The National Student Speech Language Hearing Association hosted a screening of “The Way We Talk” at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 6 in Old Main to bring awareness and educate people about stuttering.
Brent Gregg, an associate professor in the Communication Sciences and Disorder department , took the stage to discuss how and why the documentary was being shown.
“The filmmaker, Michael Turner, has a friend at AETN here in Conway and he had heard of the work we do with stuttering,” Gregg said.
Gregg said their department at UCA is known for its expertise in working with individuals who stutter.
“We thought it would be a wonderful opportunity to share Michael’s story and to inform and educate the community about this perplexing disorder,” Gregg said.
He also pointed out that UCA is the only place in the state who offers an intensive summer camp for school-age kids.
Turner contacted Gregg in the fall of 2015, asking if he would be interested in showing his film.
The documentary followed Turner as he tried to learn to cope with his stuttering disorder, senior and president of NSSLHA Kyndl Harlan said.
“’The Way WE Talk’ is a documentary about this man who stutters and his journey on how he copes with it, what kind of therapy he has to use for it,” she said.
The event was made to highlight national stuttering awareness month, sophomore and secretary for NSSLHA, Olivia Cash said.
“A lot of people don’t really know about it, and don’t really know how to communicate with people who struggle with that disorder, so this is really helpful to learn more information about it,” said Cash.
She also pointed out the fact that there isn’t a cause or a cure for stuttering.
After the screening, Gregg took the stage.
“This is why I do what I do,” he said, referring to Turner’s situation.
photo courtesy of eventbrite.com
