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Learn how Leah Graham,a person who stutters, achieved career success. Get inspired by their journey. Social Worker Leah Graham Briefly describe your daily job duties. I am responsible for determining and maintaining eligibility for Subsidized Childcare Assistance. I maintain a caseload of roughly 250 families and I’m responsible for making updates to their cases and to their care. My day to day responsibilities include interacting with parents and childcare providers in an effort to provide care to the citizens of Mecklenburg County. As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job. Talking on the phone is definitely the most challenging part of my job. Every situation is different so having to recall the various State or County policies, apply it to the situation or case and then relay the information to the parent or provider in a way that can be easily understood sometimes poses a challenge. It is also challenging to portray confidence over the phone. I sometimes feel like people may think I am not sure of what I am talking about. To combat that, I always reiterate or summarize what I said back to whoever I am speaking to. 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, clients and or customers? I did disclose that I stutter during the job hiring process. At my interview I actually brought the Employers resource brochure that the NSA has on its website for people who stutter and passed it out to the interviewers. I love that brochure so much because it really paints an accurate picture of what it’s like having a person who stutters as an employee. The brochure highlights many positive traits people who stutter possess without sounding cheesy or unbelievable. I also verbally disclosed that I stutter and welcomed any questions. Since COVID-19 we have been taking applications over the phone and I have started saying a blanket statement of: “Before we get started, I just want to let you know that I stutter, if something is unclear, please just let me know and I will be more than happy to repeat it”. I love that statement because I am not apologizing for stuttering, I am simply focused on making sure the information is relayed and that my client understands. Describe how stuttering makes you a better, more valued contributor at work. Stuttering itself is just so vulnerable. I believe that openly stuttering really offers a piece of authenticity that I am not sure I would otherwise possess. In the Human Services field, connection is important. Being able to connect with clients, coworkers and other members of the community is such a huge plus and I attribute my ability to do so to stuttering. What is your proudest moment at your current company? Oh man, my proudest moment was definitely hosting a Zoom call at work for National Stuttering Awareness Day this year. I talked about stuttering and stuttering in the workplace. The call was everything I hoped it would be and more. My co-workers were engaged and asked some really amazing and profound questions. It was really cool seeing my two worlds collide. What are your long-term career aspirations? Because of my stutter I remember being younger and marking lawyer off of my “what I want to be when I grow up list”. There was no question that being a lawyer and a person who stutters just did not mix. But now I am studying for the LSAT! I want to be a lawyer. For 5 years I have been enforcing State policy, now I want to create it. What’s your best advice for people who stutter just entering the workplace and for those in a career striving to achieve greater success? BE KIND TO YOURSELF. That is my advice. Just be kind to yourself. I know that I am not 100% confident in myself as a person who stutters every second of every day, and I have learned that that is OK! Being a person who stutters while trying to achieve success in the workplace is not easy. Picture the Spongebob meme where he is wiping off his forehead and leaning against a wall, THAT’S ME SOMEDAYS! And guess what? It is ok. Wipe your forehead and lean against that wall because some days, we need it.

< Back Jia Bin Speaker Jia Bin is a doctoral student and research assistant at Michigan State University. Jia earned her undergraduate degree in English Language and Literature in China and two Master's degrees in Secondary Education and Communicative Sciences and Disorders in the U.S. Jia's own journey of being a person who stutters, and an inter-cultural communicator motivate her to pursue a doctorate in CSD to help the people with communication challenges and bring people from various cultural backgrounds together. Previous Next

< Back David Potts Speaker David Potts is a research scientist at the Dow Chemical Company. He is originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma, and is proudly a lifelong stutterer! He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Oklahoma in 2018 and his PhD from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2024, both in chemical engineering. His work at Dow focuses on developing catalysts to speed up and make chemical reactions more environmentally friendly. David moved to Michigan in July 2024 and has been participating in the East Lansing chapter of the NSA since then. He is passionate about mentorship, outreach, and making scientific fields a more welcoming and accessible place for other people who stutter. This is his first annual NSA conference, and he is excited to meet people and participate in the fun! Previous Next

Join the Central Iowa Chapter - Adult & Family stuttering support group. Connect with others, share experiences, and access resources through the National Stuttering Association. Central Iowa ADULT & FAMILY CHAPTER IN-PERSON MEETINGS CENTRAL SOUTH REGION Official NSA Chapter - Iowa State Welcome to the NSA Central Iowa 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? Family & Adults 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? Altoona, IA 50009 When? Meetings are held every other month. *Contact Chapter Leader to confirm meeting dates. Chapter Leaders Who leads the meetings? Kerri Schwemm Chapter Leader Get in touch! Kschwemm@heartlandaea.org (515) 270-9030 x18187 https://www.facebook.com/groups/NSAIowa 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 Michèle Ayoub Speaker Michèle Ayoub found her calling with the NSA, having moved from Lebanon, turning her stutter into a personal asset, overcoming professional challenges. She highlights the role of community support in her achievements. Previous Next

Meet Madison Nichols, a valued member of the National Stuttering Association team. Learn more about their role and contributions. Madison Nichols WS@W Committee Madison Nichols lives in Grand Rapids, MI and is passionate about self-advocacy and being your authentic, true self. She feels called to be ardent and open about stuttering, even with the difficulties it can present. Maddie has been a camper, a counselor, and a volunteer for Camp Shout Out, a summer camp for youth who stutter. She has also worked alongside the World Stuttering Organization, spearheading an initiative requesting that states allow people who stutter the ability to have this information added to their legal ID. Maddie is also a staunch supporter of mental health initiatives. Maddie currently works for a private research institute that studies a variety of diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. When she is not working or contributing to WS@W, she is likely chasing around her toddler, crocheting, cooking, baking, or playing video games.

