October 16, 2025 • 29 mins
This week on Kentucky Focus, Scott Fitzgerald explores how innovation, awareness, and preparation can shape everyday life — from the way we shop, to how we celebrate, to the voices that deserve to be heard. It’s a show about confidence, connection, and making the season a little brighter for everyone.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
And welcome to Kentucky Focus.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
Yes, it's the show where we dive into story, ideas
and innovations that shape life right here in the Bluegrass Date.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
I'm Scott Fitzgerald.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
And today we're gonna take a look at how we
could maybe change the way we shop this holiday season. Plus,
this holiday usually requires an extra look at safety. We'll
tell you how you can keep folks safe.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
And a special awareness story that touches all of us.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Stay tuned, whether you're shopping, planning a holiday, or just curious.
I want to miss today's Kentucky Focus. I'm Scott Fitzgial.
We're back after this.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Welcome to Kentucky Focus on the Kentucky News Network, the
show that looks at issues affecting the Commonwealth and it's citizens.
We cover state politics, in history, human interest stories, sports,
and even entertainment. It's Kentucky Focus on kNN.
Speaker 4 (00:47):
Only one in five people with disabilities, including those with autism,
are employed, despite many having the skill set and desire
to work.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Maybe it's because employers don't know what kind of jobs
they can do.
Speaker 4 (00:58):
Okay, try me out a programmer that is a job
for someone with autism.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
What about a teacher.
Speaker 4 (01:05):
That is a job for someone with autism.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
Oh, how about a healthcare worker?
Speaker 4 (01:10):
Yes, those are all jobs for someone with autism. The
truth is qualified people with autism can do a lot
of different jobs, but often get overlooked due to outdated
stigmas and beliefs. Business is value diversity, but sometimes don't
recognize the unique strengths and abilities of the autism community.
Introducing WIN, the Workplace Inclusion Now Program by Autism Speaks,
(01:31):
we help businesses lead the way in inclusive hiring.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
Ooh what about a ranch hand.
Speaker 4 (01:37):
Yeah, sure, that's a job for someone with autism too.
To learn more, go to Autism Speaks dot org, slash win.
That's Autism Speaks dot org slash win.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
Welcome back to Kentucky Focus. I'm Scott Fitzgerald. Well the holidays, Yeah,
they're right around the corner. Are Nearly half of us
shoppers say, oh, we trust AI shopping advice over.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
The head of a friend. But how can artificial.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
Intelligent actually help us find the best deals, track hard
to find items, and even pick the well perfect gift.
Joining us to explain how AI tools like Amazon's Rufus
and Lens are reshaping the way we shop, saving time, money,
and maybe even a little less holiday stress. Is Trey
Budge Try Thanks for taking time to join us.
Speaker 5 (02:17):
Thanks for having me, Trey.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
I love to shop, but I've got questions. How can
AI help me save time and money ahead of the holidays?
Speaker 5 (02:25):
You have to check out Amazon's tool rufus, which is
its conversational shopping assistant. Rufus is trained on the vast
catalog of Amazon products, plus community Q and A, plus
product reviews and web data, so it can answer any
question that you have about a particular product, or you
could give it a prompt like I have a five
(02:45):
hundred dollars budget, I want to split it across my
three kids, ages five, seven, and nine, and rufus can
provide you with age appropriate suggestions within your budget.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
And Trey, what if a customer is searching for a
specific product that's small not available.
Speaker 5 (02:59):
Yeah, Amazon makes it easy to find products on Amazon
and beyond. It has a new feature called by for Me,
and you can enter the product search. You'll be given
suggestions of Amazon branded products and also third party products,
and then sometimes you'll get recommendations of products beyond Amazon
and that'll be under the shop brand sites directly.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Tab Again, Trey Boge joins us. Trey is a smart
shopping expert and we're talking with her about well, some
of the ways AI is helping us actually pick that
perfect Christmas gift or any gift for that matter. And Trey,
if I see a product on social media, which I
see them all the time, or when i'm out, let's
just say something's in a window or something's on the shelf,
how can I find that item?
Speaker 5 (03:39):
So you'll want to use Amazon Lens and it's new feature,
Lens Live. So this is a way to discover products
with a visual search, so you can aim the camera
at that product. Say you're at a party and you
see a dress that you really like, or if you're
on social media and you see address on a model
but you don't know where to get it, this feature
(04:00):
will let you find that product on Amazon and then Rufus,
the shopping assistant, will provide additional information. So it's a
great way to get your hands on an item that
you've been coveting.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
Now we've all been there, we're all shopping, We're all
trying to find that perfect item for that loved one,
right and.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
Well, that's why we've run in.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
Smart Shopping expert Trey bodgis who's talking to us about
using artificial intelligence to help us pick that perfect gift.
We're talking about products like Amazon's rufus and lens and Trey,
how can AI make it easier to find that perfect
gift for the loved one.
Speaker 5 (04:31):
So there's a feature called Interest, and this is really
good to find products that you might be passionate about,
or if you have a tricky person on your list,
it's very good for that as well. So for example,
you could say I have a friend who loves cooking.
They're really into cookbooks and innovative cooking tools. Interest will
comb through Amazon and find all the applicable products for that,
(04:52):
and so it's a great way to discover new products.
It'll let you know if there are deals, new product drops,
product availability, so it does all that legwork for you.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
Shopping expert Trey Bondes joining us now, And of course
we're talking about AI and give shopping ahead of the
holidays or really any time for that matter, because let's
be honest, AI is not going anywhere anytime soon, so
we might as well use it to our advantage. In
try wonder if we're looking for a gift but don't
know much about the product space.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
What can we do?
Speaker 5 (05:18):
Yeah, so Amazon Shopping Guides is really helpful in this case.
So say you have to buy headphones for your team,
but you don't know anything about headphones. It'll get you
up to speed on the product category, and then make
specific suggestions that you can choose from and.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
Talk to me a little bit about the new audio feature.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
So this is.
Speaker 5 (05:36):
Called here are the Highlights, And this is really good
if you're on the go or you don't have time
to look at a screen. So the Amazon Ai shopping
experts have compiled fun, engaging, conversational product descriptions that you
can listen to when you're on the go. So that's
a lot of fun to try.
Speaker 3 (05:54):
Try.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
This has been some fantastic insight.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
Again, if you're just joining us when we're talking with
smart shopping expert Trey and we're talking about the ways
that AI can help us find that perfect Christmas gift
or any gift anytime of the year for that matter,
because AI has just become such a big part of
our lives now and it's only getting bigger.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
So Trey, where can we go to learn more?
Speaker 5 (06:13):
You can go to Amazon to check out all these
features we just talked about.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Trey, You've been absolutely wonderful. I'm sure you're gonna save
us a lot of time this holiday season. We really
appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule to
join us.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
Thanks so much.
