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Learn how Edward DeBrae,a person who stutters, achieved career success. Get inspired by their journey. Contact Lens Coordinator Edward DeBrae Briefly describe your daily job duties. On a daily basis I receive patients’ contact lens prescription (CL Rx), process payments accordingly, and manage shipping. Occasionally I will schedule exams and verify vision insurance, collaborating with optometrists or ophthalmologists. As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job. As a person who stutters, the most challenging aspect of my job is sounding out the eye diseases, conditions, and medications, as well as various patient names. Everyday, I try to get my name clearly without stuttering. What are your long-term career aspirations? I have always wanted to be a published author. 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 not disclose my stutter. What is your proudest moment at your current company? Each time I manage to say my name! For years, I have bullied for not being able to say my own name in school or in public settings, and when I said my name the first time at my job, I felt so proud of myself. 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 your time and don’t feel discouraged. It’s hard knowing that you have so much to say with passion but your body doesn’t always let you. You more than the words you speak!

Join the Sarasota - Adult stuttering support group. Connect with others, share experiences, and access resources through the National Stuttering Association. Sarasota ADULT CHAPTER IN-PERSON MEETINGS SOUTHEAST REGION Official NSA Chapter - Florida State Welcome to the NSA Sarasota 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? Gulf Gate Library – 7112 Curtiss Avenue Sarasota, Florida 34231 When? Meetings are held on the 1st Tuesday of each month from 6:00-7:30PM. Chapter Leaders Who leads the meetings? Jennifer Scharf Chapter Leader Get in touch! jenlscharf@gmail.com (941) 932-8824 - 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

Join the Monmouth County - Adult stuttering support group. Connect with others, share experiences, and access resources through the National Stuttering Association. Monmouth County ADULT CHAPTER IN-PERSON & VIRTUAL MEETINGS MID-ATLANTIC REGION Official NSA Chapter - New Jersey State Welcome to the Monmouth County 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 & 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? In-person meetings are held at Bell Works (101 Crawfords Corner Road Holmdel, NJ 07733) and virtual meetings are held over Zoom. When? Meetings are held on the 4th Thursday of each month at 7:00PM. Contact the Chapter Leader for meeting details. Chapter Leaders Who leads the meetings? Joanne Summer Chapter Leader Get in touch! JoanneSummer2@gmail.com (201) 323-2686 - 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 Paula Campbell-Schwab Speaker Paula Campbell-Schwab is a 73-year-old adult who stutters. Paula co-founded the NSA Houston Chapter in 1985 with the help of Brian Koch. The Houston Chapter is one of the longest running and well attended chapters in the NSA community. Paula is on the NSA Older Adults Who Stutter Committee and helps to plan workshops for the annual Conference and NSA Connect sessions for Older Adults during the year. Paula was presented the NSA Hall of Fame award at the 2024 Conference. She is a retired Special Education Teacher and lives in Houston, Texas with her husband Douglas, who is also a PWS. Previous Next

< Back Mark Haus Speaker Mark Haus is the proud father of two boys, Tim (30) and Daniel (27). Daniel is a PWS. Mark is a Systems Engineer for a computer company and lives with his wife, Helene, in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Mark and his family have been a part of the NSA for 18 years and always look forward to getting together with their NSA family each summer. Previous Next

Learn how David Belgard,a person who stutters, achieved career success. Get inspired by their journey. Energy Accountant David Belgard Briefly describe your daily job duties. I am responsible for the coal and natural gas accounting processes for two power plants located in the South Louisiana. I account for anywhere between 8-to-10 million dollars of transactions each month. As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job. The most challenging part of my job is the constant conference calls I am required to be on. Speaking on the phone is usually one of the biggest nightmares for someone who stutters. I have learned to embrace my stutter and understand that I bring value to the conversation, even if it may take me longer to finish what I am saying. 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? No I did not disclose my stuttering during the interview process and I have not openly stated that I have a stutter. I feel that it is quite obvious at times that I have a stutter so we should not have to degrade ourselves and mention it. I feel it is more empowering to embrace it and continue to try your best to speak even when you are caught stuttering in the conversations you have. Describe how stuttering makes you a better, more valued contributor at work. At a young age, I made a decision that even though I might not be able to speak as fluently as other people around me, I can try my best to work harder than everyone else. So I believe stuttering has given me a drive that someone who does not stutter doesn’t have. People who stutter are some of the most incredible people in the world because not only do they have to handle the stress from ordinary work/life problems, but they also have to handle the stress of having a stutter. This makes us some of the most resilient and dedicated people in the world, in my opinion. What is your proudest moment at your current company? (Does not have to be related to stuttering.) I was hired during the process of my company acquiring another company in South Louisiana. I was hired to specifically assist in getting the accounting processes up and running for the new power plants we were acquiring. After nearly a year of hard work, my team and I were able to get a fluent accounting system up and running for these plants. While doing that, I was able to pass all four of my CPA exams and become a licensed Certified Public Accountant. This is my proudest achievement to date. What are your long-term career aspirations? I would love to open my own financial planning firm where I help struggling individuals and families become free from financial hardships. I grew up without a lot of finances and watched my mother struggle to provide for us. Those situations led me down the path I am on now and I want to let as many people know as possible that you do not have to live paycheck to paycheck and you do not have to live with financial stress during the course of your entire life. My main passion is to help, encourage, and inspire people in any way that I can. What’s your best advice for people who stutter just entering the workplace and for those in a career striving to achieve greater success? Never, ever, think you are inadequate in the workplace because you stutter. You are NOT unintelligent, and you are NOT sub-par. In fact, you are incredible, because in spite of your stutter, you are making the huge step to enter the workplace and try your best to be the best person in that company. The best advice I can give anyone is to never think less of yourself because it takes your longer to get your point across or finish what you are trying to say. You are knowledgeable in your area, so what you say matters and is worth waiting for!

