Search Results

Learn how Owen Kaelble,a person who stutters, achieved career success. Get inspired by their journey. Content Management Assistant Owen Kaelble Indianapolis, IN Content Management Assistant Ruth Lilly Medical Library Briefly describe your daily job duties. I make sure our content, which includes medical journals, articles, databases, and more, remains accessible to doctors, students, and libraries around the world. As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job. The most challenging part of my job is whenever I have to talk with a stranger. Introducing myself always gives me anxiety, but I always get through it. What are your long-term career aspirations? My long term career aspirations are focused on working in the wide field of sports. I am currently earning my master’s degree in sports journalism and have covered multiple basketball tournaments, including the most recent Final Four in New Orleans. Did you self-disclose your stuttering during the job hiring process? Nope, I did not self-disclose my stutter during the hiring process. Usually, coworkers simply find out I stutter through conversation with me because I tend to stutter often in regular conversation. Sometimes I subconsciously say, “Sorry, I stutter,” if it takes me especially long to say something in my introduction to someone. However, I try not to do that. I am not ashamed of my stutter. What is your proudest moment at your current company? My proudest moment is simply being able to assist all the health care workers around the world. I am honored to be a part of the process. Describe how stuttering makes you a better, more valued contributor at work. I’m not sure if my stutter itself makes me more of a contributor because it’s only a small part of me and who I am. But I do not try to hide it and I fully embrace it so I hope my acceptance of it encourages fellow stutterers to be who they are as well. What’s your best advice for people who stutter just entering the workplace and for those in a career striving to achieve greater success? Take as much time as you need to say whatever you need to say. It does not matter how long it takes you to say it. What matters is simply saying it.

Learn how John Raab,a person who stutters, achieved career success. Get inspired by their journey. Sr. Manager Flight Software & Spacecraft Simulation John Raab Parker, CO Sr. Manager Flight Software & Spacecraft Simulation Lockheed Martin Briefly describe your daily job duties. Develop, test and maintain software for spacecraft operations. As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job. Verbal communications are challenging in new situations with people that you don’t know. There is a tendency to stay in your comfort zone because of this. I always tried to maintain a “if I were a winner” mentality when making decisions. What are your long-term career aspirations? I am recently retired but during those 36 years, I was committed to advancing my career regardless of stuttering challenges. Did you self-disclose your stuttering during the job hiring process? I’m not real proud of this. I didn’t say anything about my stuttering during the job interview. I guess I was afraid it might hurt my chances of getting the job. When I got home, I reconsidered. I sent my future manager a letter thanking him for the interview and I disclosed the fact that I stuttered. What is your proudest moment at your current company? I was in charge of the flight rules while the spacecraft was in the Space Shuttle cargo bay before deployment. My supervisor told me that I would have a console position in Mission Control at the Johnson Space Center. I knew I would need to to talk on the “net”. I was terrified but I said, “Okay”. My supervisor’s manager said that because it was manned spaceflight that I was not going. It was clearly because of my speech. I was more relieved than upset. At that point, the Program Manager stepped in and overruled everyone. “John is going” he said. I did go. There were some anomalies during the mission and I was in the middle of it all. I stuttered some but overall had good success. Later, our team got to meet with our astronaut crew. The whole thing was an amazing experience. Describe how stuttering makes you a better, more valued contributor at work. Everyone brings their whole person to work. People deal with challenges that are not always visible. I was able to look past things that were not perfect and focus on the important things like getting the job done. What’s your best advice for people who stutter just entering the workplace and for those in a career striving to achieve greater success? An employee that worked in my group gave a customer presentation and stuttered significantly. It didn’t go well. His lead asked me what we should do. I told him to talk with him about it and that he was probably more resilient than you think. We gave him the job of reporting status at our weekly staff meeting. The plan was to provide opportunities to help him gain more experience over time. That worked. I’m sorry he got thrown in the fire the first time. My advice is to talk with your supervisor about your speech and keep the lines of communication open.

