Meet Jim McClure, a valued member of the National Stuttering Association team. Learn more about their role and contributions. Jim McClure Seasoned Voices Committee Jim McClure is happily retired in New Mexico, where he enjoys bicycling and classical music performances. He started his professional career as a newspaper reporter and was a corporate public relations manager, independent consultant and Navy Reserve officer. Jim co-founded the NSA’s first chapter in Chicago and has served on the board of directors and advisory board. He was inducted into the NSA’s Hall of Fame in 2007. Jim currently serves as a public member of ASHA’s Council for Clinical Certification.

Learn how Tyler Clemens,a person who stutters, achieved career success. Get inspired by their journey. District Manager Tyler Clemens Briefly describe your daily job duties. I oversee 11 Starbucks locations with close to 400 partners. My job entails all aspects of running the business, with a focus on motivating others to achieve their absolute best. I host weekly video conference calls, create content, and visit my stores throughout the week to connect with partners to ensure they have what they need to be successful. I also monitor performance, food safety, customer satisfaction, and ensure all stores are fully operating. I also am the Co-Chair for the Disability Advocacy Network, a network that engages partners to share, educate, and understand those with disabilities and impairments. As a PWS, this network speaks to me and my experiences, and I hope to inspire others to take a chance on someone or to find the courage to speak their voice. As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job. The most challenging part on a day to day basis is when an emergency occurs, something that requires immediate attentiont – they don’t always happen at the best time and you have to be able to act quickly and efficiently. This can range from a difficult issue in a store to equipment breaking to a natural disaster. What are your long-term career aspirations? I would like to continue to grow to the director level – my aim has always been to impact others positively, and I want to remain in touch with all employees while also having a greater field of responsibility, so that I can create that experience for as many as possible. After that, I don’t necessarily have any aspirations other than to continue to help others at all times – ideally I would like to be involved with non-profits that focus on helping children. I try to view the work experience through the lens of my personal experience, and while I can’t go back and inspire confidence in myself, I can do that for others. Did you self-disclose your stuttering during the job hiring process? My stuttering precedes the ability to self-disclose; it is apparent from the onset. Because my work experience has always been in retail/customer service, I have to sell myself harder so that the interviewers know that my speech doesn’t hold me back and doesn’t define me. At Starbucks, I have found leadership that values the transparency and vulnerability that I offer. What is your proudest moment at your current company? While I am new to Starbucks, my proudest moments have been winning District Manager of the Year – Rookie, and kicking off the Disability Advocacy Network. My work with the network has focused on creating brave spaces for others to come forward and has highlighted the value of diversity and inclusion in all walks of life. At the last company I worked for, GameStop, I created the employee resource group, “visABLE” that was focused on the same idea. I was very proud to have built that group from an idea to being able to lead in person meetings at our annual conference in front of hundreds of managers. Describe how stuttering makes you a better, more valued contributor at work. I think I am patient with others – I understand what it’s like to choke on a word, and it gives me better perspective on growth, change, and vulnerability. I have been told by previous leaders that the courage displayed to speak publicly despite my stuttering gave them a different perspective on what was holding them back and why. My past experiences also allow me to speak about the importance of mental health and to share that back with my partners, oftentimes allowing them an avenue of conversation they may not have anticipated. What’s your best advice for people who stutter just entering the workplace and for those in a career striving to achieve greater success? When I was in high school my counselor told me I should be a mechanic because I liked cars or to go into computer science so that I could code. Here is the thing – I love people. I love to talk to people and deal with people and I wanted to work in field that allowed me unique people experiences on a daily basis. I bagged groceries at a grocery store, I worked at multiple hardware stores, I worked in all sorts of retail establishments. I had people tell me over and over what I should be doing because of my speech. Working in retail, I have had people laugh in my face because of my speech more times than I can count. I have had people laugh during interviews, I have had people laugh in meetings. You do YOU. You get one life – all those who can laugh, can also learn. So rise above and be the better and bigger person. It’s not always easy, but never let someone tell you what you should do – your words are just as important as anyone else’s.