Speaker 5 (06:25):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
Just some fascinating insight in now how really technology is
transforming the way we shop in twenty twenty five and
it all seems like it's moving so fast right. Thank
you so much, Stray Bodge for joining us, and for
those looking to learn more, you can always visit true
tray Trae dot com. Again True tray tr ae dot com.
Coming up, we'll shift gears to this Halloween and with
(06:49):
some safety tips, not just any safety tips, We'll tell
you why.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
This one's a little bit more important.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
I mean, I'm next time. Scott Fitzgalden. This is Kentucky.
Speaker 6 (06:57):
Focus Drivers Austin centered here as a NASCAR Cup Series
driver of the number two discount tire Ford Mustang. There's
a few rules of the road I like to tell
my family and friends. Tire pressure is critical to safety
because underinflated tires are more likely to fail. Plus properly
(07:19):
inflated tires will give you better gas melergs. Make sure
to check your tire pressure at least once a month.
We stopped by a local tire retailer for an air.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
Chain a message from the US Tire Manufacturers Association and
welcome back to Kentucky Focus. I'm Scott Fence, Joe. Let's
be honest.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
Every holiday is a reason to celebrate, have fun, enjoy
each other. Right, some holidays don't require a little bit
more attention to safety than others. That would include Halloween.
Our next guest is Coleina Marris. She is clinical director
at the Hope Bridge Louisville East Center, and she's here
to talk to us about Halloween safety for children with autism.
Speaker 7 (07:55):
Collina welcome, Yeah, no problem, happy to be here.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
Heal, Caleina.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
For families with children on the autism spectrum, what are
some of the main challenges Halloween can burn?
Speaker 7 (08:04):
So Halloween, while it can be fun, it also can
be a little scary, especially for our kiddos on the spectrum.
You know, it's a holiday that we don't experience every
single day. It only comes, you know, once a year,
so there's lots of unfamiliar sites, sounds, smells, sensory experiences
that can be overwhelming for kiddos on the spectrum.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
Again, Colleena Marris joins us.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
She's the clinical director of Hopebridge Louville East, and we're
talking about making a safe Halloween for kids who suffer
from autism. And Colleena, you suggest practicing wearing costumes and
walking with walking the trigger treat route ahead of time.
How can caregivers make these preparations fun rather than really stressful.
Speaker 7 (08:44):
The lower our expectations are, the better the holiday really
is for every kiddo, no matter what they are affected by,
for them to really enjoy Halloween. So the way that
we can do that is by practicing our routes. We
can walk the neighborhood in advance during daytime hours like
we normally would. Can practice wearing our costumes in advance,
(09:06):
making sure that the costume is sensory friendly and doesn't
have too many new textures or new feelings on it.
We can practice saying trick or treat with the communication
modality that we prefer, whether it's an augmented device or
whether it's our actual vocal voice. We can read stories
and look at different pictures of kiddos going trick or treat.
(09:28):
We can watch videos of kids trick or treating in
advance for preparing for the holiday.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
Conversation now with Colleena Maris, clinical director of Hetbridge Louisville East,
and we're talking about Halloween for kids that deal with
sensory issues and those suffering from we'll say autism and Kelleena,
communication can be key for kids with autism. What are
some ways parents can help their children feel comfortable saying,
you know, trick or treat or thank you.
Speaker 8 (09:52):
Well.
Speaker 7 (09:53):
First of all, I think it's important that we as
a community come into the holiday with few expectations of
what kiddos need to say and what they shouldn't say.
But I also think that it's imperative that we try
to practice these things. So maybe when we're preparing for
the holiday a couple of weeks in advance, we can
practice saying trick or treat to each other. We can
(10:14):
practice saying thank you just to mom and dad for
everyday thing.
Speaker 1 (10:18):
For a chance first Halloween experience.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
How should caregivers manage time and exposure to prevent over stimulation.
Speaker 7 (10:25):
Yeah, so I think it's important that we go early
in the evening when we can see everything when lights
are available. We should stay in an area that we
are familiar with, so I wouldn't recommend going to like
a brand new neighborhood that we had never tricker treated
in before. Would definitely provide kiddos with sensory friendly costumes
that allow for reduced textures so that those irritating textures
(10:49):
that often come with costumes. I would do a lot
of work reading stories and looking at the different ways
that kiddos can and will prepare that way.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
And Colleena, what advice would you give FA families for
older children with autism who are eager to participate but
of course face social or safety challenges.
Speaker 7 (11:05):
If we really lean into safety awareness and demonstrating how
important it is to stay with a trusted caregiver or
an adult, Halloween night gets start pretty quickly, so utilizing
those safety skills like having a flashlight handy, making sure
that if we are separated from our parents, maybe our
Halloween bucket or our Halloween bag has contact information on
(11:26):
it so that children can be returned to their parents
and caregivers safely. And again, if we are practicing in
advance and we are in a familiar area, our kiddos
are more likely to be safe again.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
Colleena Maris joins us.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
She is clinical director of Homebridge Louisville East, And we're
talking about children who have sensorary issues and dealing with
a holiday like Halloween that can certainly challenge those sensory
issues for sure. And Coleena, are there any common mistakes
or misconceptions parents should avoid when they're preparing their child
for Halloween.
Speaker 7 (11:57):
I think that if we come into the holiday with
a lot of expectation of how it should be done,
will create a situation where we aren't happy with the outcome.
And so if we come into the situation prepared and
with expectations that are low and meant to be shaped
around what our children need the holiday to be, the
(12:18):
happier everybody will be. So when I say preparation, I
say let's practice, practice, practice, So practice your roots. Do
it during the daytime, go on family walks on the
same route that you would for trick or treating. Practice
saying trick or treat to family members and friends using
any vocal modality that you are comfortable with. So whether
(12:38):
it's touching a picture of a trick or treat icon,
or it's using an AAC device and an iPad, or
it's actually saying trick or treat practice saying it as
much as you can in the lead up to the holiday.
We should read stories to our kiddos about what trigger
treating looks like. So there're social stories available that you
can vibe. You can also find online. We can watch
(13:01):
videos of other kiddos going trick or treating that are
readily available. It's also really important that we have sensory
tools available should our kiddos become overstimulated, so a favorite
toy or a favorite fidget, having that handy and nearby,
and then making sure that your trick or treat bag
or your trick or treat bucket has contact information on it.
(13:22):
In case your kiddo becomes separated, go ahead and have
that all set up. Make sure that the costume that
your kiddo is picking out is on their terms, and
make sure that it doesn't have a lot of new
and unfamiliar textures on it that might heighten their sensory sensitivities.
Another thing that you can do that a lot of
parents choose to do is utilize something called a blue
(13:44):
bucket that kind of allows parents and other caregivers who
are familiar to allow for a little extra patients for
your kiddo when they're trick or treating, and we'll actually
have a bunch of those available at Hopebridge a little
least should a parent want to come get a free
hope Bridge Blue bucket preparation for Halloween.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
Wonderful.
