Frequently Asked Questions

I’ve never been to an NSA conference before. Why should I attend?
A The National Stuttering Association Annual Conference literally does offer something for everyone. Many of our attendees come to learn how to educate others about stuttering, and some want to learn how to take back their life from the challenges stuttering have caused them. A main component, however, is the ability to be around others who face the same situations that have emerged on a daily basis. If you have ever struggled to find a job because of your speech, there are members who have experienced that. If you haven’t met anyone who stutters and you are feeling isolated, this conference will be the perfect environment for you to step out and meet some of the most amazing people. You will be inspired and pushed to make positive changes in your life-and this conference is the first step to doing so!!! An NSA conference is the best place in the world to learn about stuttering and meet some of the most wonderful people in the entire world. Explaining an NSA conference is like explaining the color red. You’ve got to experience it to believe what it will do for you. For more details on what a conference is like, click here.

I have never met anyone who stutters, and I won’t know anyone at the conference, will I fit in?
A Yes! Imagine being in a room with 800 strangers – who stutter! Imagine becoming good friends with a total stranger in five minutes or less. We all fit in. Those of us who have been to prior conferences all had a “first time” too, and we were all scared at first. But we survived! And we learned and grew – and most of all we had a lot of FUN! We made friends who will last a lifetime. Yes, you’ll fit in. Close your eyes and jump! Trust us. You’ll be glad you did!

How many people typically attend the conference?

A. It varies. In the early days we had less than 100. The largest conferences in recent times were over 600 people. Typically you can expect in the neighborhood of 300 to 500 people, but we had an all-time record of 873 for Fort Worth, Texas. In St. Petersburg, we had well over 700+ again. The day is coming when we’ll be hitting 1,000….just a matter of time!
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Is there going to be anything specific for first timers at the conference?
A. Yes, definitely! The NSA recognizes that those attending our conference for the first-time will likely be overwhelmed at first. Our community is excited to meet you, and we have very special “Icebreakers” that will allow you to interact with other members. Not only do we have special mixers and workshops designed for first-timers, but those who lead the workshops are especially trained to work with new visitors. Remember, we were all “first-timers once.” We love to pay it forward and help new attendees meet other people! The First Timer’s workshop is held twice once on Wednesday and then again on Thursday. This is the one workshop that will get you ready for the weekend that will change your life. You will learn what to expect from the weekend and how to get the most out of the conference.
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Can I attend if I’m not a member of the NSA?

A By all means! Our conference is not just open to people who stutter, but also families who support someone who stutters. We strongly encourage students majoring in speech-language-pathology to join us, as well as SLPs in general. Read more about who we classify as a ‘member‘.

How far in advance should I start planning my trip to the conference?
A This is strictly up to each person. However, we can tell you that for previous conferences, our hotels have sold out and we have had to use a waiting list on occasion. If you are certain you will want go, you should make your reservations as early as possible. Since the conference will take place over the July 4th holiday weekend, this will be a major travel day, Book accordingly!

When should I plan to get to the conference?

A Arrive at the hotel and check in no later than Wednesday afternoon. Earlier, if at all possible. There are special events, such as the First Timer’s meet and greet that start as early as Wednesday evening. Many of the ‘Old Timers’ typically get there as early as Monday or Tuesday to greet others and hang out with old friends. To see a typical schedule of events during the week, click here.

If I have any problems or questions who should I contact and how?
A The National Stuttering Association is one of the most accessible organizations out there. Unlike other ones where your call may be accepted and then no one returns it, we will respond as quickly as possible. There are many ways to reach us:
a) Phone: 1-800-937-8888
b) E-mail: info@westutter.org
c) Facebook/Twitter (Please become a fan of ours on Facebook! If you write on our wall, we will get back to you right away).
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I’m a parent, loved one, or sibling of someone who stutters. Can I attend?
A Parents are especially encouraged to attend! It is not uncommon for parents to attend a conference with their child. We are very happy to offer workshops just for parents who stutter. We have roundtable forums where parents can openly solicit advice about any type of issue encountered, from getting school support to how to face peer bullying. We have a special committee comprised of parents just like you who make these workshops happen. If you have a spouse who stutters, you are also welcome to attend!

