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< Back Stacey Nierman Speaker Stacey is a mom to three children, ages six, nine, and twelve. Her nine-year-old son is a person who stutters. She is a teacher and feels passionate about helping all people embrace who they are. Stacey had been looking for a local stuttering community for several years. Last summer, she attended the NSA’s National Conference in St. Louis and was blown away by the support for families. She found herself embraced by parents who experienced the same wide range of emotions she did, and she felt hope for her son’s future. Her son could stutter freely, surrounded by people of all ages who stuttered. Stacey lives in the Kansas City metro area and helped co-found the KC Area Family Chapter last fall. She aims to connect, support, and educate in a judgment-free zone. Previous Next

Join the Wayne - Adult stuttering support group. Connect with others, share experiences, and access resources through the National Stuttering Association. Wayne ADULT CHAPTER IN-PERSON MEETINGS NORTHEAST REGION Official NSA Chapter - New Jersey State Welcome to the NSA Wayne Chapter! The National Stuttering Association’s® motto: If You Stutter, You’re Not Alone®, is what our NSA Chapters are all about! Chapter meetings are open to people who stutter, family members of people who stutter, speech-language pathologists (SLPs), and anyone that wants to learn more about stuttering. Feel free to reach out to the Chapter Leader(s) to find out more about our chapter. We hope you will join us! How do you typically meet? In-Person Meetings What age group can attend? Adult What languages are spoken? English How much does it cost? Free Meetings Here is information on the location and schedule of our meetings. Reach out to the Chapter Leader(s) for more information! Where? Wayne Public Library - 461 Valley Rd, Wayne, NJ 07470 Preakness Room (In back by Reference Desk) When? Meetings are held on 1st Thursday of each month from 6:30 to 7:30PM EST. **Our January 2026 meeting will be held on the 2nd Thursday, January 8th! See you then!** Chapter Leaders Who leads the meetings? Matthew Reis Chapter Leader Get in touch! mreis221@gmail.com 862-226-3867 - Questions? We know that attending your first NSA Chapter meeting might be a little intimidating so we’ve tried to answer some of your questions! We know once you get there, you’ll be greeted by Chapter Leaders who have been in your shoes before and are happy to welcome you! ! Widget Didn’t Load Check your internet and refresh this page. If that doesn’t work, contact us. Testimonials Read more about the power of chapters and support groups from NSA members themselves! "When I attended my first conference in 2019. I was welcomed into this "stamily" with open arms and haven't left the bear hug since!" Lexi Hewitt Exton, PA Chapter "Other people who stutter are the best sources of support, love, and encouragement on your journey. Don't be afraid to reach out, no matter what stage you're at." Gina Waggott Author, Entrepreneur "This community has helped me rediscover myself as a confident and capable person who stutters." John Ontiveros Lorem, CA Chapter

< Back Evan Jordan Speaker Evan Jordan is a graduate student in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and is a person who stutters. He enjoys participating in the stuttering community, and has been a co-chapter leader for the Lafayette NSA Chapter for the past year. He intends on pursuing a career in speech therapy and counseling using the experience he has gained through his own path to stuttering acceptance. In his free time, he likes to create, including drawing and working in landscaping. Previous Next

Join the Visalia - Kids stuttering support group. Connect with others, share experiences, and access resources through the National Stuttering Association. Visalia KIDS CHAPTER IN-PERSON MEETINGS SOUTHWEST REGION Official NSA Chapter - California State Welcome to the NSA Visalia Kids Chapter! The National Stuttering Association’s® motto: If You Stutter, You’re Not Alone®, is what our NSA Chapters are all about! Chapter meetings are open to people who stutter, family members of people who stutter, speech-language pathologists (SLPs), and anyone that wants to learn more about stuttering. Feel free to reach out to the Chapter Leader(s) to find out more about our chapter. We hope you will join us! How do you typically meet? In-Person Meetings What age group can attend? Kids What languages are spoken? English How much does it cost? Free! Meetings Here is information on the location and schedule of our meetings. Reach out to the Chapter Leader(s) for more information! Where? Visalia Hearing Center 2316 W. Whitendale Ave #A Visalia, CA 93277 When? Meetings are held on the 3rd Thursday of the month at 5:30 PM. Meetings will resume in January 2026. Chapter Leaders Who leads the meetings? Stacy Patterson Chapter Leader Get in touch! spattersonnsa@gmail.com 559-303-2846 - Questions? We know that attending your first NSA Chapter meeting might be a little intimidating so we’ve tried to answer some of your questions! We know once you get there, you’ll be greeted by Chapter Leaders who have been in your shoes before and are happy to welcome you! ! Widget Didn’t Load Check your internet and refresh this page. If that doesn’t work, contact us. Testimonials Read more about the power of chapters and support groups from NSA members themselves! "When I attended my first conference in 2019. I was welcomed into this "stamily" with open arms and haven't left the bear hug since!" Lexi Hewitt Exton, PA Chapter "Other people who stutter are the best sources of support, love, and encouragement on your journey. Don't be afraid to reach out, no matter what stage you're at." Gina Waggott Author, Entrepreneur "This community has helped me rediscover myself as a confident and capable person who stutters." John Ontiveros Lorem, CA Chapter