Speaker 2 (14:02):
That's outstanding, well, Colleena, this has just been an eye
opener for me. It's been great being able to talk
to you about this. And if folks want more information,
where can they go? If they're listening to this, maybe
on the road and they get to a happy place
where they can look you up for resources, where can
they go?
Speaker 7 (14:17):
So we have an amazing free parent and caregiver guide
at our website for Halloween at hope Bridge dot com.
They will find a bunch of really cool resources in
that guide, like making your own sensory friendly costumes and
different little social stories and communication modalities for your kiddos
on the spectrum. And again, please come buy Hoebridge Lovelle
(14:39):
East to access a free bucket. And I'm happy to
talk to any parent who or caregiver who has any
concerns leading up to the holiday to help you prepare
for this amazing night.
Speaker 2 (14:50):
Colleena Maris, you are amazing and please give a big
tip of the head to all your your good folks
there at Hepebridge, Louisville East. You know, just anytime we
can raise awareness. I don't think anybody knows anybody now
who doesn't know someone who's suffering from autism or sensory
issues as well. And being able to do the work
you do that allows kids to get out and enjoy
(15:11):
this holiday, which is truly a kid's holiday, is just
it's amazing.
Speaker 1 (15:14):
So Colleena, thank you so much. We appreciate you guys.
Speaker 7 (15:18):
Yeah, of course happy to do it.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
You can find more resources and guidance at Hopebridge dot com.
Coming up or turning our attention to a topic that
affects millions worldwide, raising awareness, understanding and support. We'll tell
you who they are coming up after this. I'm Scott Fitzgerald.
This is Kentucky Focus.
Speaker 9 (15:42):
Nearly half of children in foster care drop out of school,
but you can rewrite that story. Children in youth with
KASA and GAL volunteers are more likely to succeed in school.
Change a child's stone or become a volunteer today. Learn
(16:03):
more at National KASA gal dot org.
Speaker 2 (16:08):
Welcome back to Kentucky Focus. I'm Scott Fitzgerald. October twenty
second is International Stuttering Awareness Day. Stuttering isn't just about speech,
It's about confidence, opportunity, and access to support. Today we
have the pleasure of being joined by Jane Frasier, President
of the Stuttering Foundation, to discuss stuttering, what it is,
how it affects people of all ages, and the resources
(16:30):
available to help.
Speaker 1 (16:31):
Jane, thanks for taking time to join us.
Speaker 8 (16:32):
Oh, it's a real pleasure to be here. Thank you
very much.
Speaker 2 (16:36):
And as a lot of people know, and I know
you're very familiar with him too. Here locally, our own
women's basketball coach, Jeff Walls, suffers from stuttering and he's
been kind of a nice poster child for that and
help create awareness around this. Jane, can you explain what
stuttering is and how it affects both children and adults.
Speaker 8 (16:52):
Well, yes, I'd be happy to talk about that. I
think stuttering, you know, we know it's repetitions, repetitions like
that or prolongations of words. If you hear someone do that,
they're probably struggling to get the word out or even
complete blocks, which for someone who stutters is a real
(17:15):
problem because the listener doesn't know how to react. I
think that's a problem for a lot of people. What
do I do when someone stutters? And of course the
best thing is to be patient and to listen. But
as far as cause is concerned, we know that genetics
plays a role. My father stuttered, my uncle stuttered. I
(17:38):
have first cousins who stutter, so it definitely runs in
my family. But we also know that neurophysiology plays a
role how we process speech and language. People who stutter
process it's slightly different. It doesn't mean that they won't
go on to be great communicators. And you know, I
(18:00):
know Churchill, that's a pretty distant past now, but I
think Winston Churchill, James Earl Jones also is another wonderful example. Sure,
that's someone who stutters, who had a lot of trouble
in a conversational way of still a lot of stuttering,
and yet on the stage in the movies, as we know,
(18:23):
he went on to be a great communicator. Yeah, that's
of course what we want people to focus on.
Speaker 2 (18:28):
Right on, we're joined by Jane Fraser, President of the
Stuttering Foundation October twenty second International Stuttering Awareness Day. As
Jane mentioned, numerous famous people and of course to include
our own Jeff Walls here with the University of Global
women's basketball team and Jane, how many people in the
US and worldwide stutter? Is there anyone who's more affected
(18:48):
than anyone else?
Speaker 8 (18:49):
Three million Americans at least and eighty million people worldwide,
And yes, there are interesting groups that are these seem
to be more affected as population groups. There is a
family in Ivory Coast in fact that and you know
(19:09):
it's or in Pakistan as well, in places where there's
been inbreeding in the sense that you know, a small
family or living in an isolated area where you have
the same genetic makeup and people, and so you can
see that that would cause a problem. Like in Louisiana,
(19:30):
there's a group of people who are who have our
heart of hearing, who are deaf, and they've intermarried for
hundreds of years, and so yes, but that's not your
general the population that we're talking about, so as far
as the United States is concerned, not there isn't a
(19:50):
particular population group. But nonetheless, you know it's one out
of one hundred people's studies. That's a lot of folks.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
Yes, it is.
Speaker 2 (19:58):
And my uncle stuttered as well, and I'm glad you
said that when you talked about the most important thing
is having patients, because that was the hardest thing for
me to learn with my uncle was you have to
just be patient, don't try to correct them, just let
them go on and speak it out. And as someone
who covers coach Jeff Wallas when I do my sport,
you listen to his press conferences and you want to
help correct them, but you know how important that is
(20:19):
to just let it run its course. And speaking of
how important things are, Jane again, we're talking with Jane Fraser,
president of the Stuttering Foundation. October twenty second International Stutering
Awareness Day. How important, Jane is early interventions and what
steps can parents take right away if they notice their
child stuttering.
Speaker 8 (20:36):
Well, I think early intervention is crucial no matter what
the problem might be. We have some wonderful Stuttering Foundation
has some wonderful videos free on our YouTube station. So
Stuttering Help Help dot Org is our website and if
(20:57):
you click on YouTube, we have a film called seven
Tips for Talking with the Child who stutters. And you know,
I tell parents, these are therapy ideas you don't have
to You know, you can start today by watching that
film and implementing some of the ideas. One of them
is don't bombard the child with questions. I think some
(21:22):
parents say, you know, what color is that? What did
you do at school? Instead of saying or at preschool?
What did you do at preschool? I wonder what you did,
or I wonder I wonder what you had for lunch
instead of what do you have for lunch? You see,
that removes the time pressure from the child. So questions
(21:44):
that we may think are simple questions for a two
and three year old are put them under a lot
of pressure. So these are therapy ideas that you can
implement as a parent, as a grandparent, as a relative.
