Join the Glenview - Adult & Teen stuttering support group. Connect with others, share experiences, and access resources through the National Stuttering Association. Glenview ADULT, TEENS IN-PERSON MEETINGS CENTRAL NORTH REGION Official NSA Chapter - Illinois State Welcome to the NSA Glenview 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, Teens 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? Either the Glenview Public Library (1st Floor Multipurpose Room) or Palatine Public Library. When? Meetings are held on the 1st Tuesday of each month from 7:00-8:30PM. Chapter Leaders Who leads the meetings? Xiaolu Zhang Chapter Leader Get in touch! ishineluke@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! What are NSA Local Chapters? Local chapters are the heartbeat of the NSA — powerful spaces where you can meet others, share experiences, and feel supported. Whether you’re an adult who stutters or part of a family navigating stuttering together, we have a chapter for you. Learn more about NSA Chapters and find a meeting close to home! Read more about NSA Chapters and plan to attend a meeting near you! What does a local NSA chapter do? How can I find a local NSA chapter? What happens at an NSA meeting? Who attends an NSA Chapter? Do you need to RSVP before joining an NSA chapter meeting? Do you offer virtual chapter meetings? Don’t see an answer to your question? How do I start a local NSA chapter? How do I start a local NSA chapter? 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

Join the Denver - Family stuttering support group. Connect with others, share experiences, and access resources through the National Stuttering Association. Denver FAMILY CHAPTER IN-PERSON MEETINGS SOUTHWEST REGION Official NSA Chapter - Colorado State Welcome to the NSA Denver - Family 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 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? Center for Stuttering Therapy, Suite #345 (in the Chase building) 2696 S. Colorado Blvd Denver, Colorado 80222 When? 1st Tuesday of the month 6-7 PM Chapter Leaders Who leads the meetings? Sara Morian Chapter Leader Get in touch! stutterdenver@gmail.com (281) 701-6248 - 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! What are NSA Local Chapters? Local chapters are the heartbeat of the NSA — powerful spaces where you can meet others, share experiences, and feel supported. Whether you’re an adult who stutters or part of a family navigating stuttering together, we have a chapter for you. Learn more about NSA Chapters and find a meeting close to home! Read more about NSA Chapters and plan to attend a meeting near you! What does a local NSA chapter do? How can I find a local NSA chapter? What happens at an NSA meeting? Who attends an NSA Chapter? Do you need to RSVP before joining an NSA chapter meeting? Do you offer virtual chapter meetings? Don’t see an answer to your question? How do I start a local NSA chapter? How do I start a local NSA chapter? 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 Previous TAC Presenter The Teen Advisory Council (TAC) is a group of motivated and respected teens who are an integral part of the NSA. The TAC’s role is to exhibit strong leadership qualities and to serve as role models and mentors to their peers and younger members of Family Programs. The TAC is also responsible for providing support and presenting a positive attitude to teens and kids at the Annual Conference and throughout the year. Next

Learn how Natalie Bragan,a person who stutters, achieved career success. Get inspired by their journey. Senior Financial Analyst Natalie Bragan Briefly describe your daily job duties. I am a Senior Financial Analyst working in Medicaid Services for the State of Maine, commonly referred to as MaineCare. In my current position with the State of Maine I oversee the Medicaid Accounting and Federal Reporting Unit. In addition to this, I facilitate collaboration among our many partners, act as subject matter expert, and review all designed, developed and implemented solutions for the Finance components of Medicaid systems. In short, I communicate extensively, both in written and verbal communication. I have a phone to my ear most of the day. As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job. The most challenging part of my job is the sheer number of opportunities for me to get in my own head. I attend and participate in a great deal of broad, collaborative meetings, conference calls and trainings. As a person who stutters, I tend to find myself hyper sensitive to the awkward glances, snickers, and offhand comments (like “did you forget your name” or even worse, when someone attempts to finish my sentence – though I will say the latter happens quite infrequently). Over the years I have come to realize that many of my challenges stem from my own view of my speech and not that of others and I have worked to improve that view with no shortage of help from other NSA members. Did you self-disclose your stuttering during the job hiring process? If so, how did you do it and how do you currently disclose at work? Though it has been some time since I was last interviewed, I believe I did. I typically disclose in a relatively lighthearted manner, something like, “I have a stutter and you’ll hear it from time to time, but don’t be alarmed, I’m fine.” This usually gets a few chuckles from the audience. I find disclosing tends to put me and my listener at ease and significantly reduces the “awkwardness” often caused by ignorance on the topic. For those reasons, I do try to disclose as often as I feel the situation warrants it. I try to read my audience and weigh the benefits of disclosing against the risk of discomfort (primary for my listener). At this point if my listener is at ease, I am too. Describe how stuttering makes you a better, more valued contributor at work. I believe my stutter has offered me a perspective on empathy that those who have struggled less in life often take for granted. If I’m honest with myself, I cannot say my life has been particularly hard, but I do take initiative that affords me opportunities to take on risks and find success. My collaborative (“I can’t do it alone”) spirit keeps people coming back and wanting to be part of the process with someone who will generously partner with them. What is your proudest moment at your current company? I have built and fostered good working relationships with partners both internal and external to our division and have been able to call on those partners when needed; I have found truth in “you get what you give”. My desire to understand differing perspectives brings a generosity to the table that I have found awakens similar and complimentary virtues in others. I suppose the proudest thing I’ve accomplished in my time with the State of Maine is that I’ve never (not once) let the way I view my stutter (notice I did not say the stutter itself) be an excuse not to excel, not to participate or lead, and not to take initiative, no matter what that means I’ll have to do or try. What are your long-term career aspirations? Long-term, I want to enjoy my work. I want to make things better for others, I want to advance the mission and for my strengths and skill to be symbiotic to the work I do. When that stops being the case, it will be time to move on, but until then — I’m here. What’s your best advice for people who stutter just entering the workplace and for those in a career striving to achieve greater success? Foster empathy — both for yourself and others, encourage understanding while promoting your strengths, and build for yourself an environment of ease and support. I know a lot of this has to do with the qualities of those around you and with whom you work, expect generosity from others and give the benefit of the doubt. Patience, encouragement, and empathy breed the same, surround yourself with them and they will grow. Take full advantage of the services the NSA has to offer. The NSA is more than its monthly meetings and annual conferences, we are community. A dear fellow community member once told me, “You deserve to take up a little space”. In no uncertain terms, you deserve to make yourself a priority when you speak, don’t minimize what you have to offer just because you convey it differently.