Meet Hazel Johnson, a valued member of the National Stuttering Association team. Learn more about their role and contributions. Hazel Johnson Sisters Who Stutter Public Outreach Coordinator Hazel Johnson is the Public Outreach Coordinator for Sisters Who Stutter (SWS), where she supports community engagement, outreach initiatives, and relationship-building that help expand awareness and connection within the stuttering community. She is a senior in high school from Lincoln, Nebraska, and an active leader within the National Stuttering Association (NSA). Hazel is a member of the NSA Teen Advisory Council and currently serves as TAC Chair, bringing strong leadership, collaboration, and advocacy skills to her work. She has attended Camp SAY since 2022, with the 2024 NSA Conference in St. Louis marking her first national conference experience. These experiences have shaped her commitment to creating inclusive, welcoming spaces for teens who stutter. In her outreach role, Hazel helps connect SWS with teens, families, and community partners, supporting initiatives that encourage participation, visibility, and peer support. Her background in leadership and service includes serving as Vice President of the National Honor Society, mentoring through the Unified Track program, and participating on her high school dance team. Hazel plans to pursue political science and community development, with a long-term goal of advancing advocacy-driven work. Outside of her leadership roles, she enjoys spending time with friends and her golden doodle, Wilder, making açaí bowls at her job, reading, and traveling. Hazel’s passion for outreach, leadership, and community connection makes her a powerful voice within Sisters Who Stutter and the broader stuttering community.

Meet Danielle Werle, a valued member of the National Stuttering Association team. Learn more about their role and contributions. Danielle Werle Research Committee Standing Member Danielle Werle, PhD, CCC-SLP serves as Associate Director of Clinical Research at the Arthur M. Blank Center for Stuttering Education and Research. Her research interests include the cognitive and linguistic contributions to stuttering across languages, mitigation of stereotype threat and stigma for individuals who stutter, and translation of research to evidence-based practice. In addition to research, at the Blank Center Danielle coordinates the clinical programming as well as the training of undergraduate and graduate student clinicians.

< Back Seven Cats, One Bold Voice: Caitney File’s NSA Story If you’ve ever wondered what bravery looks like, try picturing a left-handed teen with seven cats, a killer karaoke ballad, and a brand-new outlook on stuttering. That’s Caitney File. Caitney joined the NSA in July 2024 and she’s hit the ground running. After attending the NSA Conference that summer (just an hour and a half from home), she walked away with more than some awesome NSA merch. She left with a new understanding of herself. “I learned that I had been a covert stutterer,” she says. “Since learning that, I have tried to stutter freely. I do my best to say what I want, even if it will make me stutter. Although, becoming an overt stutterer is a continuous process, and I still struggle with it at times.” That commitment to growth, to authenticity, and to showing up even when it’s hard is something Caitney’s proud of. And she should be. She recently took a college speech class, even though public speaking has always been the thing she avoided most. “Throughout middle and high school, I stayed in the lines of my 504 plan. However, I wanted to challenge myself since I will attend college in the fall. So far, I have presented three speeches varying from two to seven minutes!” Caitney’s already giving back in big ways. She’s a member of the Teen Advisory Council (TAC) and serves as the Member Outreach Coordinator for Sisters Who Stutter (SWS), where she connects with other girls across the country and keeping the spirit of community going all year long! Her advice to newcomers? Get involved. “Get involved - whether in person or virtually! Go to the NSA's website to see what chapter meetings are in your area and what Zoom groups the NSA offers.” When she’s not doing all that, you’ll find her soaking up beach vibes, rewatching New Girl, jamming to John Mayer’s “Slow Dancing in a Burning Room,” or chilling with one of her seven cats. And someday? You just might find her eating gelato in Italy. Caitney’s story is still unfolding, but it’s already clear that she’s not just finding her voice. She’s owning it. Previous Next

< Back Geoffrey Coalson Speaker Geoffrey Coalson, PhD, CCC-SLP, is the Associate Director of Grant and Research Development at the Arthur M. Blank Center for Stuttering Education and Research at the University of Texas at Austin. Prior to this role, Dr. Coalson served as an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Louisiana State University. Dr. Coalson received a BS in Communication Sciences and Disorders and BA in Psychology from UT-Austin, and his Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology from Vanderbilt University. After a clinical fellowship in Houston, Texas, he returned to UT-Austin to complete his Ph.D. in Speech-Language Pathology. His research has focused on cognitive and linguistic processing in people who stutter, as well as clinical efficacy of stuttering treatment. As a person who stutters, Dr. Coalson proudly endorses treatment approaches that target what many children who stutter believe they can never fully attain: to speak, to dream, and to live unapologetically. Previous Next

Join the Bronx/Lehman College - Adult stuttering support group. Connect with others, share experiences, and access resources through the National Stuttering Association. Bronx/Lehman College ADULT CHAPTER VIRTUAL MEETINGS NORTHEAST REGION Official NSA Chapter - New York State Welcome to the NSA Bronx/Lehman College 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? Virtual 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? Via Zoom When? Virtual meetings (Zoom) are held on the 3rd Tuesday of each month from 7:00-8:30PM contact Chapter Leader for additional information Chapter Leaders Who leads the meetings? Peggy Conner & Kenny Imade Chapter Leaders Get in touch! nsabronx@gmail.com - http://www.nsachapters.org/bronx/ 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 Rowan Ashby Speaker Rowan is a senior in high school and plans to swim in college. She is apart of the Sisters who Stutter group and is the Chairwoman. She attended a panel for the NSA about advocacy within schools. Going to the conference is one of her favorite events of the year. This will be her second NSA conference and is very excited to see old friends at the conference. Previous Next