Today you don't have to wait. I think that to me,
that's just really thrilling because in the old days we
(22:05):
used to have to mail this material to people, and
now for us at the Stuttering Foundation to be able
to say, you can watch this today, it's just so exciting.
Speaker 2 (22:16):
Jane Frasier's joining as president of the Stuttering Foundation. Of course,
October twenty second International Stuttering Awareness Day, and Jane through
the research you do there at the Stuttering Foundation. Are
you starting to see we're breaking some of the stigmas
surrounding stuttering and why days like October twenty second are
so important to raise awareness to something like this.
Speaker 8 (22:36):
Well, I think you're doing it right now, and I
would thank you for that. But I'm looking back at
what Jeff Wallace had to say too. One of the
things that he does is always lets the media know
that he does stutter. I think that's another interesting way
to increase awareness. Hey, I'm a person who stutters, and
(22:57):
so during our interview today, I may stumble on a
few words, I may take a little longer. I think
that that's a really wonderful way to create awareness and
not leave your listeners wondering what's going on. And plus,
it takes you, It takes all the burden of trying
(23:17):
to hide it. You know, so many people go through
life that they do going through life trying to hide it.
And that makes no sense at all, because it just
puts more pressure on you to try to avoid to
try to not do it. And again, anything that puts
pressure on this delicate speech mechanism that we have is
(23:38):
not a good thing.
Speaker 2 (23:39):
Jane before we let you go. Just great information. I'm
so glad I found you. Jane Fraser, president of the
Stuttering Foundations, joining us as October twenty second is International
Stuttering Awareness Day. What advice do you have for a parent,
a new parent maybe even who's just discovering for the
first time that their child is stuttering, or a loved
one is stuttering and they're desperate to find help.
Speaker 1 (24:01):
What would you tell them?
Speaker 8 (24:02):
Well, I think the first thing for them to know
is that they didn't cause it, and I think that
will relax them and make them a little bit more comfortable.
Because you have to understand that for children, they're all
learning to speak, and so we see a large number
of children that are going to stumble and have trouble
(24:25):
and start over again. It doesn't necessarily mean that stuttering
is the problem, but for every child it's difficult. Learning
how to speak is a big job for a little person,
is one of the things that we say. So first
of all, you know, read with that child. There's so
much you can do. Read everything. You can visit our
(24:47):
website of course, stutteringhelp dot org. But read everything you
can because the better educated you are, the less you
will worry, and the better you will be as making
sure to prevent that from becoming a chronic problem with
your child.
Speaker 2 (25:04):
Startering effects millions, but with awareness, understanding, and support, people
who stutter can thrive personally and professionally from local resources
here in Kentucky. To knowing that even leaders and athletes
like head coach Jeff Wallas at the University of Louisville
faced similar challenges, the message is clear. Help is available
and no one has to face stuttering alone thanks to
folks like Jane Frasier and the Stuttering Foundation Jane, where
(25:28):
again can folks go if they need more help?
Speaker 8 (25:30):
The website is Stuttering Help s t U T T
E r I N G h E l P dot org.
Speaker 1 (25:39):
Jane.
Speaker 2 (25:39):
Thank you so much for your time. I hope we
can catch up again soon. I'm so glad I've found you,
and I'd like to talk again some time.
Speaker 8 (25:45):
Thank you, Scott.
Speaker 1 (25:46):
We're back to.
Speaker 2 (25:47):
Wrap things up. I'm Scott Fitzgerald. You're listening to Kentucky folcus.
Speaker 9 (25:54):
We all have someone we love. Like the favorite lyric
in our favorite.
Speaker 10 (25:58):
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(26:21):
slash get screened to learn more, and.
Speaker 1 (26:24):
That'll wrap up another edition of Kentucky Focus. A big
thank you.
Speaker 2 (26:27):
To all our guests today Trey Biz for sharing how
AI is transforming the way we shop this holiday season.
Speaker 1 (26:33):
You can find more.
Speaker 2 (26:34):
Tips at true trey tr Ae dot com Again truetray
dot com. Thank you also too, Colleenomris for offering practical
advice on families navigating a busy and exciting Halloween season,
especially those whose children are suffering from autism. You can
learn more at homebridge dot com. And a special thank
(26:55):
you to Jane Fraser for shedding light on stuttering awareness
and the resources availables what those affected.
Speaker 1 (27:01):
For more information, you can visit de Soundering help dot org.
Speaker 2 (27:04):
Most importantly, thank you the listener for tuning in and
making Kentucky Focus part of your day. We appreciate your time,
you're curiosity, and your commitment to staying informed on the
stories that matter most here in the Commonwealth. We hope
today's show gave you some insights, my dias and maybe
even a little inspiration to take with you this week.
Be sure to join us next time for more stories,
information and conversation. Again, I am Scott Fitzgeral when I
(27:26):
speak for all of us at Kentucky Focus and the
Kentucky News Network.
Speaker 1 (27:30):
Until you have a great week, Take care of each other.
We'll talk next time on Kentucky Focus.
Speaker 3 (27:35):
Kentucky Focus on the Kentucky News Network, the show that
looks at issues affecting the Commonwealth and its citizens. We
cover state politics and history, human interest stories, sports, and
even entertainment. It's Kentucky Focus on kN N.
Speaker 11 (27:55):
He was just a teenager when his father died in
a robbery. He laid awake one night and imagined a
place where good would always defeat evil, every wrong made right.
He imagined a world of truth, justice, and the American Way.
Through his loss, Jerry Siegel imagined a new hero. His
imagination created Superman Imagination. Pass it on from pass it
(28:21):
on dot.
Speaker 12 (28:22):
Com And we're live here outside the Perez family home,
just waiting for the and there they go almost on time.
This morning, Mom is coming out the front door strong
with a double arm kid carry. Looks like Dad has
the Bag's daughter is bringing up the rear. Oh, but
the diaper bag wasn't closed. Diapers and toys are everywhere. Ooh,
(28:44):
but mom has just nailed the perfect car seat buckle
for the toddler. And now the eldest daughter, who looks
to be about nine or ten, has secured herself in
the booster seat. Dad zips the bag closed and they're off. Ah.
It looks like Mom doesn't realize her coffee cup is
still on the roof of the car and there it goes.
Speaker 1 (29:04):
Oh, that's a shame.
Speaker 12 (29:05):
That mug was a fam favorite.
Speaker 13 (29:07):
Don't sweat the small stuff, just nail the big stuff,
like making sure your kids are buckled correctly in the
right seat for their agent's size. Learn more at NHTSA
dot gov slash the Right Seat visits NHTSA.
Speaker 1 (29:18):
Dot gov slash the Right Seat.
