Angelica Bernabe, PhD student in the School of Communication of Science and Disorders (SCSD), and Christopher Constantino, SCSD Associate Professor, hosted a Stuttering Affirmative Therapy workshop for the Spanish-speaking community through Centro Especializado en Tartamudez.

“There is a need in the Spanish-speaking community for accessible, affirming resources about stuttering,” Bernabe said. “All the events I organize are translated and offered either for free or at a very low cost to ensure accessibility.”

As a speech-language pathologist (SLP) and Director of Centro Especializado en Tartamudez (a specialized center for stuttering) Bernabe is known for her work in stuttering.

“The goal isn’t to force someone to fit into a mold defined by societal expectations, but rather to empower them. We want individuals who stutter to feel confident in using their voices, not silenced by fear or shame,” Bernabe said.

Bernabe is from Peru, having this firsthand insight on Hispanic culture and how it feels to be a person who stutters in this community. With most information on stuttering being in English, there is disconnect from getting the proper information to a diverse audience that needs it.

“Learning English in developing countries is not an option for many, and some sources suggest that only about 5% of South Americans speak English to any degree. It’s so important to offer resources in Spanish,” Bernabe said.

A primary goal of Bernabe’s work is to make sure that Hispanic SLPs have the proper resources to research and therapy approaches in Spanish. This workshop serves as a catalyst for bringing stuttering therapy to other countries who have these needs.

“I am proud to be part of this mission and thankful to work with professionals like Dr. Constantino who care about supporting diverse communities. We had almost 100 participants from over 13 countries, which shows that many people are interested and eager to learn,” Bernabe said.