Meet Ashleigh Givens, a valued member of the National Stuttering Association team. Learn more about their role and contributions. Ashleigh Givens DEI Committee Ashleigh is a fashion photographer and multimedia artist currently residing in Detroit, Michigan and a recent graduate of the College for Creative Studies. In her free time she enjoys traveling (next up: Japan!), reading books on art and design, going to concerts, and taking care of her extensive houseplant collection. Ashleigh loves the NSA community and wants to contribute to making the NSA a more diverse space where people who stutter from all walks of life and all backgrounds can feel welcomed. Having navigated childhood with a stutter, she knows what it’s like to feel like an outsider, and gives her utmost effort to ensure no one feels like that at the NSA. Ashleigh is an advocate for herself and others, and is excited to bring her energy and passion to the DEI Committee.

Learn how Justin Keirans,a person who stutters, achieved career success. Get inspired by their journey. Product Manager Justin Keirans Briefly describe your daily job duties. I’m a Product Manager and I work on software projects. My job is to help define features and functionality that make our customers’ lives better, then work with Designers, Software Engineers, and Testers to turn those ideas into reality. A typical day is split between learning new things (e.g., research, understanding what problems exist and how people are solving them, learning new skills, etc.), attending and/or facilitating meetings, helping teams make progress on projects/tasks, and working through ideas and information that can be applied to future projects. As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job. Presenting to groups of people is always challenging for me (large groups are even tougher!), so I always try to prepare visuals that can help illustrate the points I’m making. Things like pictures, diagrams, or step-by-step flows help communicate complicated ideas while I’m working through the words I want to say. What are your long-term career aspirations? I’d love to continue working on products that make people’s lives better. Did you self-disclose your stuttering during the job hiring process? Yes, I prefer to self-disclose when talking with recruiters, hiring managers, interviewers, etc. Mentioning that I’m a person who stutters early in the conversation helps me focus on what I’m saying instead of how I’m saying it. My go-to disclosure phrase is something like, “And just so you’re aware, I stutter when I talk so you’ll probably hear me repeat words or get stuck on certain sounds. But don’t worry, it’s not contagious.” It’s memorable and sets realistic expectations while letting them know that I have a sense of humor and I’m comfortable talking openly about it. What is your proudest moment at your current company? Helping to deliver a complex billing system rewrite with an all-remote team that required sustained teamwork and collaboration across our organization. We successfully introduced a lot of change during a very uncertain time in everyone’s lives. Describe how stuttering makes you a better, more valued contributor at work. I work on being a good, active listener. I always try to give people the space and time to share their ideas without interruption because I know how hard it can be to communicate. What’s your best advice for people who stutter just entering the workplace and for those in a career striving to achieve greater success? In general, people don’t think about the way you speak as much as you think they do, so take the time you need to say what you want to say using the words that you want to use. Get creative about the ways in which you communicate information and ideas. Model the behaviors that you’d like to see in others and set boundaries for yourself to help maintain a healthy work life.

Learn how Carl Johnson,a person who stutters, achieved career success. Get inspired by their journey. Medical Unit Maintenance Tech Carl Johnson Briefly describe your daily job duties. I am responsible for daily maintenance of medical units for Atlantic Health System hospitals and health care facilities. As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job. It’s challenging to have conversations with nurses and doctors who don’t know I have a stutter and aren’t patient. Did you self-disclose your stuttering during the job hiring process? If so, how did you do it? I disclosed that I am a person who stutters early in the interview process and during my face to face interview, I let my interviewer know I have a stutter. Describe how stuttering makes you a better, more valued contributor at work. Stuttering has made me a better and more valued contributor because I work twice as hard to prove I that belong. I feel like I need to prove a point that people who stutter are extremely smart people who show great perseverance. What is your proudest moment at your current company? I was told I am doing a great job and I have great work ethic. What are your long-term career aspirations? My long-term aspiration is to manage a group of people and feel comfortable having open discussions. What’s your best advice for people who stutter just entering the workplace and for those in a career striving to achieve greater success? My advice to anyone who stutters is to have confidence when speaking and try to talk to as many people as you can so you can gain greater comfort in talking. Not being afraid to talk will help you to become a more fluent speaker.