Speaker 13 (29:20):
Brought to you by NITZA and the ad Council
And welcome to Kentucky Focus.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
Yes, it's the show where we dive into story, ideas
and innovations that shape life right here in the Bluegrass Date.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
I'm Scott Fitzgerald.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
And today we're gonna take a look at how we
could maybe change the way we shop this holiday season. Plus,
this holiday usually requires an extra look at safety. We'll
tell you how you can keep folks safe.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
And a special awareness story that touches all of us.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Stay tuned, whether you're shopping, planning a holiday, or just curious.
I want to miss today's Kentucky Focus. I'm Scott Fitzgial.
We're back after this.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Welcome to Kentucky Focus on the Kentucky News Network, the
show that looks at issues affecting the Commonwealth and it's citizens.
We cover state politics, in history, human interest stories, sports,
and even entertainment. It's Kentucky Focus on kNN.
Speaker 4 (00:47):
Only one in five people with disabilities, including those with autism,
are employed, despite many having the skill set and desire
to work.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Maybe it's because employers don't know what kind of jobs
they can do.
Speaker 4 (00:58):
Okay, try me out a programmer that is a job
for someone with autism.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
What about a teacher.
Speaker 4 (01:05):
That is a job for someone with autism.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
Oh, how about a healthcare worker?
Speaker 4 (01:10):
Yes, those are all jobs for someone with autism. The
truth is qualified people with autism can do a lot
of different jobs, but often get overlooked due to outdated
stigmas and beliefs. Business is value diversity, but sometimes don't
recognize the unique strengths and abilities of the autism community.
Introducing WIN, the Workplace Inclusion Now Program by Autism Speaks,
(01:31):
we help businesses lead the way in inclusive hiring.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
Ooh what about a ranch hand.
Speaker 4 (01:37):
Yeah, sure, that's a job for someone with autism too.
To learn more, go to Autism Speaks dot org, slash win.
That's Autism Speaks dot org slash win.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
Welcome back to Kentucky Focus. I'm Scott Fitzgerald. Well the holidays, Yeah,
they're right around the corner. Are Nearly half of us
shoppers say, oh, we trust AI shopping advice over.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
The head of a friend. But how can artificial.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
Intelligent actually help us find the best deals, track hard
to find items, and even pick the well perfect gift.
Joining us to explain how AI tools like Amazon's Rufus
and Lens are reshaping the way we shop, saving time, money,
and maybe even a little less holiday stress. Is Trey
Budge Try Thanks for taking time to join us.
Speaker 5 (02:17):
Thanks for having me, Trey.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
I love to shop, but I've got questions. How can
AI help me save time and money ahead of the holidays?
Speaker 5 (02:25):
You have to check out Amazon's tool rufus, which is
its conversational shopping assistant. Rufus is trained on the vast
catalog of Amazon products, plus community Q and A, plus
product reviews and web data, so it can answer any
question that you have about a particular product, or you
could give it a prompt like I have a five
(02:45):
hundred dollars budget, I want to split it across my
three kids, ages five, seven, and nine, and rufus can
provide you with age appropriate suggestions within your budget.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
And Trey, what if a customer is searching for a
specific product that's small not available.
Speaker 5 (02:59):
Yeah, Amazon makes it easy to find products on Amazon
and beyond. It has a new feature called by for Me,
and you can enter the product search. You'll be given
suggestions of Amazon branded products and also third party products,
and then sometimes you'll get recommendations of products beyond Amazon
and that'll be under the shop brand sites directly.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Tab Again, Trey Boge joins us. Trey is a smart
shopping expert and we're talking with her about well, some
of the ways AI is helping us actually pick that
perfect Christmas gift or any gift for that matter. And Trey,
if I see a product on social media, which I
see them all the time, or when i'm out, let's
just say something's in a window or something's on the shelf,
how can I find that item?
Speaker 5 (03:39):
So you'll want to use Amazon Lens and it's new feature,
Lens Live. So this is a way to discover products
with a visual search, so you can aim the camera
at that product. Say you're at a party and you
see a dress that you really like, or if you're
on social media and you see address on a model
but you don't know where to get it, this feature
(04:00):
will let you find that product on Amazon and then Rufus,
the shopping assistant, will provide additional information. So it's a
great way to get your hands on an item that
you've been coveting.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
Now we've all been there, we're all shopping, We're all
trying to find that perfect item for that loved one,
right and.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
Well, that's why we've run in.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
Smart Shopping expert Trey bodgis who's talking to us about
using artificial intelligence to help us pick that perfect gift.
We're talking about products like Amazon's rufus and lens and Trey,
how can AI make it easier to find that perfect
gift for the loved one.
Speaker 5 (04:31):
So there's a feature called Interest, and this is really
good to find products that you might be passionate about,
or if you have a tricky person on your list,
it's very good for that as well. So for example,
you could say I have a friend who loves cooking.
They're really into cookbooks and innovative cooking tools. Interest will
comb through Amazon and find all the applicable products for that,
(04:52):
and so it's a great way to discover new products.
It'll let you know if there are deals, new product drops,
product availability, so it does all that legwork for you.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
Shopping expert Trey Bondes joining us now, And of course
we're talking about AI and give shopping ahead of the
holidays or really any time for that matter, because let's
be honest, AI is not going anywhere anytime soon, so
we might as well use it to our advantage. In
try wonder if we're looking for a gift but don't
know much about the product space.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
What can we do?
Speaker 5 (05:18):
Yeah, so Amazon Shopping Guides is really helpful in this case.
So say you have to buy headphones for your team,
but you don't know anything about headphones. It'll get you
up to speed on the product category, and then make
specific suggestions that you can choose from and.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
Talk to me a little bit about the new audio feature.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
So this is.
Speaker 5 (05:36):
Called here are the Highlights, And this is really good
if you're on the go or you don't have time
to look at a screen. So the Amazon Ai shopping
experts have compiled fun, engaging, conversational product descriptions that you
can listen to when you're on the go. So that's
a lot of fun to try.
Speaker 3 (05:54):
Try.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
This has been some fantastic insight.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
Again, if you're just joining us when we're talking with
smart shopping expert Trey and we're talking about the ways
that AI can help us find that perfect Christmas gift
or any gift anytime of the year for that matter,
because AI has just become such a big part of
our lives now and it's only getting bigger.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
So Trey, where can we go to learn more?
Speaker 5 (06:13):
You can go to Amazon to check out all these
features we just talked about.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Trey, You've been absolutely wonderful. I'm sure you're gonna save
us a lot of time this holiday season. We really
appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule to
join us.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
Thanks so much.
Speaker 5 (06:25):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
Just some fascinating insight in now how really technology is
transforming the way we shop in twenty twenty five and
it all seems like it's moving so fast right. Thank
you so much, Stray Bodge for joining us, and for
those looking to learn more, you can always visit true
tray Trae dot com. Again True tray tr ae dot com.
