< Back Previous Roc Hernandez Presenter Roc Hernandez attended her first conference in Denver in 2025. She was blown away by how welcoming and supportive everyone was and she strongly wants to help others have the same experience. Roc spends her time as a ranch hand, loves music and art and is always looking for inspiration for her next painting. She loves spending time with her family, puppies, and the stuttering community. She is passionate about limnology and spending as much time as possible at the lake. Next

Join the Columbia - Adult stuttering support group. Connect with others, share experiences, and access resources through the National Stuttering Association. Columbia ADULT CHAPTER HYBRID MEETINGS MID-ATLANTIC REGION Official NSA Chapter - South Carolina State Welcome to the NSA Columbia 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? Hybrid 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? Montgomery Speech Language Hearing Clinic (Close-Hipp Building – Suite #220) – 1705 College Street Columbia, SC 29208. Meetings are hybrid and can also be attended online. When? Meetings are held on the 2nd Thursday of each month at 7:00 PM Chapter Leaders Who leads the meetings? Charley Adams & Aisha Haynes Chapter Leaders Get in touch! charley@sc.edu (803) 777-2605 - 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 Lafayette - Family stuttering support group. Connect with others, share experiences, and access resources through the National Stuttering Association. Lafayette Family FAMILY CHAPTER IN-PERSON MEETINGS CENTRAL SOUTH REGION Official NSA Chapter - Louisiana State Welcome to the NSA Lafayette 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? Picard Center – 200 E Devalcourt Street (Room #122) Lafayette, LA, 70506 When? Meetings are held on the 2nd Monday of each month at 7:00PM. Chapter Leaders Who leads the meetings? Anne Williams, Bella Fiorenza, Evan Jordan & Lucas Credeur Chapter Leaders Get in touch! LafayetteNSA@gmail.com (337) 482-6870 - 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

Meet Erica Millin, a valued member of the National Stuttering Association team. Learn more about their role and contributions. Erica Millin Teen Advisory Council (TAC) Erica Millin is from the Washington D.C area. She is heavily involved in stuttering research at multiple universities nation-wide, as well as stuttering advocacy. Outside of the NSA and her research involvement, she is on her school’s track and cross country teams, and is an active participant in Model United Nations. In her free time Erica likes to paint and make ceramics, and enjoys watching Formula 1 racing and Premier League soccer. Erica also loves to travel and spend time with her family.