Join the Cincinnati - Adult stuttering support group. Connect with others, share experiences, and access resources through the National Stuttering Association. Cincinnati ADULT CHAPTER IN-PERSON MEETINGS CENTRAL NORTH REGION Official NSA Chapter - Ohio State Welcome to the NSA Cincinnati 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? Cincinnati, OH When? Meetings, socials, and special events are held periodically. Reach out to the Chapter Leader for more information. Chapter Leaders Who leads the meetings? Chris Mancini Chapter Leader Get in touch! cmancini101@gmail.com (513) 207-6490 - 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 Jodi Reinstein Speaker Jodi Reinstein, MS, CCC-SLP, MAEdL, is a speech-language pathologist who has dedicated her career to improving the lives of individuals with communication challenges. Since beginning her practice in 1996, Jodi has amassed a wealth of experience in both clinical and educational settings. Her professional journey began with three years at a pediatric rehabilitation hospital, where she honed her skills working with children requiring intensive support. This foundation laid the groundwork for her transition into public education, where she has been serving for the past 25 years. For the last nine years, Jodi has taken on a leadership role as a school-based special education administrator, leveraging her expertise to advocate for and support students with diverse needs. Jodi has also contributed to the broader speech-language pathology community through her involvement with the New Jersey Speech and Hearing Association, where she served as part of the School Affairs Committee, and on the NSA’s Professional Relations Committee. Previous Next

Join the Austin - Adult stuttering support group. Connect with others, share experiences, and access resources through the National Stuttering Association. Austin ADULT CHAPTER IN-PERSON MEETINGS CENTRAL SOUTH REGION Official NSA Chapter - Texas State Welcome to the NSA Austin 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? Arthur M. Blank Center for Stuttering Education and Research – 2504 B Whitis Avenue Room: CMB 3.102 (3rd Floor) Austin, TX 78712 When? Meetings are held on the 1st Tuesday of each month (except for December) from 7:00 – 8:30PM Chapter Leaders Who leads the meetings? Sam Antonio, Will Dalthrop & Rahul Ramaswami Chapter Leaders Get in touch! hello@westutteraustin.org 956-533-2399 westutteraustin.org 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

Join the Louisville - Adult stuttering support group. Connect with others, share experiences, and access resources through the National Stuttering Association. Louisville ADULT CHAPTER IN-PERSON & VIRTUAL MEETINGS SOUTHEAST REGION Official NSA Chapter - Kentucky State Welcome to the NSA Louisville 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 & 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? In-person meetings are held at the Associates in Pediatric Therapy (Main Office) (11840 Commonwealth Drive, Louisville, KY 40299) and you can also join virtually via Zoom. When? Meetings are held on the 3rd Tuesday of each month from 6:30PM-7:30PM. Contact the Chapter Leaders for the meeting link to join virtually. Chapter Leaders Who leads the meetings? Doug Shearer & Ashley Cubberly Chapter Leaders Get in touch! Doug.Shearer2@yahoo.com , ashleycslp@kidtherapy.org - - 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

Join the Windsor - Adult stuttering support group. Connect with others, share experiences, and access resources through the National Stuttering Association. Windsor ADULT CHAPTER VIRTUAL MEETINGS NORTHEAST REGION Official NSA Chapter - Connecticut State Welcome to the NSA Windsor 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? Windsor, CT When? Virtual meetings are held on the 2nd Thursday of each month at 7:00PM. Please contact the Chapter Leader for the meeting link. Chapter Leaders Who leads the meetings? Jeremy Halek Chapter Leader Get in touch! jer1684@aol.com (860) 840-4849 - 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 Jeff Olevson: 24 Years of Community & Connection For Jeff Olevson, it all started with a simple desire: to meet other people who stutter. That was 24 years ago, and he’s been all in ever since. “The NSA helped me accept my stuttering,” Jeff says. Whether he’s meeting someone new, cheering them on, or belting out Christina Aguilera’s “Dirrty” at karaoke (yes, really), Jeff brings authenticity and energy to every conversation. His advice for newcomers? Be a sponge. “Embrace everything you learn. Be open to new opportunities.” When he’s not connecting with the community or rewatching Friends, Jeff’s dreaming of Hawaii, imagining life with a dog, or thinking up ways to serve, he’s even a past president of the Sunnyvale Rotary Club. Stuttering may be part of Jeff’s story, but community is at the heart of it. And after two decades with the NSA, he’s still just as passionate as day one. Previous Next