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Download the free NSA Conference App for the 43rd Annual Conference in Charlotte, NC (July 1–4, 2026). Build your schedule, chat with attendees, and more. Free App • 2 Minute Setup The NSA Conference, In Your Pocket The NSA Conference App gives you the full schedule, community chat, photo sharing, and real-time updates for the 43rd Annual Conference in Charlotte. Charlotte, NC July 1–4, 2026 The Westin Charlotte Download Spaces by Wix — free on iOS and Android App Store Google Play The NSA Conference App puts everything you need in one place. Browse 80+ sessions across four days, build a personal agenda, connect with attendees before you even arrive, and get real-time updates throughout the conference. It's free and takes about two minutes to set up. Personal schedule Star sessions to build your own agenda across all 4 days Community chat Connect with attendees, find dinner groups, share tips Photo sharing Upload conference photos that may be featured on our website Live updates Push notifications for schedule changes and announcements 1. Download the app From your phone, tap the Download NSA Conference App link below. This will take you to the App Store or Google Play Store to download Spaces by Wix, which is free. Once the app is installed, the same link should bring you directly into the NSA Conference app area. Download NSA Conference App You can also download the app manually by searching for: Spaces: Follow Businesses in the App Store for iPhone or Google Play Store for Android. Once the app is installed, use the invite link above or enter the invite code below to join the NSA Conference. Invite code: 6MHIG9 2. Log in and explore After opening the app, you’ll be asked to log in or create a free Wix account. You can sign up quickly using Google, Apple, Facebook, or your email address. Once you’re logged in, you’ll land on the NSA Conference Home screen. Look for the Charlotte conference banner. From there, you’ll be able to access key conference information, updates, links, and app features. If you haven’t downloaded the app yet, start with the invite link above. It will guide you through the download first, then bring you into the NSA Conference area once the app is installed. Request access When you join the NSA Conference app area, your request will need to be approved by our team. This helps us keep the app space limited to NSA Members and ensures everyone inside the app is part of the NSA community. Once your access has been approved, you will receive an email confirmation letting you know you’re in. 3. Build your personal schedule Tap the Schedule tab to see all sessions across all four days. Browse by day, or look for the track badges (Adults, SLPs, Teens, Kids, Parents, Chapter Leaders) to find sessions that are right for you. Tap the star icon next to any session to add it to My Agenda . Your starred sessions are saved so you can quickly check what's coming up next — no more scrolling through the full schedule between workshops. With 80+ sessions to choose from, building your agenda ahead of time makes a huge difference. Check the Session Recommendations topic in Chat to see what others are excited about. 4. Join the conversation Once you are inside the NSA Conference App, tap the Chat tab to connect with other attendees. Please note that the Conference Chat requires a separate request to join. Even if you have already been approved to access the app, you will still need to request access to the chat area. The chat is exclusive to verified ticket holders , so our team will confirm your conference registration before approving chat access. Once approved, you will receive an email letting you know you’re in. Inside the Chat tab, you’ll find different Group Topics to help you connect before, during, and after the conference: First time at the conference — introduce yourself and get tips from returning attendees. Meet ups and plans — find a dinner group, plan outings, coordinate rides. Session recommendations — share which sessions you're excited about. Coffee runs and quick breaks — find the best cafés near the Westin. Parents corner — connect with other families. SLPs connect — network with fellow speech-language pathologists. Ride sharing / Airport — coordinate transportation to and from CLT. You can post text, photos, videos, and even create polls. The chat is live before, during, and after the conference — start connecting now! 5. Share your photos On the Home screen, scroll to "Share Your Conference Photos " and upload your favorites. You can upload up to 100 photos at a time. Your photos might be featured on our website or social media — so capture those special moments! 6. Turn on notifications Make sure notifications are enabled for the Spaces app on your phone. We'll send updates about schedule changes, room assignments, social events, and important announcements throughout the conference. These are how we communicate with you in real time — you won't want to miss them. On iPhone: Settings → Notifications → Spaces → Allow Notifications. On Android: Settings → Apps → Spaces → Notifications → Enable. Pro tips for conference week Check the Schedule tab every morning to see what's happening that day. Sessions start as early as 8:15 AM. Visit the Chat tab regularly — it's where the spontaneous meet-ups and insider tips happen. Best cafés, after-hours plans, and last-minute room changes all show up here first. Check the Info tab for quick access to venue details, the Charlotte dining guide, social events, and FAQs. Bookmark it so you're not searching mid-conference. Need help during the conference? Tap the "Chat with Us " button to reach the NSA team directly. Pre-order your conference merch through the app — your gear will be ready for pickup when you arrive. Frequently asked questions What is the NSA Conference App? It's a free mobile app built on Spaces by Wix that gives you access to the full conference schedule, a personal agenda builder, community chat, photo sharing, and real-time push notifications. Think of it as your conference companion — everything you need in one place. How much does it cost? The app is completely free. Download "Spaces: Follow Businesses" from the App Store or Google Play Store. There are no in-app purchases or hidden fees. Do I need a Wix account? You'll need a free Wix account to log in. You can create one in seconds using your email, Google, Facebook, or Apple account. You don't need to have a Wix website — the account is just for logging in. I'm not great with technology. Is the app easy to use? Yes! The app is designed to be simple. Once you're logged in, you'll see clear tabs for Schedule, Chat, and more. Tap around and explore — you can't break anything. If you get stuck, tap "Chat with Us" to reach the NSA team. Can I use the app if I haven't bought a ticket yet? Yes — the app is open to everyone! You can download it and join using the invite link on this page. However, the app is designed as a companion for registered conference attendees and chat features are not open to the public. Does the app work on iPad or tablets? The Spaces by Wix app is designed for smartphones (iPhone and Android). While it may work on tablets, the best experience is on your phone. Ready to get started? Tap the button below from your phone to join the NSA Conference App. Join the Conference App Questions about the app? Reach out to us at hello@westutter.org . We're here to help!

