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Here are the QUESTIONS. Click on the questions to see the answers.
Why should I attend? This is my first time!
Q-010 I've never been to an NSA conference before. Why should I attend?
Q-020 I don't know anyone else who stutters or anyone at the conference. Will I fit in?
Q-030 Will I learn anything to cure my stuttering?
Q-040 Can I go if I'm not a member of the NSA?
Q-050 How do I join the NSA?
Q-060 Is there going to be anything for first timers?
Q-070 When should I plan to get to the conference?
Q-080 How many people go to NSA conferences?
Q-090 Who do I consult if I encounter a problem?
Q-100 I'm a speech-language pathologist. Am I invited?
Costs
Q-110 How much does the conference cost, all total?
Q-120 Are there scholarships available?
Q-130 Can I register for the conference on-line?
Travel information
Q-140 How do I get to Cleveland, Ohio?
Q-141 What airport do I fly into?
Q-150 How can I get from the airport to the hotel?
Q-160 Are maps available?
Hotel information
Q-170 Do I need to stay at the conference hotel?
Q-180 Where IS the hotel? Downtown?
Q-190 How do I make reservations at the hotel?
Q-200 Is there going to be a cheaper hotel available?
Q-210 How do I get a roommate?
Q-220 How about parking near the hotel and conference site?
Q-230 Can I receive a map of the hotel layout before arriving?
Workshops and Speakers
Q-240 Who are going to be the keynote speakers?
Q-250 What are the workshops this year?
Q-260 What is the schedule for the workshops?
Q-270 Who is scheduling the workshops?
Q-280 How are workshops chosen?
Q-290 Can I do a workshop myself? If so, how?
Q-300 Are consumers welcome at the ASHA CEU workshops?
Q-310 How much do ASHA CEU workshops cost? both for professionals and consumers.
Q-320 When is the Chapter Leader workshop this year?
Activities
Q-330 What is the basic structure of the conference?
Q-340 What are the tours and activities available?
Professionals
Q-360 Are SLP students welcome to attend the conference?
Q-370 Are there going to be ASHA CEU workshops?
Q-380 Who are going to be the CEU speakers?
Q-390 Will I be able to receive CEU's for the entire conference?
Q-395 How much does the Wednesday night CEU cost?
Q-400 What types of other workshops are available for SLP's?
Children, teens and families
Q-450 What will be available for children and teens who stutter and their families?
Other miscellaneous questions
Q-470 I have a question that is not covered here. Who do I ask?
Here are the Answers:
Why should I attend? This is my first time!
Q-010 I've never been to an NSA conference before. Why should I attend?
A Because you stutter. Or because you are an SLP (Speech/Language Pathologist) or a family member of or know or work with someone who does. Meeting other people who stutter can be liberating. 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.
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Q-020 I don't know anyone else who stutters or anyone at the conference. Will I fit in?
A Yes! Imagine being in a room with 500 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 me. You'll be glad you did!
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Q-030 Will I learn anything to cure my stuttering?
A Ha, ha! Tricky qustion. What does it mean to be "cured"? Some people wish we could miraculously make stuttering go away. But you'll how to deal with your stuttering more effectively than you ever thought possible. If you're an SLP or friend or family member of someone who stutters, you'll learn more about stuttering than you can imagine. And you'll have a much deeper understanding of what your client or friend or family member is experiencing.
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Q-040 Can I go if I'm not a member of the NSA?
A Yes, of course. We welcome anyone who stutters or is interested in stuttering. As we like to say in Texas, "Y'all come! Ya heah?"
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Q-050 How do I join the NSA?
A Easy. Go to Become a member and come join us. We'd LOVE to have you!
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Q-060 Is there going to be anything for first timers?
A Yes, definitely!
The first timer's workshop will be held twice on Thursday (9am and 4pm) just in case you miss the morning one you will be able to catch the afternoon one. 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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Q-070 When should I plan to get to the conference?