< Back Jacqueline Toscano Speaker Jacqueline Toscano, SLP.D. CCC-SLP, is a bilingual (Spanish/English) speech-language pathologist at Mass General Hospital in Boston, MA. She specializes in stuttering, cluttering, fluency disorders, and multilingual language development. Jacqueline teaches graduate students at the MGH IHP. Previous Next

Learn how Catherine Moroney,a person who stutters, achieved career success. Get inspired by their journey. Scientific Software Engineer Catherine Moroney Briefly describe your daily job duties. I study clouds and their impact on the climate system by analyzing satellite data. I also assist in the development of the algorithms that take in the raw satellite data and generate scientific products, analyze their performance, and write the official production code. As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job. Participating in conference calls is challenging for me. I find it difficult getting my speech started when the people on the conference call are not aware that I’m trying to speak. Did you self-disclose your stuttering with co-workers, clients and or customers? I’ve been working with the same group of people for years so everyone knows that I stutter. I can’t hide it, nor do I try to. What is your proudest moment at your current company? Working on the same satellite for 25 years and making a substantial impact on its data products brings me a tremendous amount of joy. What’s your best advice for people who stutter striving to achieve career success? Don’t be afraid of stuttering in public and don’t change what you’re going to say based on fear of stuttering.

Learn how Bryant Anderson,a person who stutters, achieved career success. Get inspired by their journey. Recreation Leader Bryant Anderson College Park, GA Recreation Leader City of College Park Briefly describe your daily job duties. Customer service, arts program implementation As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job. Talking with the public and co-workers both in person and over the phone. What are your long-term career aspirations? Eventually, be able to sustain myself with my graphic arts and literary arts business. Did you self-disclose your stuttering during the job hiring process? I didn’t, but it presented itself. What is your proudest moment at your current company? Being able to push through the process of stuttering to get the job done and gain confidence with public speaking. Describe how stuttering makes you a better, more valued contributor at work. It causes me to have a sense of humor and not take everything so seriously. What’s your best advice for people who stutter just entering the workplace and for those in a career striving to achieve greater success? Keep being you. Don’t hide yourself!

Join the Las Vegas - Adult stuttering support group. Connect with others, share experiences, and access resources through the National Stuttering Association. Las Vegas ADULT CHAPTER IN-PERSON MEETINGS SOUTHWEST REGION Official NSA Chapter - Nevada State Welcome to the NSA Las Vegas Adult Chapter! The National Stuttering Association’s® motto: If You Stutter, You’re Not Alone®, is what our NSA Chapters are all about! Chapter meetings are open to people who stutter, family members of people who stutter, speech-language pathologists (SLPs), and anyone that wants to learn more about stuttering. Feel free to reach out to the Chapter Leader(s) to find out more about our chapter. We hope you will join us! How do you typically meet? In-Person Meetings What age group can attend? Adult What languages are spoken? English How much does it cost? Free! Meetings Here is information on the location and schedule of our meetings. Reach out to the Chapter Leader(s) for more information! Where? Las Vegas, NV 89128 When? Our chapter typically meets on the first Monday of the month (except for holidays) at 6:30 PM. See below for our 2026 meeting calendar! Contact the Chapter Leader with any questions! January 5 @ 6:30 Timbers 4061 N Rancho Dr., Las Vegas, NV 89130 February 2 @ 6:30 Distill 6430 N Durango Dr., Las Vegas, NV 89149 March 2 @ 6:30 Streets of New York Pizza 7570 Norman Rockwell Lane, Las Vegas, NV 89143 April 6 @ 6:30 The Bagel Cafe 301N Buffalo Dr., Las Vegas, NV 89145 May 4 @ 6:30 Slater’s 50/50 7511 W Lake Mead Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89128 No meetings in June and July August 3 @ 6:30 Dona Maria Tamales 3205 N. Teneya Way, Las Vegas, NV 89129 September 14 @ 6:30 Black Bear Diner 6180 W. Tropicana Ave., Las Vegas, NV 89103 October 5 @ 6:30 Cafe Zupa’s: 7521 W Lake Mead Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89128 November 2 @ 6:30 Santa Fe Mining Company Bar and Grill 5021 N. Rainbow Blvd. Las Vegas, NV 89130 December - Holiday Get Together TBD Chapter Leaders Who leads the meetings? Michele West Chapter Leader Get in touch! LVNVNSA@gmail.com - - Questions? We know that attending your first NSA Chapter meeting might be a little intimidating so we’ve tried to answer some of your questions! We know once you get there, you’ll be greeted by Chapter Leaders who have been in your shoes before and are happy to welcome you! ! Widget Didn’t Load Check your internet and refresh this page. If that doesn’t work, contact us. Testimonials Read more about the power of chapters and support groups from NSA members themselves! "When I attended my first conference in 2019. I was welcomed into this "stamily" with open arms and haven't left the bear hug since!" Lexi Hewitt Exton, PA Chapter "Other people who stutter are the best sources of support, love, and encouragement on your journey. Don't be afraid to reach out, no matter what stage you're at." Gina Waggott Author, Entrepreneur "This community has helped me rediscover myself as a confident and capable person who stutters." John Ontiveros Lorem, CA Chapter