Coming up, we'll shift gears to this Halloween and with
(06:49):
some safety tips, not just any safety tips, We'll tell
you why.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
This one's a little bit more important.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
I mean, I'm next time. Scott Fitzgalden. This is Kentucky.
Speaker 6 (06:57):
Focus Drivers Austin centered here as a NASCAR Cup Series
driver of the number two discount tire Ford Mustang. There's
a few rules of the road I like to tell
my family and friends. Tire pressure is critical to safety
because underinflated tires are more likely to fail. Plus properly
(07:19):
inflated tires will give you better gas melergs. Make sure
to check your tire pressure at least once a month.
We stopped by a local tire retailer for an air.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
Chain a message from the US Tire Manufacturers Association and
welcome back to Kentucky Focus. I'm Scott Fence, Joe. Let's
be honest.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
Every holiday is a reason to celebrate, have fun, enjoy
each other. Right, some holidays don't require a little bit
more attention to safety than others. That would include Halloween.
Our next guest is Coleina Marris. She is clinical director
at the Hope Bridge Louisville East Center, and she's here
to talk to us about Halloween safety for children with autism.
Speaker 7 (07:55):
Collina welcome, Yeah, no problem, happy to be here.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
Heal, Caleina.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
For families with children on the autism spectrum, what are
some of the main challenges Halloween can burn?
Speaker 7 (08:04):
So Halloween, while it can be fun, it also can
be a little scary, especially for our kiddos on the spectrum.
You know, it's a holiday that we don't experience every
single day. It only comes, you know, once a year,
so there's lots of unfamiliar sites, sounds, smells, sensory experiences
that can be overwhelming for kiddos on the spectrum.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
Again, Colleena Marris joins us.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
She's the clinical director of Hopebridge Louville East, and we're
talking about making a safe Halloween for kids who suffer
from autism. And Colleena, you suggest practicing wearing costumes and
walking with walking the trigger treat route ahead of time.
How can caregivers make these preparations fun rather than really stressful.
Speaker 7 (08:44):
The lower our expectations are, the better the holiday really
is for every kiddo, no matter what they are affected by,
for them to really enjoy Halloween. So the way that
we can do that is by practicing our routes. We
can walk the neighborhood in advance during daytime hours like
we normally would. Can practice wearing our costumes in advance,
(09:06):
making sure that the costume is sensory friendly and doesn't
have too many new textures or new feelings on it.
We can practice saying trick or treat with the communication
modality that we prefer, whether it's an augmented device or
whether it's our actual vocal voice. We can read stories
and look at different pictures of kiddos going trick or treat.
(09:28):
We can watch videos of kids trick or treating in
advance for preparing for the holiday.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
Conversation now with Colleena Maris, clinical director of Hetbridge Louisville East,
and we're talking about Halloween for kids that deal with
sensory issues and those suffering from we'll say autism and Kelleena,
communication can be key for kids with autism. What are
some ways parents can help their children feel comfortable saying,
you know, trick or treat or thank you.
Speaker 8 (09:52):
Well.
Speaker 7 (09:53):
First of all, I think it's important that we as
a community come into the holiday with few expectations of
what kiddos need to say and what they shouldn't say.
But I also think that it's imperative that we try
to practice these things. So maybe when we're preparing for
the holiday a couple of weeks in advance, we can
practice saying trick or treat to each other. We can
(10:14):
practice saying thank you just to mom and dad for
everyday thing.
Speaker 1 (10:18):
For a chance first Halloween experience.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
How should caregivers manage time and exposure to prevent over stimulation.
Speaker 7 (10:25):
Yeah, so I think it's important that we go early
in the evening when we can see everything when lights
are available. We should stay in an area that we
are familiar with, so I wouldn't recommend going to like
a brand new neighborhood that we had never tricker treated
in before. Would definitely provide kiddos with sensory friendly costumes
that allow for reduced textures so that those irritating textures
(10:49):
that often come with costumes. I would do a lot
of work reading stories and looking at the different ways
that kiddos can and will prepare that way.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
And Colleena, what advice would you give FA families for
older children with autism who are eager to participate but
of course face social or safety challenges.
Speaker 7 (11:05):
If we really lean into safety awareness and demonstrating how
important it is to stay with a trusted caregiver or
an adult, Halloween night gets start pretty quickly, so utilizing
those safety skills like having a flashlight handy, making sure
that if we are separated from our parents, maybe our
Halloween bucket or our Halloween bag has contact information on
(11:26):
it so that children can be returned to their parents
and caregivers safely. And again, if we are practicing in
advance and we are in a familiar area, our kiddos
are more likely to be safe again.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
Colleena Maris joins us.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
She is clinical director of Homebridge Louisville East, And we're
talking about children who have sensorary issues and dealing with
a holiday like Halloween that can certainly challenge those sensory
issues for sure. And Coleena, are there any common mistakes
or misconceptions parents should avoid when they're preparing their child
for Halloween.
Speaker 7 (11:57):
I think that if we come into the holiday with
a lot of expectation of how it should be done,
will create a situation where we aren't happy with the outcome.
And so if we come into the situation prepared and
with expectations that are low and meant to be shaped
around what our children need the holiday to be, the
(12:18):
happier everybody will be. So when I say preparation, I
say let's practice, practice, practice, So practice your roots. Do
it during the daytime, go on family walks on the
same route that you would for trick or treating. Practice
saying trick or treat to family members and friends using
any vocal modality that you are comfortable with. So whether
(12:38):
it's touching a picture of a trick or treat icon,
or it's using an AAC device and an iPad, or
it's actually saying trick or treat practice saying it as
much as you can in the lead up to the holiday.
We should read stories to our kiddos about what trigger
treating looks like. So there're social stories available that you
can vibe. You can also find online. We can watch
(13:01):
videos of other kiddos going trick or treating that are
readily available. It's also really important that we have sensory
tools available should our kiddos become overstimulated, so a favorite
toy or a favorite fidget, having that handy and nearby,
and then making sure that your trick or treat bag
or your trick or treat bucket has contact information on it.
(13:22):
In case your kiddo becomes separated, go ahead and have
that all set up. Make sure that the costume that
your kiddo is picking out is on their terms, and
make sure that it doesn't have a lot of new
and unfamiliar textures on it that might heighten their sensory sensitivities.
Another thing that you can do that a lot of
parents choose to do is utilize something called a blue
(13:44):
bucket that kind of allows parents and other caregivers who
are familiar to allow for a little extra patients for
your kiddo when they're trick or treating, and we'll actually
have a bunch of those available at Hopebridge a little
least should a parent want to come get a free
hope Bridge Blue bucket preparation for Halloween.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
Wonderful.