Looking for stuttering support? Use the NSA Chapter Locator to connect with local groups, meet others who stutter, and find community. Congratulations! You’ve taken the incredible first step on your journey by connecting with your local NSA Chapter. The backbone of the NSA, our local chapters are powerful spaces where you can connect directly with your local stuttering community. No matter what point you’re at in your stuttering journey, experience the life-changing power of attending a local chapter where you can share your story, bond with fellow people who stutter and allies, and embrace the support of our ever-growing community. Chapter Locator Map Use the Chapter Locator map below to find the chapter closest to you. Search by your address, zipcode, or Type of Chapter Meeting.

The NSA provides support, resources, and advocacy for people who stutter. Discover connection and community across the nation. If You Stutter, You Are Not Alone 79 Million People Stutter Worldwide The National Stuttering Association believes in a more accepting and understanding world for people who stutter. JOIN OUR COMMUNITY How We Help We’re here for every part of the journey. From Local Chapters to national events, we create spaces where people who stutter feel seen, supported, and proud of who they are. We also raise awareness, educate the public, and help fuel scientific research to shape a better future for our community. LEARN MORE Who We Help We support people who stutter, their families, SLPs, students, educators, and employers, offering resources, support groups, and educational tools. PEOPLE WHO STUTTER FAMILIES SLPs STUDENTS Support The NSA Support isn't one-size-fits-all. Whether you care most about kids finding their voice or adults reclaiming theirs, there's a way to give that feels just right for you. Pick your passion. Fuel the mission. MAKE A DIFFERENCE Find Your People You were never meant to figure this out alone. Our support groups are where life-changing connections happen and stuttering feels a little less heavy. GET CONNECTED MEET THE TEAM Latest Resources Upcoming Events NSA Connects: Community & Conversation Wed, May 13 Virtual Event MORE INFO RSVP NSA Southeastern PA Family Chapter Ice Cream Social Thu, May 14 Chester County Library Burke Meeting Rm. MORE INFO LEARN MORE NSA Connects: A Space for SLPs to Reflect, Realign, & Grow Thu, May 14 Virtual Event MORE INFO RSVP NSA SoCal NSAW Open Mic Thu, May 14 Moongoat’s Venue Space Costa Mesa MORE INFO LEARN MORE Multiple Dates NSA Connects with Board Games Sun, May 17 Virtual Event MORE INFO RSVP Multiple Dates Sisters Who Stutter Sun, May 17 Virtual Event MORE INFO RSVP Multiple Dates NSA Connects: Asians Who Stutter Mon, May 18 Virtual Event MORE INFO RSVP Multiple Dates NSA Connects Bil Arabi: Discovering Our Voice Tue, May 19 Virtual Event MORE INFO RSVP NSA Connects: Stuttering Awareness with Travis Althouse Tue, May 19 Virtual Event MORE INFO RSVP Multiple Dates NSA Women Connect Thu, May 21 Virtual Event MORE INFO RSVP Load More Featured Videos to Inspire and Educate Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Load More Join Our Community Be the first to hear about events, resources, and community updates. Join our mailing list today. SUBSCRIBE NOW

Seeing your experience as a person who stutters reflected back to you in a way that feels joyful and honest can be life-changing. That’s why the National Stuttering Association (NSA) is so excited to announce our collaboration with Willemijn to release special edition NSA art! The artwork, centered around our slogan, “If you stutter, you are not alone,” brings the spirit of the stuttering community to life. It’s not only a visual, but also a reminder that art can be a meaningful outlet for expressing who we are and how we experience the world. 100% of purchase proceeds support the NSA’s mission to create a more understanding world for people who stutter. Creative Process: From Idea to Illustration “I really wanted to capture the joy of the stuttering community, so I chose a colorful and playful style for this illustration,” Willemijn said. “I first drew the tagline in the center and then sketched different characters around it, interacting with each other in a positive way. Some of them are inspired by friends from the community, which makes the art feel more authentic and meaningful.” Willemijn’s process reflects the same sense of connection that the artwork represents. By centering the message first and building outward, she created a world where community quite literally surrounds the idea that no one who stutters is alone on their journey. Symbols of Connection & What She Hopes You Feel “I enjoy playing with the shapes of speech bubbles to show different ways of speaking and stuttering,” Willemijn said. “The intersecting speech bubbles symbolize the connection we can experience through our speech.” These details invite you to look a little closer. The variation in speech bubbles highlights the diversity of communication, while their intersections point to something shared: understanding and community. “When people who stutter look at this artwork, I hope they feel joy or even pride in being part of this community,” she said. “I hope they think of friends they have met, or new friends they might meet in the future.” That sense of possibility of remembering past connections and imagining new ones is at the heart of this artwork. Inspiration Behind the Work “In terms of style, I am inspired by artists who draw in a loose and playful way,” Willemijn said. “I want to convey joy in my work, which I also aimed to do in this piece. The topics that inspire me most are stuttering, mental health, and finding connection. I enjoy creating very personal work and sharing stories from real people. That's why some of the characters in this piece are based on my real friends from the community.” Willemijn’s art is rooted in stories and experiences. That’s what makes this collaboration feel so meaningful. It reflects the community not just in message, but in spirit. This art is designed to meet you wherever you are and is available as a digital bundle, including an 18x24 print, desktop background, and mobile background. Download the digital print from our merch store.