< Back NSA Chapter Leader Spotlight: Joanne Summer, Monmouth County Chapter For more than six years, Joanne Summer has been leading the NSA Monmouth County Chapter, creating a space where people who stutter can share their experiences and support one another. With thoughtful leadership and a deep commitment to giving back, Joanne has helped build a warm and welcoming community for members in her area. Meet the Monmouth County Chapter The Monmouth County Chapter typically meets online in a hybrid format, with occasional in-person gatherings at Bell Works or local restaurants. Meetings usually bring together 4-10 participants. Each meeting begins with welcoming remarks and introductions, depending on who is attending. From there, the group moves into open discussion, which often becomes the heart of the meeting. Although Joanne often prepares a game for the group, members are usually so engaged in conversation that the discussion carries through most of the meeting. The session concludes with closing reflections before everyone signs off. What inspired Joanne to become a Chapter Leader? Joanne’s journey into leadership began after attending an NSA Annual Conference in Chicago. As a speech-language pathologist who does not stutter, she initially attended with some uncertainty about how welcome she might feel. Instead, she had the opposite experience. “I wound up having such a great time and learning so much,” Joanne shared. “After that conference, I decided I wanted to open a chapter in Monmouth County.” Joanne recalls that her first meeting was quite small. Despite her husband's enthusiastic marketing efforts, who worked in public relations at the time, only four people attended, including Joanne herself. But one detail stands out: one of those original attendees is still a member today. The most rewarding part of leading the Monmouth County Chapter For Joanne, the most meaningful part of being a Chapter Leader is knowing she is making a difference. “I feel so good that I am able to make a small difference in the lives of people who stutter by providing this safe space for them to connect and talk,” she said. Over time, she has also seen friendships grow within the group, something she finds especially rewarding. Some of the most powerful moments Joanne has witnessed happen when members share vulnerabilities, such as anxiety about an upcoming job interview or presentation. During those moments, other members who stutter often step forward with encouragement and understanding. Joanne also appreciates when members remember and follow up on something someone previously shared. It shows that people are truly listening and care about one another’s experiences. How leadership has impacted Joanne Leading this NSA Chapter has brought deeper meaning to Joanne’s life. She believes strongly in the idea that when someone has received many gifts in life, it’s important to give back. Now that she has retired from working professionally with people who stutter, leading the chapter allows her to continue supporting the community in a meaningful way. She has also built friendships through the group, something she treasures. Joanne’s advice for anyone thinking about starting a chapter is simple and honest: “Be patient. Building an NSA Chapter takes time.” In the early days, there were meetings when only one or two people logged on. Over time, attendance grew, and now the group regularly welcomes between four and seven members, sometimes as many as ten. Welcoming new NSA Chapter members Joanne makes a point of helping first-time attendees feel comfortable. She welcomes them personally, invites everyone to introduce themselves, and shares a bit about how and why the chapter was started. She also gently includes newcomers in the discussion, while respecting that some people prefer to observe during their first meeting. Learning through leadership When Joanne first started the NSA Chapter, she expected to lead it alongside a Co-Chapter Leader. When that plan fell through, she decided to run the group on her own, even though she had never led a group before. The experience taught her something important: She discovered that she can successfully moderate discussions and guide meaningful conversations, a skill she continues to use today. Joanne says her inspiration comes from two places: her belief in giving back and the incredible people she has met through the NSA. Meeting individuals who stutter and hearing their stories has reinforced her commitment to the community. Looking ahead In the coming year, Joanne hopes to help more people discover the Monmouth County Chapter and the benefits of stuttering support groups. She also plans to host a holiday gathering at her home and possibly a spring barbecue, so members can connect socially outside regular meetings. Life outside the NSA When she’s not leading meetings, Joanne enjoys reading, music, and art, and is currently learning watercolor painting while continuing to practice figure drawing. She’s also a fan of word games, especially Scrabble, and enjoys puzzles on the New York Times app such as Spelling Bee, Wordle, and the crossword. Although she doesn’t consider herself particularly athletic, Joanne lifts weights at the gym, walks her dog for at least an hour every day, and can even navigate a stand-up paddleboard. Three words to describe the Monmouth County Chapter Warm Welcoming Interesting Previous Next