< Back Jeremiah Williams Speaker Jeremiah C. Williams is a recently graduate with his BA in Biblical Studies and Christian Ministry with emphasis in Discipleship. He is born and raised in California. Within the NSA community, he is on the DEI Committee as well as an active member of the NSA Sacramento Chapter. He loves people and feels like laughter can turn strangers into friends. In his free time he likes to call and talk to family and friends and to play different sports outside. He is very happy to be here and he is ready to have fun with his NSA family. If you see him say hi! Just find the person who is laughing with everyone... that's him!! He is glad you are here. This conference will change your life! Previous Next

< Back Sisters Who Stutter Spotlight: Reagan Jeninsky Dancer. Advocate. Confident Communicator. When Reagan Jeninsky first discovered the NSA two years ago, she was a nervous 8th grader who thought she was the only teen in the world who stuttered. Fast forward to today, and she’s not only found her voice — she’s using it to help others find theirs. As a proud member of the Sisters Who Stutter (SWS) committee, Reagan now supports other girls just like her: teens who are learning to accept their stutter, build confidence, and feel seen in a world that often misunderstands them. “Before I found the NSA, I used to be really insecure about my stutter. Finding this organization has skyrocketed my confidence. I’ve made lifelong friendships and I’m finally proud of who I am.” Dancing Through the Stutters For Reagan, dance has always been a safe space — a form of expression that requires no words but tells every part of her story. “Dance has been my lifesaver when it comes to stuttering. It helps me tell stories through movement. It’s where I go when I feel stressed or overwhelmed.” As a pre-professional dancer, Reagan finds strength in movement and confidence on stage. She’s even started teaching others about stuttering, using her voice and platform to raise awareness and promote acceptance. Reagan’s Advice to New Members? “You’re never alone. There will always be someone walking right beside you. The NSA is so supportive and welcoming — it can truly change your view on life.” A Few Fun Facts About Reagan: Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Cotton Candy Favorite Shows: Star Wars Saga + Modern Family Karaoke Song: “Bad Romance” by Lady Gaga Pet: A huge goldfish won at the fair two years ago Dream Vacation: Back to Singapore (where she lived for four years!) Hidden Talent: She's a pre-professional dancer — and it shows! Spreading Strength Through Sisterhood Reagan’s transformation from isolated to empowered is exactly what Sisters Who Stutter is all about: building community, lifting each other up, and reminding girls who stutter that they are strong, beautiful, and never alone. Whether she’s dancing across a stage or speaking on a Zoom call, Reagan shows that confidence doesn’t mean perfection — it means showing up, just as you are. Reagan, we are so proud of the leader, dancer, and advocate you’ve become. Thank you for inspiring others to find the power in their voices — stutters and all. Want to join the sisterhood? Connect with Sisters Who Stutter on Instagram @sisterswhostutter Previous Next

< Back Ariel Sonn Speaker Ariel is a Marketing Specialist in offensive cybersecurity and a Senior Marketing Coordinator for the National Stuttering Association (NSA). With 6+ years of expertise in content creation, digital marketing, and brand strategy, she crafts impactful messaging that engages audiences and drives awareness. As committee leader for the NSA’s WeStutter@Work Program, Ariel advocates for workplace inclusion and support for people who stutter. Ariel is passionate about empowering others to embrace their authentic selves and build confidence in the workplace. Previous Next

< Back Zach Schwabe Speaker Zachary Schwabe is a proud Philadelphia native and graduate of La Salle University. After obtaining a Bachelor of Arts in Early Education/Special Education, Zach was certified in Early Childhood Education and Special Education. He then joined A Step-Up Academy in Jenkintown, PA where he was a lead Special Education teacher. In 2023, Zach moved to Devereux Day Academy where he is currently employed as a Special Education teacher. Zach’s involvement with Camp SAY began in 2021 when he was a bunk counselor. He continues to serve as a counselor every summer. Zach has been involved with the Philadelphia Chapter of NSA since 2023. He helps organize group events including outings to Phillies games. He attended his first NSA conference last year in Saint Louis. When he is not working, Zach is an avid (and loyal) fan of Philadelphia sports, especially the Phillies and Eagles. Previous Next