Learn how David Haas,a person who stutters, achieved career success. Get inspired by their journey. Executive Director David Haas Briefly describe your daily job duties. I run a nonprofit called Sarah’s Guest House. We are a healthcare hospitality home that provides lodging, transportation, meals and comfort to patients and families of patients receiving medical care in Central New York. I oversee all operations including directing staff and leading our organization. This includes developing and furthering community relationships, fundraising, managing house operations and developing and administering a budget. As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job. I am constantly challenged in my job when speaking. Each day, I must communicate with my staff, our volunteers, and the 1,000+ guests who stay at our house annually. Not to mention our partners, donors, and supporters. I often speak in the community about our organization. This requires me to present at local hospitals, churches, events, and anytime outreach is needed. At times I am only given a few minutes to tell someone or a group of people about our organization and I must make sure I am using my time wisely and articulating our mission properly. 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 self-disclose. My resume noted that I am the leader of the Syracuse chapter of the National Stuttering Association, and I spoke about it during my interviews. I knew the job would require the Executive Director to be the face of the organization and be comfortable speaking in front of large groups of individuals on behalf of Sarah’s Guest House. I described my plethora of experience speaking to local audiences about stuttering including giving a TEDx Talk in 2014. I don’t always disclose my fluency disorder to everyone I speak with. It depends on my day and the situation. If I feel an additional amount of pressure (on top of the usual everyday pressure), I may say that I a person who stutters, “please be patient as I articulate my message.” This is especially true if it’s an important meeting and I’m asking someone to make a donation or pledge to Sarah’s Guest House and I want their full attention. I almost always mention my stuttering when presenting in the community or speaking at an event. I believe this helps put both my audience and myself at ease so they are not wondering why I might be struggling to communicate in a way they might be used to hearing. This also offers me an opportunity to educate the public in regards to stuttering, which I believe I am called to do. Describe how stuttering makes you a better, more valued contributor at work. The guests who stay at Sarah’s Guest House are typically going through one of the most difficult situations in their life when they decide to stay with us. It is of dire importance that we as staff and volunteers are able to show an ability to understand and share the feelings of another – to be empathic. I believe that there is no group of people more empathic than individuals who stutter. I also believe that in a fast-paced, perfection seeking world, being the leader of an organization as a person who stutters allows me to flip the script. My staff, volunteers, board members, and those around me know that I am not seeking perfection, but rather a commitment to do the best we can in a manner that shows respect for our duties and those we are serving. What is your proudest moment at your current company? This past year was one of the hardest in my career. Leading a healthcare organization during the middle of a pandemic was very stressful. Our largest fundraising event had to be cancelled and we had to pivot plans to raise enough funds to continue operating the house. This led us to holding several smaller virtual fundraisers during 2020 including a one-week digital campaign we called ‘Fund the House.’ This unique campaign raised over $30,000 in one week utilizing only social media. Our campaign was nominated and selected as the Central New York Business Journal’s NONPROFIT AWARDS Outstanding Fundraising Event of 2020 with the award criteria being “running an innovative and unique event which engaged donors, board members, volunteers and staff to further the organization’s mission.” What are your long-term career aspirations? I am in the career I feel I was called to be in. I have always known I have wanted to give back to the public and my community. I hope to be blessed enough to do so for many more years. What’s your best advice for people who stutter just entering the workplace and for those in a career striving to achieve greater success? It’s interesting, when I was younger and even into my early 20s, I never talked about stuttering. It wasn’t until I was introduced to the National Stuttering Association while in graduate school that I felt I needed to be more open with myself and others. I decided I wasn’t going to let my stutter control me any longer. My life took a 180-degree turn and I began down a path that led me to being able to use my voice to advocate for others. I know everyone who stutters, stutters differently, and has a different story. But I would encourage you to never sell yourself short. Always advocate for yourself and be open with those around you. You are the next leader and you have an opportunity to educate others – go for it!