A Arrive at the hotel and check in no later than Thursday morning. Earlier if at all possible. There are special events (Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, CEU session) that start as early as Wednesday evening. Us old timers (this will be my 27th conference) typically get there as early as Monday or Tuesday to greet and hang out with old friends. It's one of the best times of the year. To see a typical schedule of events during the week, click here.
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Family/Youth Program
The NSA conference will rock your world! Invest time with your family to explore, learn, network and share stuttering with leading experts who specialize in working with children and adolescents who stutter, as well as with other families. Bring the whole family! Parents, children who stutter (ages 8 and older) and their siblings can participate in activities and workshops which will enrich the whole family.
Families who have experienced the NSA conference have said they wish they had known about us years before. This is a rare chance for you to take a break from life’s busy days to focus on your child’s stuttering and what you can do to help. Meet with some of the world’s outstanding stuttering specialists while sharing stories with others families. Children and teens could be reluctant to come for the first time but chances are, they’ll want to come back. The simple act of meeting other people who stutter can be liberating!
In private parent sessions, questions will be answered by meeting teens and adults who stutter. At the same time, children will explore their stuttering in a fun and safe environment. The NSA’s family program staff has designed all sorts of new activities around a “rock n roll” theme to help everyone find their inner rock star!
Q-080 How many people go to NSA conferences?
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 hope to break our record of 631 record in Cleveland!
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Q-090 Who do I consult if I encounter a problem?
A Grab any old timer. We'll all be wearing special ribbons. There'll be people around to help you anytime, anywhere, with any conceivable problem. If we can't help you ourselves, we'll find someone who can.
Family Programs committee members and Teen Advisory Council members are always available to help with any questions or problems that parents, teens and kids could have. You will have the opportunity to meet all of them at the orientation.
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Q-100 I'm a speech-language pathologist. Am I invited?
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.
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Costs
Q-110 How much does the conference cost, all total?
A It varies widely with each individual. Typically there are four main categories of expenses:
1. Airfare (or train, bus, car, etc.)
2. Conference registration fees
3. Food and entertainment expenses (tours, food, etc.)
4. Hotel room
You are also encouraged to purchase items at the NSA store (tee shirts, books, etc.) as well as participate in the auction at the Saturday night banquet. This category is totally optional, ranging from zero to thousands of dollars.
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Q-120 Are there scholarships available?
A Yes. There are scholarships available for those who need the assistance. Contact Tammy Flores at tflores@WeStutter.org or phone 1-800 We Stutter (937-8888) for details.
Need help getting to the conference this year? Due 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.
Our goal is that families who cannot afford to join us will now be able to attend. If you would like more information regarding scholarships please tell us by emailing Tammy at tflores@WeStutter.org.
Speech therapists are also asked to email us to help identify families who would benefit from this assistance.
NSA is very grateful to the generosity of many individuals and companies, which allows us to offer this financial help. If you or your company would like to make a donation, please email us at tflores@WeStutter.org for more information.
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Q-130 Can I register for the conference on-line?
A Yes! Simply click on Conference Registration and you'll see options for both ONLINE and PRINT registration.
Remember, if you register before March 31st, you can save yourself some money. So register early and get the best deal!
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Travel information
Q-140 How do I get to Cleveland, Ohio?
A Those of us not near Cleveland will typically fly. Other good internet travel sites include Travelocity, Expedia, Orbitz, and Hotwire.There are dozens of others too. Pick your favorite and make your reservations early!
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Q-141 What airport do I fly into?
A The nearest airport in Cleveland (CLE) The hotel is located about 20 minutes by taxi or shuttle.
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Q-150 How can I get from the airport to the hotel?
A Shuttle Service: Hopkins Transportation will be the official NSA shuttle company. They have given us some great rates so be sure to take advantage of them! Pricing is as follows: $32pp roundtrip with advance reservation, $20pp one way. Make your reservation now, to see shuttle times and make a reservation click here.
Also, the RTA (Regional Transit Authority) offers a very easy and direct route to our conference hotel, the Marriott Renaissance, via the Red Line Rapid Transit Rail. Upon landing at Hopkins, you can pick up the Red Line off the lower level below the middle of the baggage claim. You can only go one direction (toward Louis Stokes Station at Windermere).