I’m a Speech-Language Pathologist. Is there something planned for us?
A Yes, definitely! In fact, many of your professional colleagues will be in attendance. Going to an NSA conference is a great way to learn about stuttering, meet other clinicians interested and stuttering, and gain first-hand information from people who have experienced a wide variety of treatment approaches. Many SLPs also find it beneficial to invite their clients who stutter to come with them. Not only will their clients benefit from meeting other people who stutter, but it will help the SLP gain new ideas for use in therapy with that client once the conference is over.

Costs

How much does the conference cost, all total?

A The cost of the conference can depend on each person’s expenses. The most standard expenses are airfare/hotel. Food, activities, and any other endeavors (shopping, NSA apparel, etc.) at your own expense. You can spend as little or as much as you’d like, and this includes any auction items that you may wish to purchase. It varies widely with each individual.

Are there scholarships available?

A Yes. Thanks to the generosity of corporate sponsors and many of our members, we are pleased to announce that scholarships are available to provide financial assistance for people who stutter who would like to attend our annual conference. Click here or contact Tammy Flores at tflores@WeStutter.org or phone 1-800 We Stutter (937-8888) for details.

If I bid on the auction, is my donation tax-deductible?
A The National Stuttering Association recommends that you discuss any potential donation with your accountant or tax advisor.
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Can I register for the conference on-line?

A Yes! Simply click on Conference Registration and you’ll see options for to fill in the registration form or PRINT it out. Remember, if you register before March 31st, you can save money, so register early and get the best deal!

Travel information

How do I get to Scottsdale, Arizona?

A The majority of attendees will fly. However, because of the location and proximity to West Coast cities (Los Angeles, San Diego, et al) many people may choose to drive. It is up to each person to determine what mode of travel works for them.

Are there ways to save on travel and lodging costs?

A We have some great options to help reduce the costs: First, why not consider a roommate? Not only is it a great way to make a new friend (and possibly your best one!) but you can cut half the price right there…and come on, you won’t spend that much time there anyway! Second, book your hotel early and you’ll be entitled to a special “Early Bird Rate“. Our conferences have sold out the hotel, don’t be stuck on a waiting list, or worse, having to stay somewhere else! And lastly, we cannot stress this enough: If you are flying, BOOK EARLY. The Fourth of July is the biggest travel weekend of the year, right up there with Thanksgiving. You can lock in a great price for a fare, check your local airline web sites, as some of them may not have already opened up flights for July. Special ‘early bird’ rates exist for the conference hotel, as well as less-expensive options such as roommates or use of our contract airline carrier.

What airport do I fly into?

A The nearest airport is Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), which is about half hour from where the Kierland Resort is located.

Can you tell me which airline I should fly into Phoenix?
A The closest airport to the hotel is Sky Harbor unless you happen to have a private plane. In the event you do, you can fly into Scottsdale Airport which is located 5 minutes from the hotel. Sky Harbor (PHX) is a hub for US Airways (now American Airlines) and Southwest Airlines. Additionally, we are proud to offer a slight discount through Tzell Travel if you are willing to fly American Airlines or Delta.

American Airlines
5% off applicable fares www.aa.com/group Promo code – 6163DJ
Travel dates Jun 30-Jul 10

Delta Airlines
5% off discounted/restricted fare
10% off full/non restricted fares
www.delta.com Promo code – NG7MT
Travel dates Jun 30-Jul 10

How can I get from the airport to the hotel?