Learn how Alexandra Russo,a person who stutters, achieved career success. Get inspired by their journey. M.S. - Speech Language Pathology Alexandra Russo Briefly describe your daily job duties. I am a full-time, second year speech language pathology (SLP) graduate student. I conducted teletherapy with adults who have aphasia in Spring 2021. I also participated in a fluency (stuttering) workshop this past summer. Currently, I am doing my student teaching at a special education preschool and I work with children who have autism. I am an ambassador for my school and a peer mentor to first year SLP graduate students. I have participated in research for the physical therapy and speech language pathology programs. I volunteer and do extracurriculars in my program as much as I can to build my résumé and stay active. For example, I volunteered to participate in a dysphasia (swallowing) workshop for a day this past summer and got to practice using the scope on a robot patient. As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job. The most challenging part of being a full-time graduate student who stutters is sounding professional and fluent simultaneously. Formal presentations, oral participation and recounting of information in front of my professors and peers is stressful as is but even more stressful for a person who stutters because you have to think about the information you will be saying as well as being fluent. It’s a very professional setting in graduate school and trying to sound formal paired with fluency is difficult but rewarding when you succeed. Thus far, I have worked and practiced very hard with my speaking to sound the best that I can as a person who stutters. Of course, having stuttering-like disfluencies is inevitable; even having normal disfluencies will be present. However, I always keep lifting my head up high and strive to do better the next time. What are your long-term career aspirations? I plan to specialize in fluency down the road as a certified SLP. What that means is if someone wants therapy just for stuttering, my name will pop up if they search an SLP who specizlies in it. I also plan to work in both the medical and educational setting as well. Did you self-disclose your stuttering during the job hiring process? Before graduate school, even in undergraduate, I tried to forget about my stutter; I pushed it to the back of my mind. I felt ashamed of it all my life. It wasn’t until graduate school and being in the professional setting and learning in depth about my impairment, along with other speech-language disorders, that I began to come to terms with my stutter and started to look at it as a strength. I started this journey of acceptance and slowly decreased my avoidance behaviors. I told my class that I had a fluency disorder in my first year of graduate school and since then my journey has only improved. I reached out to my past SLP I had in elementary school, began to be more open about my stutter, actally had fluency therapy with a SLP I can proudly call a friend now, joined a stuttering support group and started to advocate for myself. For example, I try to let professors know about my stutter and ask if I can go first when doing presentations. This allows me to avoid the anxiety, that might heightened my stutter, that waiting to present brings. What is your proudest moment at your current company? My proudest moment would be when I completed a very difficult case study presentation for my Autism class this semester. We had to present a case study on a client we work with in the school system in under five minutes. I practiced a lot in advance and asked my professor if I could go first (advocating is key for me). I did really well in orally presenting the information in a timely manner and received an A for the project. Describe how stuttering makes you a better, more valued contributor at work. Stuttering creates a sense of having a non-judgemental mentality and provides me with an immense amount of patience, especially with my clients. It also generalizes to life; to not assume or overthink when someone is different in either the way they speak, look or think. Someone may not have control in certain aspects of their life and with stuttering, I have realized that. 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 first advice to people would be to have courage, be brave and not compare yourself to others. However, bravery and willingness arrive at different times for people who stutter. I just started my journey a year ago so it took me a while to finally start living with my stutter instead of avoiding it. Everyone has different journeys and periods in their life when they are ready to face their stutter head on. I would tell everyone in NSA, my future clients and honestly my younger self, that they will know when their time has arrived to start progressing in their journey, and in the meantime, there are support groups and social media pages they can always turn too. But I know personally, the emotional trauma stuttering brings. Unfortunately no matter who you talk or turn to, that trauma will linger. So my second advice would be is to find positive outlets to obscure the emotional impact stuttering brings on a daily basis.

Join the Lenexa - Adult stuttering support group. Connect with others, share experiences, and access resources through the National Stuttering Association. Lenexa ADULT CHAPTER IN-PERSON MEETINGS CENTRAL SOUTH REGION Official NSA Chapter - Kansas State Welcome to the NSA Lenexa 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? Lenexa Public Market -- 8750 Penrose Ln, Lenexa, KS 66219 When? Meetings are held on the first Monday of every other month from 6:00 to 7:30 PM. Please contact the Chapter Leader to confirm the meeting schedule. Chapter Leaders Who leads the meetings? Becca Grussgott Chapter Leader Get in touch! becca@freedomtospeaktherapy.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

< Back WeStutter@Work Spotlight: Abishek Agarwal – Showing Up Authentically and Creating Change Abishek Agarwal remembers the moment he discovered the NSA. It was like finally finding home. As a person who stutters, he had spent years feeling isolated—longing to be part of something bigger, among people who truly understood what it meant to walk in his shoes. That moment of connection led him to attend his first NSA conference, which sealed the deal: he was all in. “The NSA has allowed me to connect with other people like me, giving me a sense of belonging and making me feel as part of something bigger than myself. NSA has re-enforced the idea that stuttering is truly okay and if you stutter, you have other people to lean on and ask for support.” Today, Abishek serves as both a co-leader of his local NSA chapter (for 2 years) and a passionate member of the WeStutter@Work Committee. He’s part of a team working to create a world where people who stutter have equal access to employment, leadership, and professional growth—all while educating employers and breaking stigma in the workplace. Outside of his advocacy work, Abishek is constantly challenging himself in new ways. From achieving fitness milestones, to learning his favorite songs on the violin, he’s committed to personal growth just as much as community growth. “The NSA has given me more confidence to show up as my authentic self and be more comfortable in my skin as a PWS.” This is his advice to new NSA members, “NSA is a very supportive and diverse community. Don't hesitate ever to reach out for support. People are very kind and will do their best to help. Also, there is so much to get involved in and help out in - so choose specific areas you are passionate about and start with them.” Get to know Abishek: Ice cream pick: Cookies n Cream Nature vibe: Mountains Favorite show: The Sopranos Karaoke jam: Succession Theme Song Plays the violin Dream pets: Otter and dogs Dream vacation: Scottish Highlands Abishek’s leadership is helping shift how stuttering is viewed in the workplace—and we are here for it. Thank you, Abishek! Previous Next