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.

Meet Taylor Worsham, a valued member of the National Stuttering Association team. Learn more about their role and contributions. Taylor Worsham Communications Coordinator Taylor is the Communications Coordinator at the National Stuttering Association (NSA), where she keeps conversations alive across social platforms and helps shape the organization’s digital presence. She manages social interactions, writes nearly all of the copy for social, email, and website content, and works to ensure that the NSA’s online spaces feel as welcoming as the community behind them. On the marketing team, she’s affectionately known as the Copy Queen—a title she wears proudly. Passionate about raising stuttering awareness, Taylor brings energy and creativity to everything she does at the NSA.

Meet John Ontiveros, a valued member of the National Stuttering Association team. Learn more about their role and contributions. John Ontiveros WS@W Committee John Ontiveros resides in Ventura, CA and is a person who stutters. Like many other people who stutter, John spent most of his life hindered by low self-esteem and limiting beliefs due to his disfluency. He also struggled greatly with accepting his stutter. However, all of that began to change at the beginning of 2017. It was then that John took a major step towards self-realization by walking into his first adult chapter meeting. He found that first experience so rewarding that he began to continue to attend chapter meetings over the next few years. The realization that he wasn’t alone as a person who stutters, along with learning from and being inspired by other people who stutter, helped John to heal and overcome his negative self-image and limiting beliefs. He also slowly began to accept his stutter, which is something he previously did not think was possible. John attended his first conference in Ft. Lauderdale, FL in 2019 and had an amazing experience. He now makes it a point to attend every year. As a result of the profound effects the NSA had on his life, John later felt the need to give back and impact the lives of other people who stutter. One of the things that John is most passionate about is helping people who stutter find workplace success. This is one of the things John also struggled with in the past. In 2021 he volunteered to co-lead the We Stutter @ Work committee. He very much enjoys helping people who stutter prepare for interviews as well as increasing employer education and awareness about stuttering. John also enjoys practicing yoga, salsa dancing, cooking, and has just recently picked up surfing.

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.

< Back Previous Alyssa Kalwasinski Presenter Alyssa Kalwasinski is a 17-year-old teen who stutters and is from Columbus, OH, going into her senior year of high school. She loves learning American Sign Language, volunteering with kids at her local recreation center, riding dirt bikes with her dad, and most of all, spending time with her friends. She is a Public Outreach Coordinator for Sisters Who Stutter and a Leader-in-Training at Camp Shout Out, a summer camp for youth who stutter. Alyssa has big dreams of becoming a speech-language pathologist, a field that has greatly impacted her life. Her favorite part of the NSA is connecting with others who stutter in an uplifting environment and expanding her advocacy efforts. Next

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.

Meet Elizabeth Edwards, a valued member of the National Stuttering Association team. Learn more about their role and contributions. Elizabeth Edwards Seasoned Voices Committee Elizabeth Edwards, a member of the National Stuttering Association’s (NSA) Seasoned Voices Committee, is a passionate advocate for both the stuttering community and the aging population. A proud person who stutters, Elizabeth has been actively involved with the NSA since attending her first conference in Chicago in 2018. Her journey within the NSA reflects her commitment to fostering connections and supporting individuals across all stages of life. Originally from Baltimore, Maryland, Elizabeth is a dedicated public health coordinator for a state health department. During the pandemic, she earned her MA in Aging Studies and Public Health, furthering her expertise and deepening her commitment to serving the aging population. Her professional work is complemented by her active volunteer roles, where she continues to make an impact in her community. Elizabeth is also a proud alumna of the University of Iowa and a devoted Hawkeyes fan, bringing enthusiasm and team spirit to all she does. Her diverse experiences and dedication to advocacy make her a valuable member of the NSA and a champion for raising awareness about stuttering and aging issues. With her blend of professional expertise and personal passion, Elizabeth is helping to shape a more inclusive and supportive environment for people who stutter, particularly older adults. Her work is a testament to her belief in the power of community and her drive to create positive change.