For people who stutter (PWS), there are some days when talking just feels heavy and burdensome. When the words are right there, you know exactly what you want to say, but they just can’t come out. You take a breath, try again, and push through. Speaking is a seemingly small but mighty and courageous act for PWS every single day. But courage doesn’t only live in our voices. Sometimes, it lives in color, movement, music, rhythm, and light. Art. Art gives us the medium to express everything the stuttering experience offers to us—the frustration, pride, humor, hope, and everything in between—in our own time and way. When words feel hard, creativity makes space The great thing about art is that it tells a story without needing fluency. It’s the smooth sound of a brushstroke on canvas, the shuttering of a camera taking a picture of a beautiful sunset, the pause before a chord change. It conveys what speech sometimes just cannot. A painting might show the swirl of thoughts before a block. A dance could portray the release of finally saying your name out loud. A photograph might capture the strength it takes to keep trying. Art lets you show your inner world to others—not to fix stuttering, but to show the person beyond it. “Especially as a teenager, I would turn to art to express myself or explain things about stuttering. I used illustrations and animations to show the adults in my life what my stutter felt like. Sometimes I even used art to try to understand what I was struggling with. Art often helped me share emotions that I didn’t feel comfortable talking about.” — Willemijn Bolks, PWS and comic artist Healing through creativity The process of creating art doesn’t need to be super serious or picture-perfect. It can be messy, funny, loud, or soft. What truly matters is that it’s yours. Many PWS find that art helps release the tension that can sometimes build within themselves and gives their emotions a safe place to live. This can look like sketching during a hard day or writing lyrics that mirror your speech. Either way, creativity can help you process your emotions behind difficult experiences and can even shift how you see yourself. While everyone who stutters stutters differently, you might notice that your stutter has its own rhythm. Maybe the pauses and repetitions have some kind of beat. When you turn that rhythm into something creative, you stop fighting against it. You start working with it. “There was one time when I drew a comic strip for the STAMMA blog that unexpectedly helped me process a stinging memory from high school 30 years prior. The comic strip was about that incident, and it was very hard for me to draw. However, once I finished, I found myself thinking how things would have been different if I had known what I know now about stuttering being okay. The sting instantly disappeared and never came back.” — Daniele Rossi, PWS and creator of Franky Banky comics Art builds connection When you share your art, you share a piece of yourself with the world. And that can have a big impact. Maybe your drawing helps someone realize what anxiety before a presentation feels like. Maybe your short film makes another teen who stutters feel less alone. Or maybe your music helps a PWS find peace in their voice. That’s exactly what community is: not people who all sound and look the same, but people who make space for one another’s differences. “It has been tremendously healing to have other people connect with my art. In the beginning, I made art just for myself to process difficult feelings, such as loneliness. Being able to share those experiences and have people relate to them turned that loneliness into connection. Sharing heavy feelings with others made them a lot lighter!”— Willemijn Bolks Your voice is already art You might not realize it, but the way you speak already has rhythm. The way you navigate a block, the way your breath moves before a prolongation, the way you hold eye contact when you finish a thought—all of it is art. When you create something from that, you take ownership of your story, you decide how it’s told, and you define what strength looks like for you. “Drawing is like communicating without words. And I don’t mean that from the point of view of avoiding speaking. I mean it in a way of communicating with your soul and making a connection through one’s own form of creative expression. For instance, one 10-year-old boy was inspired by a scene I drew where Franky Banky is interviewed on the radio. Stutter and all. The boy took the initiative to give a presentation about stuttering in front of his class that same week! Then once again in front of his whole school! I also enjoy learning from speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and how they use my comics in therapy sessions to generate discussion and to explore feelings and emotions.”— Daniele Rossi Your art matters If you stutter, your voice and art matter. It is part of how the world learns to listen. Everything you create says, this is who I am, this is how I speak, this is how I shine. Those who are doodling in a notebook, recording a song, or filming a short story, your creativity reminds others that stuttering is something to understand, not something to fix. If you’re creating digital art that reflects your experience as a person who stutters, we’d love to see it. Reach out to us anytime if you’re interested in sharing your work with the NSA.