Once the Red Line stops at Tower City-Public Square, hop off and our hotel is literally connected to the station. One-way cash fare on RTA is $2.25. All-day passes and discounted senior passes are available. It can’t get any better than this. For more information, log on to http://www.riderta.com!
Traveling to Cleveland: Internet travel sites such as Travelocity, Orbitz and Expedia are out there, so pick your favorite and make your reservations early! The airport is Cleveland International (CLE). The hotel is located 20 minutes away by taxi or shuttle. Be sure to try and fly in before 4:00pm or after 7:00 pm—that way you won’t get caught in traffic.
Traveling on Continental Airlines: Book online at www.continental.com enter offer ZGRFDBW0B2 in offer code box to receive 2%-10% off airline tickets.
Driving to Cleveland, Ohio - We have negotiated a great rate for onsite parking at the hotel of $10 per day. If you are a member of AAA, you can get a free Triptik (personalized driving guide).
From Akron/Canton Airport
- Driving directions: Take I-77 North approximately 50 miles, Exit at East 9th Street, Go North to St. Clair. Go left on St. Clair to West 3rd, left on West 3rd two blocks to the end of the street. The Hotel is at the end of the street at West 3rd and Superior.
From Cleveland Airport
- Driving directions: I-71 North to downtown Cleveland, Exit on Ontario Street (N) go 4 blocks turn left on Huron to the end of Huron turn right on Superior, hotel and hotel parking garage on right side.
Airport Information:
Cleveland airport is the closest to where the conference is. The hotel is about 20 minutes from the airport.
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Q-160 Are maps available?
A Yes. The Renaissance Cleveland Hotel is located at 24 Public Square, Cleveland, Ohio 44113. You can use Mapquest or Google Maps to get a good map. You can also get maps from the Renaissance Cleveland.
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Hotel information
Q-170 Do I need to stay at the conference hotel?
A Not necessarily but we would prefer you do if at all possible. The hotel conference contract, like all conference contracts, is tied to "room-nights." One room-night for the NSA conference costs $139 single/double/triple/quad + tax. The more room-nights we reserve, the more conference amenities (like workshop breakout rooms and conference services) we get.
If we reserve too many rooms - but do not fill them up - we get a lot of breakout rooms, but we are still liable for the number of room-nights we did NOT use - and that can be VERY expensive for the NSA! We lost several thousand dollars in Nashville in 2003 because of low conference attendance and we didn't fill up our contract number of room-nights.
If we reserve too few rooms, we either get shortchanged on the number of breakout rooms we get (and therefore the number of workshops we can have) or we have to pay for the extra rooms we need - also very expensive. In addition we run out of rooms for our members to get the discounted rates for hotel reservations.
So it's very important to hit the RIGHT number of rooms for the size conference we have. Either side of that RIGHT number is bad for either the NSA or our conference attendees. So you can see how important it is to plan for a good conference with lots of workshops AND fill up our contractual number of room-nights. So help the NSA achieve our goals and don't YOU be left out in the cold without a room at the conference hotel. Make your hotel room reservations early!
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Q-180 Where IS the hotel?
A The hotel is Renaissance Cleveland 24 Public Square, Cleveland, Ohio 44113. It's a BEAUTIFUL hotel, absolutely perfect for a conference!
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Q-190 How do I make reservations at the hotel?
A Easy. Go to Renaissance Cleveland hotel website and work from there. You can also call the hotel at and be sure to tell them that you're with the NSA for our special contract rates.
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Q-200 Is there going to be a cheaper hotel available?
A If you can find one feel free to try. We have tried to secure the best possible rate for you so your experience is a good one.
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Q-210 How do I get a roommate?
A Fill out the "roommate profile" on the second page of the registration form or on the ONLINE registration form. With the proliferation of stuttering listservs and Yahoo groups on the internet (for example Stutt-L, NSACHAP, StutteringChat, Covert-S, etc.), it's likely that you may be able to arrange your own roommate and not have to take pot luck with someone else playing matchmaker. But honestly you're not going to spend that much time in your room anyway, except to sleep, so this really isn't as big a problem as you might imagine.