A Once again, we were able to secure a great deal with SuperShuttle, our transportation leader for our Scottsdale conference. Passenger vans seat up to seven individuals for a cost of $67.00/van, regardless of the number of people riding. This means that the more people in your group, the cheaper your ride; so gather six others and ride for as little as $9.57 + gratuity!You may wish to connect with other NSA’ers ahead of time and book flights arriving near/at the same time as one another. Alternatively, you may wish to sport your finest NSA apparel and just take the chance that you will run into someone at the airport who wishes to share a shuttle to the Kierland. Your choice, just keep in mind that riding with others can save you more than 85% over riding alone.If you have already made your reservation and wish to ride with others, please remember either to cancel your online reservation (to take a chance of meeting others at the airport), or amend it to include others you’ve agreed to ride with ahead of time.You can book online via SuperShuttle. Please view our SuperShuttle Discount Information before booking to ensure you get the best rate. If you desire to rent a car, you will have the usual choices available at Sky Harbor (Hertz, Enterprise, et al). Hertz also has a location at the resort as well.
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Are maps of the local area available?

A Yes, you can get a map of the local area upon arriving at the hotel.

Hotel information

Do I need to stay at the conference hotel?
A It is highly recommended you stay at the conference hotel for a number of reasons: first, our hotel will be the central location for all things NSA. You’ll never have to worry about missing any type of workshop or get-together! Secondly, the NSA has secured the best rate available for your hotel room: $139.00 per night until June13, which is almost 45 percent off the “rack rate” (which is what you’d pay if you walked in off the street and wanted to stay). Lastly, the NSA conference is our biggest fundraiser of the year. We have agreed to purchase a block of rooms from the hotel that need to be occupied. All the monies raised go directly to the NSA. In essence, if you don’t stay at the hotel, you may be costing the NSA money. There have been conferences where rooms have gone unfulfilled, and while that may cause a “Well, it’s no big deal,” in reality, it is a big deal because the NSA is contractually obligated to pay for those rooms. That, unfortunately, comes out of our budget for next year, and could mean the difference between planning a special activity and not being able to do so.
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Where is the hotel?
A Our hotel is the Westin Kierland Resort. For more details, please check outhttp://www.kierlandresort.com.
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How do I make reservations at the hotel?
A Please visit our grou reservation site at www.starwoodmeeting.com/Book/nationalstutteringassociation.
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How do I get a roommate?
A Having a roommate is not only a great way to make new friends, but also an ideal way to defray your hotel expenses. When you register for the conference, please indicate on your registration form that you would like a roommate. If you have a certain person in mind you wish to room with, please let us know. If not, we will try and match you up with a person of appropriate age and gender. (Due to safety issues, there will be no co-ed rooms with children under the age of 18 unless a parent signs a consent form).
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Is there parking at the hotel and conference site?
A There is complimentary parking being offered at the Kierland.
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Can I receive a map of the hotel layout before arriving?
A When our conference program is released (around April/May), we will have a map of the hotel included with directions on how to find the rooms.
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Workshops and Speakers

Who are the keynote speakers going to be?

A This has not been decided yet – check back regularly for updates.

What will the workshops be this year?

A We are currently gathering submissions for workshops. Please check the NSA website regularly as we will be updating the workshops.

What is the schedule for the workshops?

A We won’t know the schedule for workshops until most of the workshops are confirmed. We hope to have the completed program posted by early June. Watch the website for developing details.

Who is scheduling the workshops?

A Our Executive Director Tammy Flores will be scheduling the adult workshops along with a committee. All Family Programs workshops for parents, teens, and kids are scheduled by the Family Programs committee.

How are workshops chosen?

A Workshops are reviewed by the workshop committee for content, applicability and presenter(s).

Can I lead a workshop myself? If so, how?

A Yes, you can. Fill out the Workshop Submission Form in PDF format and email or fax it in. If your workshop is appropriate and original you have a good chance of it being approved.

Are consumers welcome at the ASHA CEU workshops?

A Yes. (By the way, ASHA is the American Speech/Language and Hearing Association and CEU is Continuing Education Unit. These are both professional and academic terms.)