< Back Kelly Kaczmarski Speaker Kelly Kaczmarski is a mom to two boys, Connor and Evan. Evan is 16 and a person who stutters. Kelly is married to Dan and lives in Keller, Texas. She has been in education for 23 years and is currently a teacher to blind and visually impaired students. Kelly enjoys reading, DIY decorating and spending family time at the lake! This is her families 8th NSA conference. Previous Next

Learn how Ian Mahler,a person who stutters, achieved career success. Get inspired by their journey. Receiving Manager Ian Mahler Briefly describe your daily job duties. As a Staff Level Manager at the biggest Costco in the world, I’m responsible for overseeing a continual smooth warehouse operation. This means if any matter requires attention in the warehouse, from employee or member concerns to equipment or other individual department issues, my role is to fix and rectify the situation. As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job. The daily journey of managing and, if necessary, educating people about the time it takes me to communicate can be challenging. Stuttering can be a vicious, back-stabbing companion if I let it. It can also be a great way to let people know I’m communicating in an open, honest way and that they can do the same. It’s important for me to not let stuttering affect my own self-perception as a leader and authority figure in the workplace. 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 have been with Costco for over 22 years. My stuttering has evolved over time; during the interview process I was going through a period of heightened fluency to the point my stutter wasn’t overtly noticeable. I typically do not disclose my stutter unless someone asks me about it during conversation. I prefer to let my overt stuttering speak for itself. I typically stutter often and most times people who don’t know me will try to finish my sentences. When that happens, I continue speaking without acknowledging the interruption, and usually they get the point and let me finish. My co-workers know to let me finish, both from experience and because I put a note under my email signature. “A person who stutters” #LetMeFinish Describe how stuttering makes you a better, more valued contributor at work. Stuttering has given me the gift of empathy. Being a child growing up with a stutter, without access to today’s many youth stuttering foundations, programs, camps, etc. was a terrible ordeal. On the outside I may have seemed fine mentally, but the negative aspects of the “stuttering iceberg” were rearing their ugly head on the inside. Stuttering has taught me how to view my employees as more than just a cog in a wheel. I often look past the task at-hand and look at what is unseen but communicated in other ways through body language and other mannerisms. I have learned over the years to look past the surface and learn what motivates each of my employees and how I can help them meet their personal goals related to work. Through empathy I can communicate that I value them and am truly concerned about their well-being. What’s your best advice for people in a career striving to achieve greater success? Find a way to advertise your stutter that works best for you. Advertising my stutter through overt, open stuttering and via email has allowed me to be more at ease in the workplace. People I work with know what I’m about; I’m not hiding my stutter. People I don’t know get the point when I continue stuttering while speaking and they quickly understand I intend to communicate what and how I want to. There have been and will always be uncomfortable or anxious moments in the workplace regarding stuttering. (But there will always be stressful moments that aren’t related to stuttering in one’s career.) Being resilient and moving upward and onward can help get past the hard times. No matter what the issue, for me being resilient has been beneficial. Separating the event from the person, and classifying it as another experience to strengthen me, has helped shape my life journey.

Help advance stuttering research and support the NSA in improving lives. Donate today to make a meaningful difference. Support Stuttering Research Your gift advances understanding of stuttering and supports research that informs real-world practice. The NSA Research Fund supports research that advances knowledge and understanding of stuttering. This fund helps support research projects that explore communication experiences, social and emotional impacts, and approaches that inform education, advocacy, and support. Why Research Matters Research plays a critical role in shaping how stuttering is understood and discussed. Supporting research helps ensure that lived experience remains central and that findings contribute to meaningful real world impact. Your gift helps Support research focused on stuttering Expand understanding across the lifespan Inform education and advocacy efforts Together, we are helping build a stronger foundation of knowledge for the stuttering community. Make a donation Through these endeavors, we strive to enhance our understanding of stuttering and contribute to developing practical approaches for people who stutter. Frequency One time One time Monthly Monthly Amount $5 $5 $10 $10 $20 $20 $50 $50 $100 $100 $250 $250 $500 $500 $1,000 $1,000 Other Other 0/100 Comment (optional) DONATE $50 Monthly CHANGEMAKERS CONFERENCE SCHOLARSHIP FUND GENERAL FUND