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Q-220 How about parking near the hotel and conference site?
A There is more than enough parking at the Cleveland Renaissance and we have negotiated a reduced day rate of $10 for conference attendees.
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Q-230 Can I receive a map of the hotel layout before arriving?
A Once you check into the conference and receive your registration packet you will find the layout of the hotel on the inside cover of the program. If you should have any questions about the rooms, please ask someone located at the registration table.
Workshops and Speakers
Q-240 Who are going to be the keynote speakers?
A The keynote speakers have not yet been announced.
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Q-250 What are the workshops this year?
A We are still gathering submissions forms for workshops. Pleae check the NSA website reguarly as we will be updating the workshops when we start getting them in.
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Q-260 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 up by early June. Watch the website for developing details.
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Q-270 Who is scheduling the workshops?
A Tammy Flores will be doing the adult workshop scheduling this year, and Family Programs workshops for parents, teens and kids are being scheduled by the Family Programs committee.
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Q-280 How are workshops chosen?
A They are reviewed by the workshop committee for content, applicability and presenter(s).
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Q-290 Can I do a workshop myself? If so, how?
A Yes you can. Fill out the Workshop Submission Form either online or in PDF format and mail it in. If the workshop seems worthwhile, you have a good chance of it being approved.
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Q-300 Are consumers welcome at the ASHA CEU workshops?
A Yes, definitely. (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.)
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Q-310 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 $ for the entire conference. This fee includes Wednesday night CEU, conference materials, handouts (when applicable), workshops, Thursday night opening reception, 1-year NSA membership and up to 1.6 continuing education units.
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Q-320 When is the Chapter Leader workshop this year?
A Chapter leader training begins Thursday morning from 8:00am - 10:00am with the Adult Chapter leader workshop. There will also be scheduled a Leadership Workshop for TWST and NSAKids leaders. If you are a chapter leader or want to be a chapter leader for an Adult Chapter or 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.
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Activities
Q-330 What is the basic structure of the conference?
A Check out The NSA Annual Conference for an excellent explanation of what goes on when at the annual conference.
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Q-340 What are the tours and activities available?
A Below we have listed tours that are available Wednesday and Friday night. See the Conference Brochure for details.
Wednesday– Ultimate Rock and Dine - Just like the music it pays homage to, inside and out, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame exudes coolness. From the adventurously wide-open architecture and compellingly eye-popping displays to the sing-along soundtrack of continuously streaming rock and roll hits, this is one museum experience that really gets your heart pumping. Once done with the tour of the RRHOF head over to the Hard Rock Café and dine with your fellow NSA’er. Price includes transportation, admission to RRHOF and dinner at the Hard Rock Café - Adult ($42) Seniors ($38) Kids 9-18 ($34)
Cleveland Rock Gym: Stuttering can sometimes feel like a mountain... let it get in your way- or CLIMB IT! Rock Climbing with the NSA as your support network! Similar to dealing with stuttering, rock climbing requires getting out of your comfort zone, challenging yourself, relying on your support team and letting us cheer you to the top.
Price includes transportation and 1 hour of climbing. Each person $21
Friday
Bowling at The Corner Alley: Featuring 16 lanes of bowling, two sleek bars and the stylish 4th Street Bar & Grill restaurant, The Corner Alley is the only place in Cleveland where can you bowl and sip martinis while enjoying time out with friends or dine on classic comfort foods in a fun, upscale atmosphere. Price ($22) per person includes shoe rental, 2 hours of bowling and $5 meal voucher to Corner Alley.
Tall Ships®: returns to Cleveland for a sailing spectacle of historic proportions as they once again grace the shores of Lake Erie. This 4-day festival includes events for the entire family and features ship boardings, a wide variety of exhibits and displays, sail aways and much much more! These spectacular vessels represent maritime history from the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, Great Lakes trading schooners, Baltimore Clippers and more. Price includes transportation and ticket ~ Adults ($17) Kids 6-14 ($13) Kids under 6 are free.
