Guidelines**:
   - **Style**: Use a friendly and supportive tone that emphasizes community and empowerment. Avoid overly formal language; instead, opt for conversational phrasing that resonates with young people and their families.
   - **Structure**: Use clear headings and bullet points for easy readability. Include personal stories or testimonials when possible to illustrate impact.
   - **Call to Action**: Encourage participation in events and provide clear instructions for registration or involvement. Use positive language to inspire action, such as “Join us!” or “Be part of our community!”
   - **Personalization**: When addressing individuals in emails, use their first names to create a personal connection.

This context profile serves as a guide for generating content that aligns with Friends' mission, tone, and activities, ensuring that communications are engaging and supportive for their audience.

Please select only ONE family ticket totaling $55 for your entire family. This ticket includes up to 6 family members. 

Please note that all children under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. 

Children’s workshops are typically recommended for ages 5 and up. However, if you think your child will be unable to be in a kids workshop without a parent/caregiver, or is under age 5, we recommend arranging childcare.

Family

Welcoming all adults who stutter, parents/guardians attending without their children, SLPs who do not need CEUs, and graduate students who are not confirmed volunteers for the day.

Individual

SLPs receive 0.55 ASHA CEUs. Please note that SLPs must stay for the full day to earn CEUs.

If you do not need CEUs, please register as an individual.

SLP earning CEUs

If you are an SLP attending with a client's family, please register at this reduced rate. This registration also includes CEUs.

Special SLP Registration (with client's family)

Choose this registration selection if you are a graduate student volunteer who has confirmed with conference organizers for the day. This fee includes lunch.  

(Note: If you are interested in volunteering, please email Sara MacIntyre at Sara@friendswhostutter.org)

Graduate Student Volunteers

Whether you are attending this one-day or not, you can sponsor a family that wishes to attend a one-day conference but has financial constraints. Each $55 donated allows a family to receive free registration for the day, and you can choose to support more than one family! Your donation is 100% tax deductible.
Thank you for your support.

Pay it forward

The Friends one-day conference is a wonderful opportunity for families to come together and learn about stuttering, supporting their child, and to begin building community.  Children’s programming is activity-based and focuses on exploring attitudes and emotions, increasing understanding of stuttering, and instilling a greater sense of confidence - while making FRIENDS!  SLPs and students will learn more about stuttering, current therapies, and the support available for those who stutter.  All workshops are facilitated by speech-language pathologists and members of the adult stuttering community. Learn more at <a href="https://www.friendswhostutter.org/one-day-conferences/">friendswhostutter.org/one-day-conferences</a>

Hi <span contenteditable="false" data-custom-variable="{{firstname}}" fr-original-class="fr-deletable styled-tag-chip " fr-original-style="background-color:rgb(248, 248, 255);border:1px solid rgb(191, 191, 255);border-radius:4px;color:rgb(42, 42, 196);display:inline-block;margin:0px;padding:1px 8px;font-size:11px;line-height:16px;overflow-wrap:anywhere;box-sizing:inherit;-webkit-user-select:none;" style="background-color:rgb(248, 248, 255);border:1px solid rgb(191, 191, 255);border-radius:4px;color:rgb(42, 42, 196);display:inline-block;margin:0px;padding:1px 8px;font-size:11px;line-height:16px;overflow-wrap:anywhere;box-sizing:inherit;-webkit-user-select:none">First name, Thank you for registering for the Friends One-Day Conference in Madison on May 18, 2024. The conference will be held at the University of Wisconsin Madison, Waisman Center, Room T216, located on 1500 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705. Please find parking information <a href="https://www.friendswhostutter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Friends_Madison_One_Day_Parking.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>. The conference will begin at 9:30 AM, and registration is open between 9:00 AM and 9:30 AM. Please allow sufficient time for checking in. We provide a basic child-friendly lunch of pizza, side salad, and fruit. Please kindly bring your own lunch in cases of dietary needs or restrictions. We also recommend bringing a water bottle. If you have any questions or wish to speak to a local host, please send an email to Heather Salvo at hsalvo@wisc.edu. Refund Policy: Registrations may be refunded up until 24 hours prior to the conference. Please send an email to Sara MacIntyre at sara@friendswhostutter.org to initiate a refund. We look forward to seeing you at the conference! - The Madison One-Day Conference Team P.S. - Registration is open for our 27th Annual Convention in Denver, July 18-20th. Early bird rates end on June 1st. Learn more and register at friendswhostutter.org/convention

The Friends one-day conference is a wonderful opportunity for families to come together and learn about stuttering, supporting their child, and to begin building community.  Children’s programming is activity-based and focuses on exploring attitudes and emotions, increasing understanding of stuttering, and instilling a greater sense of confidence - while making FRIENDS!  SLPs and students will learn more about stuttering, current therapies, and the support available for those who stutter.  All workshops are facilitated by speech-language pathologists and members of the adult stuttering community. Learn more at <a href="https://www.friendswhostutter.org/one-day-conferences/">friendswhostutter.org/one-day-conferences</a>