Speaker 2 (14:02):
That's outstanding, well, Colleena, this has just been an eye
opener for me. It's been great being able to talk
to you about this. And if folks want more information,
where can they go? If they're listening to this, maybe
on the road and they get to a happy place
where they can look you up for resources, where can
they go?
Speaker 7 (14:17):
So we have an amazing free parent and caregiver guide
at our website for Halloween at hope Bridge dot com.
They will find a bunch of really cool resources in
that guide, like making your own sensory friendly costumes and
different little social stories and communication modalities for your kiddos
on the spectrum. And again, please come buy Hoebridge Lovelle
(14:39):
East to access a free bucket. And I'm happy to
talk to any parent who or caregiver who has any
concerns leading up to the holiday to help you prepare
for this amazing night.
Speaker 2 (14:50):
Colleena Maris, you are amazing and please give a big
tip of the head to all your your good folks
there at Hepebridge, Louisville East. You know, just anytime we
can raise awareness. I don't think anybody knows anybody now
who doesn't know someone who's suffering from autism or sensory
issues as well. And being able to do the work
you do that allows kids to get out and enjoy
(15:11):
this holiday, which is truly a kid's holiday, is just
it's amazing.
Speaker 1 (15:14):
So Colleena, thank you so much. We appreciate you guys.
Speaker 7 (15:18):
Yeah, of course happy to do it.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
You can find more resources and guidance at Hopebridge dot com.
Coming up or turning our attention to a topic that
affects millions worldwide, raising awareness, understanding and support. We'll tell
you who they are coming up after this. I'm Scott Fitzgerald.
This is Kentucky Focus.
Speaker 9 (15:42):
Nearly half of children in foster care drop out of school,
but you can rewrite that story. Children in youth with
KASA and GAL volunteers are more likely to succeed in school.
Change a child's stone or become a volunteer today. Learn
(16:03):
more at National KASA gal dot org.
Speaker 2 (16:08):
Welcome back to Kentucky Focus. I'm Scott Fitzgerald. October twenty
second is International Stuttering Awareness Day. Stuttering isn't just about speech,
It's about confidence, opportunity, and access to support. Today we
have the pleasure of being joined by Jane Frasier, President
of the Stuttering Foundation, to discuss stuttering, what it is,
how it affects people of all ages, and the resources
(16:30):
available to help.
Speaker 1 (16:31):
Jane, thanks for taking time to join us.
Speaker 8 (16:32):
Oh, it's a real pleasure to be here. Thank you
very much.
Speaker 2 (16:36):
And as a lot of people know, and I know
you're very familiar with him too. Here locally, our own
women's basketball coach, Jeff Walls, suffers from stuttering and he's
been kind of a nice poster child for that and
help create awareness around this. Jane, can you explain what
stuttering is and how it affects both children and adults.
Speaker 8 (16:52):
Well, yes, I'd be happy to talk about that. I
think stuttering, you know, we know it's repetitions, repetitions like
that or prolongations of words. If you hear someone do that,
they're probably struggling to get the word out or even
complete blocks, which for someone who stutters is a real
(17:15):
problem because the listener doesn't know how to react. I
think that's a problem for a lot of people. What
do I do when someone stutters? And of course the
best thing is to be patient and to listen. But
as far as cause is concerned, we know that genetics
plays a role. My father stuttered, my uncle stuttered. I
(17:38):
have first cousins who stutter, so it definitely runs in
my family. But we also know that neurophysiology plays a
role how we process speech and language. People who stutter
process it's slightly different. It doesn't mean that they won't
go on to be great communicators. And you know, I
(18:00):
know Churchill, that's a pretty distant past now, but I
think Winston Churchill, James Earl Jones also is another wonderful example. Sure,
that's someone who stutters, who had a lot of trouble
in a conversational way of still a lot of stuttering,
and yet on the stage in the movies, as we know,
(18:23):
he went on to be a great communicator. Yeah, that's
of course what we want people to focus on.
Speaker 2 (18:28):
Right on, we're joined by Jane Fraser, President of the
Stuttering Foundation October twenty second International Stuttering Awareness Day. As
Jane mentioned, numerous famous people and of course to include
our own Jeff Walls here with the University of Global
women's basketball team and Jane, how many people in the
US and worldwide stutter? Is there anyone who's more affected
(18:48):
than anyone else?
Speaker 8 (18:49):
Three million Americans at least and eighty million people worldwide,
And yes, there are interesting groups that are these seem
to be more affected as population groups. There is a
family in Ivory Coast in fact that and you know
(19:09):
it's or in Pakistan as well, in places where there's
been inbreeding in the sense that you know, a small
family or living in an isolated area where you have
the same genetic makeup and people, and so you can
see that that would cause a problem. Like in Louisiana,
(19:30):
there's a group of people who are who have our
heart of hearing, who are deaf, and they've intermarried for
hundreds of years, and so yes, but that's not your
general the population that we're talking about, so as far
as the United States is concerned, not there isn't a
(19:50):
particular population group. But nonetheless, you know it's one out
of one hundred people's studies. That's a lot of folks.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
Yes, it is.
Speaker 2 (19:58):
And my uncle stuttered as well, and I'm glad you
said that when you talked about the most important thing
is having patients, because that was the hardest thing for
me to learn with my uncle was you have to
just be patient, don't try to correct them, just let
them go on and speak it out. And as someone
who covers coach Jeff Wallas when I do my sport,
you listen to his press conferences and you want to
help correct them, but you know how important that is
(20:19):
to just let it run its course. And speaking of
how important things are, Jane again, we're talking with Jane Fraser,
president of the Stuttering Foundation. October twenty second International Stutering
Awareness Day. How important, Jane is early interventions and what
steps can parents take right away if they notice their
child stuttering.
Speaker 8 (20:36):
Well, I think early intervention is crucial no matter what
the problem might be. We have some wonderful Stuttering Foundation
has some wonderful videos free on our YouTube station. So
Stuttering Help Help dot Org is our website and if
(20:57):
you click on YouTube, we have a film called seven
Tips for Talking with the Child who stutters. And you know,
I tell parents, these are therapy ideas you don't have
to You know, you can start today by watching that
film and implementing some of the ideas. One of them
is don't bombard the child with questions. I think some
(21:22):
parents say, you know, what color is that? What did
you do at school? Instead of saying or at preschool?
What did you do at preschool? I wonder what you did,
or I wonder I wonder what you had for lunch
instead of what do you have for lunch? You see,
that removes the time pressure from the child. So questions
(21:44):
that we may think are simple questions for a two
and three year old are put them under a lot
of pressure. So these are therapy ideas that you can
implement as a parent, as a grandparent, as a relative.
Today you don't have to wait. I think that to me,
that's just really thrilling because in the old days we
(22:05):
used to have to mail this material to people, and
now for us at the Stuttering Foundation to be able
to say, you can watch this today, it's just so exciting.