Lolly the Trolley: More than 20 miles of facts and fun are covered in the tour route. The comprehensive two hour narrated tour of Cleveland features the North Coast Harbor (home to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame & Museum), Downtown (mix of classic and modern architecture), The Warehouse District (loft apartments, fine restaurants, clubs & galleries in Cleveland's original downtown), The Flats (where the Cuyahoga River meets Lake Erie), Ohio City (restored Victorian homes, restaurants & West Side Market), the Gateway Sports Complex (site of both Indians Baseball & Cavs Basketball as well as vibrant E. 4th Street ), Playhouse Square (largest theater restoration project in the world), stories of Millionaire's Row, the Cleveland Play House, the massive Cleveland Clinic, and the totally unique Cleveland Cultural Gardens before our ride back along the Lake Erie Shoreline. Price of each ticket is $22 Adults ~ $14 Kids under 15
Grab a group of friends:(sign up sheet located at registration table) The Renaissance is located in downtown Cleveland and connected to the Tower City Center where you will find exclusive boutiques, six full-service restaurants (Hard Rock Café, Morton’s Steakhouse, Tower 230 Bar & Grill, etc.) movie theater, more than 75 specialty stores and a food court featuring Subway, Dunkin Donuts, KFC, McDonalds, etc. If you are in the mood for the bar scene Tower 230 is the local hot spot. Or you could head back to the hotel and mingle with your NSA friends. This is the perfect choice for anyone who doesn’t want a guided tour and it’s a great way to enjoy the local sights and sounds. FREE!
Other options for Friday evening:
House of Blues, within walking distance of hotel, check website to see who will be performing
Head down to Little Italy and check out some amazing food and shops, taxi ride
Great Lakes Brewing Company, free tours Fridays from 5:00pm— 9:00, cab it or take the train
West Side Market—2 miles from hotel, bus or cab
There will also be numerous things to look forward to at the conference itself, such as inspiring interactive workshops, motivational speakers, and countless opportunities to network with fellow stutterers and speech language pathologists. Not to mention Karaoke, auction, and closing banquet where after dinner you get to show your moves on the dance floor!
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Professionals
Q-360 Are SLP students welcome to attend the conference?
A Absolutely! You're MORE than just welcome! We'd LOVE to have you! And you'll learn more about people who stutter in three days than you'll learn in three years in school! (And yes, I'm prejudiced... but not far wrong!)
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Q-370 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 (6) different CEU sessions per day. You will have options as to which one you attend. The front of the program will list all the different sessions that will be offering CEU's. There will be plenty to choose from.
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.
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Q-380 Who are going to be the CEU speakers?
A We offer a specific course (0.4 CEU's offered for this one course) on Wednesday night from 1:00 pm - 5:00pm. Topic: “Real-life fluency tips from real-life clinicians”, Speakers are Charlie Osborne, Craig Coleman, & Nina Reeves. Come learn about stuttering therapy for those who really do the therapy. These three presenters will outline their philosophy, share clinical nuggets, and share clinical tips and insights. The workshop will be broken into three specific sections for pre-schoolers, school-age children, and teens and adults.
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Q-390 Will I be able to receive CEU's for the entire conference and what is the cost?
A YES! SLP’s can now earn more CEU’s than ever for attending the entire conference. We will be offering up to 1.6 CEU's for the conference this year. Please check back in late May for an update regarding the various sessions that will be offered for CEU's. Also, please refer to the conference registration.
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Q-395 How much does the Wednesday CEU seminar cost?
A The seminar fee is $40 for SLPs who are NOT attending the rest of the conference. For those that are attending the entire conference this CEU is included in the price. The seminar is being offered for 0.4 CEU's.
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Q-400 What types of other workshops are available for SLP's?
A There are many other "regular" workshops that SLPs and students will be very interested in. As the workshops are approved 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.
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Q-470 I have a question that is not covered here. Who do I ask?
A Head to the registration desk and anyone sitting there will be able to help you.
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