Meet Cameron Joyce, a valued member of the National Stuttering Association team. Learn more about their role and contributions. Cameron Joyce Young Adults Committee Cameron lives in Charlotte, NC with his wife Avery and works as a senior associate at JPMorgan. Originally from South Carolina, he holds degrees in economics and computer science from Wofford College and is pursuing a graduate degree in AI at UT Austin. Passionate about mentoring students and young professionals who stutter, he also enjoys mountain biking, beekeeping, and watching Formula 1. Cameron has served on the Young Adult Committee since 2022 and is a chapter leader of the Charlotte, NC chapter.

Join the Bethlehem - Family stuttering support group. Connect with others, share experiences, and access resources through the National Stuttering Association. Bethlehem FAMILY CHAPTER IN-PERSON MEETINGS MID-ATLANIC REGION Official NSA Chapter - Pennsylvania State Welcome to the NSA Bethlehem 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? Sports Medicine Rehab Center – 1441 Schoenersville Road (Room #271) Bethlehem, PA 18018 When? Meetings are held on the 1st Thursday of each month at 6:00PM Chapter Leaders Who leads the meetings? Kristin Lyn Chapter Leader Get in touch! kristinlynn610@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

< Back From the NSP to NSA: Paula Campbell-Schwab’s Story Some people are part of the foundation of the NSA community. Paula Campbell-Schwab is definitely one of them. She’s been involved with the NSA since 1984, back when we were still calling ourselves the National Stuttering Project! She joined because she needed more than what speech therapy alone could offer. I needed the support of other people in my community that lived nearby,” she says, “that I could call or see in person that were coping with similar communication issues.” Paula says she’s a quiet and shy person who doesn’t like the spotlight, but anyone in the NSA community who’s met her knows how she radiates warmth and wisdom. Over the years, the NSA became a source of transformation for her. The NSA has opened up my world to meeting and knowing some of the most beautiful people in the world,” she says. “They loved me and challenged me to be the very best Paula I could be.” Paula spent 26 years as a special education teacher, working in both public and private settings. She showed up, gave her heart, and made a difference in ways that can’t be measured by lesson plans or IEPs alone. Her advice for anyone new to the NSA? Keep coming back. “You are not alone! Keep your heart and mind open as you will learn so much about stuttering, yourself and others as you spend time in the various activities of the NSA.” When Paula’s not reading self-help books in a cozy coffee house, you might find her watching Waking Ned Devine (again), dancing to just about any music with a good beat, or relaxing with Rocky the Havanese by her side. And one day she’s heading off to a yoga and spa retreat somewhere beautiful. Paula’s been showing up, supporting others, and sharing her heart for over 40 years. And she’s not done yet! Previous Next

Meet Mia Woltman, a valued member of the National Stuttering Association team. Learn more about their role and contributions. Mia Woltman WS@W Committee Mia Woltman is eager to ignite optimism alongside fellow people who stutter. As a woman in her young twenties, Mia navigates her first glimpse of a profession in Elementary Education with excitement about how she simultaneously encourages self-acceptance in her students and herself. As someone who is still learning, yet very much prepared to spread awareness, Mia will admit that she will stumble alongside NSA members as they juggle perspectives about stuttering. Mia is particularly motivated by acting as a role model for children who seek to have their adversity recognized and applauded. While Mia participates in her local NSA Chapter and contributes to WeStutter@Work, she enjoys the many outlets she has found to help cope with daily pressures: salsa/bachata dance lessons, creative writing, reading, kayaking, and spending time with her support circle.