This week marks National Stuttering Awareness Week (also famously known as NSAW), and we’re excited to once again celebrate and spotlight our community. As we began planning this year’s campaign, we paused to reflect on what we’re really working toward. We continue to believe that awareness matters, but awareness alone isn’t enough. At the National Stuttering Association (NSA), our mission goes deeper: We’re here to challenge outdated stereotypes and help build a world where stuttering is not just recognized, but understood and accepted. That’s why last year, we introduced a shift in how we talked about this week, choosing to use “National Stuttering Acceptance Week.” We heard from members of our community who felt strongly about that change. We want to make it abundantly clear that we respect the history of NSAW. The conversations that came out of last year only reinforced that this community cares deeply about how stuttering is represented. So this year, we’re continuing forward with intention. We’ll once again be using “National Stuttering Acceptance Week” to reflect the future we’re working toward, one where acceptance is the standard. But why does that distinction matter? We’re glad you asked. But first, a little background: The History of National Stuttering Awareness Week This week's roots go back to 1986, when we were still known as the National Stuttering Project (NSP). That’s when the vision for a national week dedicated to raising awareness about stuttering began to take shape. Thanks to the relentless determination and advocacy of passionate NSP members like Paul Castellano, who testified before several U.S. Congressional subcommittees, Barbara Koval, and so many others who rallied their representatives, then-President Ronald Reagan signed a proclamation in April 1988 officially designating the second week of May as National Stuttering Awareness Week. (Source: Minnesota State University, Mankato) But the party didn’t stop in 1988! Each year, the second week of May has remained a dedicated time to raise awareness and celebrate stuttering as a valid way of communicating. In 2026, we’re proud to mark the 38th annual National Stuttering Awareness Week! We are grateful to the NSP members whose tireless advocacy brought National Stuttering Awareness Week to life. Their commitment in the early days paved the way for a week that has since raised national awareness, fought against stigma, and commemorated people who stutter in countless ways for decades. Without their vision and hard work, National Stuttering Awareness Week would not be what it is today. We honor the history that shaped it and are excited to witness its continued growth. The Future of National Stuttering Awareness Week We remain committed to carrying forward the legacy the NSP members began, continuing to advocate for the stuttering community for generations to come. While the official designation remains “Awareness Week,” we’re continuing to shift the language because we believe it’s time to move the needle forward. People who stutter should always have the freedom to define their own relationship with stuttering and choose the path that feels right for them. However, we firmly believe it’s time for people who don’t stutter (and the general public) to move beyond awareness and toward a deeper understanding and acceptance of stuttering. We’re using awareness to drive acceptance. You’re probably wondering where this shift in language came from. Again, we’re glad you asked! Last year, we drew inspiration from the Autism Society of America, which transitioned from “Awareness” to “Acceptance” in 2020. Their reasoning deeply resonated with us, and we’re proud to continue following their lead. If you want to learn more, we strongly encourage you to read their article. Why These Conversations Must Go Beyond the Stuttering Community As we continue evolving this week, we also want to be intentional about who these conversations reach. For many years, conversations about stuttering have largely taken place within the stuttering community itself. While those spaces are essential, if we want to create a world where people who stutter are accepted, these conversations can’t stay only within our own circles. Stuttering acceptance happens when people who don’t stutter begin to listen and rethink what they believe about stuttering. That’s why this week is about inviting others in, not just celebrating in isolation. We want this week to help educators better support students who stutter. To encourage employers to create more inclusive workplaces. To challenge everyday assumptions. Whether you want to call it National Stuttering Awareness Week or National Stuttering Acceptance Week, we urge you to join us in celebrating this meaningful week together as we continue pushing for a future where people who stutter are fully accepted.