Speaker 2 (22:16):
Jane Frasier's joining as president of the Stuttering Foundation. Of course,
October twenty second International Stuttering Awareness Day, and Jane through
the research you do there at the Stuttering Foundation. Are
you starting to see we're breaking some of the stigmas
surrounding stuttering and why days like October twenty second are
so important to raise awareness to something like this.
Speaker 8 (22:36):
Well, I think you're doing it right now, and I
would thank you for that. But I'm looking back at
what Jeff Wallace had to say too. One of the
things that he does is always lets the media know
that he does stutter. I think that's another interesting way
to increase awareness. Hey, I'm a person who stutters, and
(22:57):
so during our interview today, I may stumble on a
few words, I may take a little longer. I think
that that's a really wonderful way to create awareness and
not leave your listeners wondering what's going on. And plus,
it takes you, It takes all the burden of trying
(23:17):
to hide it. You know, so many people go through
life that they do going through life trying to hide it.
And that makes no sense at all, because it just
puts more pressure on you to try to avoid to
try to not do it. And again, anything that puts
pressure on this delicate speech mechanism that we have is
(23:38):
not a good thing.
Speaker 2 (23:39):
Jane before we let you go. Just great information. I'm
so glad I found you. Jane Fraser, president of the
Stuttering Foundations, joining us as October twenty second is International
Stuttering Awareness Day. What advice do you have for a parent,
a new parent maybe even who's just discovering for the
first time that their child is stuttering, or a loved
one is stuttering and they're desperate to find help.
Speaker 1 (24:01):
What would you tell them?
Speaker 8 (24:02):
Well, I think the first thing for them to know
is that they didn't cause it, and I think that
will relax them and make them a little bit more comfortable.
Because you have to understand that for children, they're all
learning to speak, and so we see a large number
of children that are going to stumble and have trouble
(24:25):
and start over again. It doesn't necessarily mean that stuttering
is the problem, but for every child it's difficult. Learning
how to speak is a big job for a little person,
is one of the things that we say. So first
of all, you know, read with that child. There's so
much you can do. Read everything. You can visit our
(24:47):
website of course, stutteringhelp dot org. But read everything you
can because the better educated you are, the less you
will worry, and the better you will be as making
sure to prevent that from becoming a chronic problem with
your child.
Speaker 2 (25:04):
Startering effects millions, but with awareness, understanding, and support, people
who stutter can thrive personally and professionally from local resources
here in Kentucky. To knowing that even leaders and athletes
like head coach Jeff Wallas at the University of Louisville
faced similar challenges, the message is clear. Help is available
and no one has to face stuttering alone thanks to
folks like Jane Frasier and the Stuttering Foundation Jane, where
(25:28):
again can folks go if they need more help?
Speaker 8 (25:30):
The website is Stuttering Help s t U T T
E r I N G h E l P dot org.
Speaker 1 (25:39):
Jane.
Speaker 2 (25:39):
Thank you so much for your time. I hope we
can catch up again soon. I'm so glad I've found you,
and I'd like to talk again some time.
Speaker 8 (25:45):
Thank you, Scott.
Speaker 1 (25:46):
We're back to.
Speaker 2 (25:47):
Wrap things up. I'm Scott Fitzgerald. You're listening to Kentucky folcus.
Speaker 9 (25:54):
We all have someone we love. Like the favorite lyric
in our favorite.
Speaker 10 (25:58):
Song, you can't imagine life without them. Cancer screening tests
can help keep the person you love around longer by
detecting changes before cancer develops, or catch it early when
it may be easier to treat, and mony tests are
available for free or covered by insurance. It's time to
sound like a broken record. Tell all your friends and
family I love you. Get screened. Visit cancer dot org
(26:21):
slash get screened to learn more, and.
Speaker 1 (26:24):
That'll wrap up another edition of Kentucky Focus. A big
thank you.
Speaker 2 (26:27):
To all our guests today Trey Biz for sharing how
AI is transforming the way we shop this holiday season.
Speaker 1 (26:33):
You can find more.
Speaker 2 (26:34):
Tips at true trey tr Ae dot com Again truetray
dot com. Thank you also too, Colleenomris for offering practical
advice on families navigating a busy and exciting Halloween season,
especially those whose children are suffering from autism. You can
learn more at homebridge dot com. And a special thank
(26:55):
you to Jane Fraser for shedding light on stuttering awareness
and the resources availables what those affected.
Speaker 1 (27:01):
For more information, you can visit de Soundering help dot org.
Speaker 2 (27:04):
Most importantly, thank you the listener for tuning in and
making Kentucky Focus part of your day. We appreciate your time,
you're curiosity, and your commitment to staying informed on the
stories that matter most here in the Commonwealth. We hope
today's show gave you some insights, my dias and maybe
even a little inspiration to take with you this week.
Be sure to join us next time for more stories,
information and conversation. Again, I am Scott Fitzgeral when I
(27:26):
speak for all of us at Kentucky Focus and the
Kentucky News Network.
Speaker 1 (27:30):
Until you have a great week, Take care of each other.
We'll talk next time on Kentucky Focus.
Speaker 3 (27:35):
Kentucky Focus on the Kentucky News Network, the show that
looks at issues affecting the Commonwealth and its citizens. We
cover state politics and history, human interest stories, sports, and
even entertainment. It's Kentucky Focus on kN N.
Speaker 11 (27:55):
He was just a teenager when his father died in
a robbery. He laid awake one night and imagined a
place where good would always defeat evil, every wrong made right.
He imagined a world of truth, justice, and the American Way.
Through his loss, Jerry Siegel imagined a new hero. His
imagination created Superman Imagination. Pass it on from pass it
(28:21):
on dot.
Speaker 12 (28:22):
Com And we're live here outside the Perez family home,
just waiting for the and there they go almost on time.
This morning, Mom is coming out the front door strong
with a double arm kid carry. Looks like Dad has
the Bag's daughter is bringing up the rear. Oh, but
the diaper bag wasn't closed. Diapers and toys are everywhere. Ooh,
(28:44):
but mom has just nailed the perfect car seat buckle
for the toddler. And now the eldest daughter, who looks
to be about nine or ten, has secured herself in
the booster seat. Dad zips the bag closed and they're off. Ah.
It looks like Mom doesn't realize her coffee cup is
still on the roof of the car and there it goes.
Speaker 1 (29:04):
Oh, that's a shame.
Speaker 12 (29:05):
That mug was a fam favorite.
Speaker 13 (29:07):
Don't sweat the small stuff, just nail the big stuff,
like making sure your kids are buckled correctly in the
right seat for their agent's size. Learn more at NHTSA
dot gov slash the Right Seat visits NHTSA.
Speaker 1 (29:18):
Dot gov slash the Right Seat.
Speaker 13 (29:20):
Brought to you by NITZA and the ad Council
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