New Children's Book Tackles Acceptance Through Heartwarming Story About Stuttering

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Dr. Ron Webster has dedicated his life to treating the debilitating and misunderstood disorder of stuttering. He pioneered behavioral stuttering therapy and founded the nationally recognized Hollins Communications Research Institute, a nonprofit stuttering research and treatment center.

In "Katie: The Little Girl Who Stuttered and Then Learned to Talk Fluently" (ISBN 1468004905), Webster shares the true story of how a young girl overcame her stuttering. In addition to a happy outcome, the narrative offers an unexpected, heartwarming ending. Webster wrote the book to offer encouragement and inspiration to children who stutter and their parents.

The story begins by introducing readers to Katie, a bright and loving young girl, just like the children around her. However, whenever Katie tried to verbalize her thoughts and feelings, her stuttering got in the way. No matter how smooth and clear the thoughts were in her head, they never came out that way when she tried to speak.

Other children constantly teased Katie for the way she talked, and she only seemed to find comfort from their torment when she went to a park after school and played hide-and-seek. But her wish to free her voice from stuttering came true when she learned about a special kind of stuttering therapy. With this treatment, Katie learned new speaking skills that made her words flow freely and spontaneously.

"This book gives hope to children who stutter by showing there may be an answer to their speech problem through hard work, determination, and the right type of treatment," Webster says. "In addition, the storyline will benefit all children because it teaches lessons in understanding and respect for the challenge others face."

"Katie: The Little Girl Who Stuttered and Then Learned to Talk Fluently" is available at Amazon.com.

Dr. Ron Webster founded HCRI in 1972 to investigate stuttering with scientific methods and new treatment approaches. Under Dr. Webster´s direction, Roanoke, Virginia-based HCRI has become a leader in stuttering research and treatment innovation. More than 6,100 stutterers have been treated at HCRI. Research shows that 93 percent of HCRI therapy participants achieve fluency by the end of their 12-day treatment program and 70-75% maintain fluency for the long-term. These outcomes contrast with a 25% success rate in traditional stuttering therapies.

Dr. Webster's work has been the focus of coverage by Good Morning America, NBC Today, Nightline, CBS Morning News, 20/20, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Scientific American, and other media outlets. He is also a licensed clinical psychologist.