How much do ASHA CEU workshops cost? Both for professionals and consumers.

A For SLP’s wanting CEU’s there is a special rate of $TBD for the entire conference. This fee includes conference materials, handouts (when applicable), workshops, Thursday night Opening Celebration, and up to TBD continuing education units.

When is the Chapter Leader workshop this year?

A Chapter leader training begins Thursday morning from 7:45AM – 10:00AM with the Adult Chapter leader workshop. There will also be a Leadership Workshop for TwST (Teens Who Stutter) and NSAKids leaders. If you are a chapter leader or would like to become a chapter leader for an Adult, TwST, or NSA Kids chapter, this workshop is a must. Leadership development, chapter growth, leader support, and more will be addressed. Be sure to arrive at the hotel on or before Wednesday night.

Activities

What is the basic structure of the conference?

A Check out The NSA Annual Conference link for an excellent explanation of what goes on and when at our annual conference.

What are the tours and activities available?

A Wednesday evening we have some planned. You asked for more events at the Annual Conference that keep us all together, so this year in honor of our 30th Anniversary our events are all about spending time together. Join us Wednesday night for bingo, comedy, and karaoke. Thursday eveving we hope you will join us for a hot air ballon ride and enjoy the breathtaking sunset. We are also offering additional fun outings throughout the conference such as an additional Arizona Diamondbacks game, Brunswick Bowling, AZ Air Time, and so much more!. We strive to provide something for every age and price point, and we hope you enjoy the variety of options we have provided.
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Professionals

Are SLP students welcome to attend the conference?

A You’re MORE than just welcome, we’d love to have you! You’ll learn more about people who stutter in these four days than you’ll learn in three years in school!

Are there going to be ASHA CEU workshops?

A Yes, there will be plenty choose from. (ASHA is the American Speech/Language and Hearing Association and CEU is Continuing Education Unit.) Typically, we try to have at least (4) different CEU sessions per day. You will have options as to which you would like to attend. The front of the program lists all the different sessions that will be offering CEU’s. There will also be a variety of non-CEU opportunities for speech pathologists to attend workshops designed with their needs in mind. Roundtable discussions with teens and adults who stutter, as well as the parents of children who stutter will allow the SLP to hear the personal stories of individuals who stutter and their families in a setting that allows SLPs to ask questions. Many workshops led by leading SLPs in the country will be offered throughout the conference. There will be a number of not to be missed adult workshops offered including ‘Covert Stuttering’ and other informative, educational, and enlightening workshops.

Who are going to be the CEU speakers?

A We have opened up the call for workshop submissions and are reviewing them now. Please check back June 2013.

Will I be able to receive CEU’s for the entire conference and what is the cost?

A YES! SLP’s can now earn CEU’s for attending the entire conference. We will be offering up to 1.5 CEU’s for the conference this year. Please check back in June for an update regarding the various sessions that will be offered for CEU’s.

What types of other workshops are available for SLP’s?

A There are many other “regular” workshops that SLPs and students will also be interested in. As the workshops are approved we will be posting them online, so be sure to watch the Workshops section of this website. There will be a variety of opportunities for speech pathologists to attend workshops designed with the SLPs needs in mind. Roundtable discussions with teens and adults who stutter, as well as the parents of children who stutter will allow the SLP to hear the personal stories of individuals who stutter and their families in a setting that allows SLPs to ask questions. Many workshops led by leading SLPs in the country will be offered throughout the conference. There will be a number of not-to-be-missed adult workshops offered including ‘Covert Stuttering’ and other informative, educational, and enlightening workshops.

Children, Teens and Families

What will be available for children and teens who stutter and their families?
A We have workshops planned for parents, siblings, and spouses as well as regular workshops that everyone is welcome to attend.
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This will be my first conference. Why should I attend?

Costs

Travel information

Hotel information

Workshops and Speakers

Activities

Professionals

Children, Teens and Families

Other miscellaneous questions

About the NSA

Upcoming Events

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