Meet Samaya Fonseca, a valued member of the National Stuttering Association team. Learn more about their role and contributions. Samaya Fonseca TAC Samaya is a passionate and accomplished sophomore at Timber Creek High School in Orlando, FL. She enjoys playing sports, reading, and expressing her musical talents as part of her school’s band program, where she plays both the trumpet and euphonium. Her dedication to the arts and athletics reflects her drive to excel and her appreciation for teamwork. Samaya attended her first National Stuttering Association (NSA) conference in Austin, Texas, in 2021, and this past conference marked her fourth. Over the years, the NSA has become an integral part of her journey, offering her a welcoming community and opportunities for growth. Samaya is proud to have completed her first year on the Teen Advisory Council (TAC), where she has worked to support and inspire other teens who stutter. As an active and enthusiastic member of the NSA, Samaya is committed to fostering connection and empowerment among her peers. With her dynamic personality, creative spirit, and dedication, she looks forward to continuing her contributions to the NSA community and making a lasting impact on others’ stuttering journeys.

Meet Alan Vu, a valued member of the National Stuttering Association team. Learn more about their role and contributions. Alan Vu Marketing Coordinator Alan is a speech-language pathologist, digital marketer, small business owner, and person who stutters (in no particular order). His passion lies in raising awareness on stuttering and empowering people with communication differences. In his free time, he enjoys playing the guitar, photography, and practicing mindfulness.

Learn how Heather Rose,a person who stutters, achieved career success. Get inspired by their journey. Corporate Security Heather Rose Briefly describe your daily job duties. I work within the Corporate Security section at General Dynamics (GD). I also have a license in how to handle COMSEC (communication security) equipment. As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job. Having to speak to small groups and large audiences. Did you self-disclose your stuttering during the job hiring process? If so, how did you do it and how do you currently disclose your stuttering to unsuspecting co-workers. In the interview, I told them I was very nervous so I many trip over my words. They understood that but I did not come out and say that I have a stutter. I’m currently working up the courage to mention that I have a stutter but have not felt the need to do it just yet. Describe how stuttering makes you a better, more valued contributor at work. I feel that I work harder than the average person because I’ve struggled with stuttering all my life, As a result, I take on every challenge with 100% effort. What is your proudest moment at your current company? I won an achievement award within my first year at GD for a “Continuous Improvement” Award. I value it greatly. What are your long-term career aspirations? I want to have a stable career in a field that I enjoy doing.

< Back Supporter Spotlight: Ilya Filmus – A Legacy of Support, Strength, and Connection When Ilya Filmus joined the National Stuttering Association over 30 years ago, he sought support. He found a community that changed his life—and one that he has since helped shape and support for decades. “The NSA has helped give me pride and confidence to be me.” Over the years, Ilya has been a consistent presence—attending chapter meetings, showing up for events, and mentoring others on their own journeys with stuttering. Today, his mission is simple but powerful: to give back. He is presently the NSA’s legal counsel and always eager to help whenever we’re in need. His advice for those new to the NSA speaks to his heart for connection: “Stick with it — you never know when you’ll have a life-changing meeting or conversation. I met one of my BFFs in a chapter meeting 15 years ago.” Ilya is especially proud of how far he’s come in life by stepping out of his comfort zone—professionally and personally. “‘Success’ would not have been possible without taking those leaps.” Get to Know Ilya: Ice cream pick: Pistachio Nature favorite: Beach Favorite rewatch: The Office Karaoke jam: “Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin Pet: Rusty, a lovable field golden Fun fact: In a prior life, Ilya was asked to leave casinos… for beating the house! Dream destination: Asia Ilya’s story reminds us that lasting impact comes from showing up, leaning in, and offering support even when we feel uncertain. His journey, rooted in friendship and transformation, continues to inspire everyone around him. Thank you, Ilya! You’ve helped build a community where people feel seen, safe, and strong. Previous Next