Join the Florida Treasure Coast - Adult stuttering support group. Connect with others, share experiences, and access resources through the National Stuttering Association. Florida Treasure Coast ADULT CHAPTER IN-PERSON MEETINGS SOUTHEAST REGION Official NSA Chapter - Florida State Welcome to the NSA Florida Treasure Coast 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? Peter & Julie Cummings Library Donahue Community Room 2551 SW Matheson Ave, Palm City, FL 34990 When? Meetings are held on the 3rd Thursday of each month from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Chapter Leaders Who leads the meetings? Angela Grimm & Daniel Mittleman Chapter Leaders Get in touch! NSAFloridaTreasureCoast@gmail.com 772-618-3724 - 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? Our purpose is to provide information, advocacy and mutual support for people who stutter, their families, and speech-language pathologists (SLPs). Come join us and experience the NSA’s motto in action: If You Stutter, You’re Not Alone®. How can I find a local NSA chapter? You can find a local NSA chapter by using the chapter locator on our website. Simply enter your location to find the nearest chapter and contact details. Visit our Chapter Locator to find a chapter near you. What happens at an NSA meeting? Your Chapter Leader may prepare a topic for the meeting or might open the floor for discussion and see where things go. Some chapters may also host social events outside of the traditional chapter meeting. The magic of the NSA is just being among other people who stutter, building connections, and having fun while doing it! NSA Chapters give people who stutter, their families and SLPs, a chance to connect and have fun-filled experiences together! Who attends an NSA Chapter? People of all ages who stutter, along with their family and friends, speech-language pathologists (SLPs), and anyone interested in stuttering, are welcome at our chapters! Do you need to RSVP before joining an NSA chapter meeting? You do not need to RSVP, but it is a good idea to let the Chapter Leader know you’re coming. That helps them welcome you and makes your first visit a little easier. Do you offer virtual chapter meetings? Several NSA chapters now meet virtually, making it easy to join from wherever you are. On our Chapter Locator page, you can filter by meeting type and look specifically for virtual or hybrid chapters. When you find one that fits your needs, simply reach out to the Chapter Leader(s) for details on how to join their next meeting. We’d love to welcome you into the community. Don’t see an answer to your question? Email us at info@westutter.org How do I start a local NSA chapter? If you’re interested in starting a chapter, we’d love to hear from you. The NSA can help you understand what’s involved and what support is available. Please reach out to us at info@westutter.org to get started. How do I start a local NSA chapter? Starting a chapter is a great way to build community close to home. Email us at info@westutter.org and we’ll connect you with the guidance and resources you need to get started. You do not have to do it alone. How can I start a new NSA chapter in my area? Starting a chapter begins with reaching out to the NSA so we can help you get set up. We’ll walk you through the next steps, share helpful materials, and support you as you build a welcoming community for people who stutter and their families. 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 Jessica Hudson Presenter Jessica Hudson is a speech-language pathologist based in Arizona who has worked almost exclusively with people who stutter throughout her 13-year career. She is the owner of Stuttering & Speech Therapy of Arizona, a practice she founded 10 years ago to create a supportive, affirming space for individuals and families impacted by stuttering. Jessica is passionate about changing the narrative and reducing stigma surrounding stuttering. She holds the Ally of Stuttering Seal and previously served as a Chapter Leader in Phoenix. Outside of work, she loves traveling, working out, and taste-testing the tortillas made at her husband’s tortilla factory. Next

< Back Previous Ryleigh Bowers Presenter Ryleigh Bowers is an incoming high school sophomore with a passion for theater, dance, and vocal performance. She is returning for her second year volunteering with the NSA Family Programs. While she is not a person who stutters, she has developed a deep understanding of stuttering through living with and learning from her father, who stutters. Next

Learn how Nora Sadik,a person who stutters, achieved career success. Get inspired by their journey. Water Resources Engineer Nora Sadik Briefly describe your daily job duties. I provide public and private clients with consulting services for drinking water and wastewater treatment, distribution system water quality, and water reuse/recycled water treatment and regulatory guidance. My work typically focuses on controlling lead levels in drinking water, developing water sampling plans for water utilities and river and stream monitoring, and thinking of ways that large water users can reduce their water footprint. My daily duties usually involve lots of spreadsheets, meetings with clients and technical experts and some field work. As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job. The most challenging part of my job is presenting to clients and coworkers. It can be especially challenging if I’m presenting on a technical topic with lots of fine details. Did you self-disclose your stuttering during the job hiring process? If so, how did you do it? Yes! I disclosed my stuttering in my job interview, which was 6 hours long! Kind of hard to hide for that long. 🙂 Typically, after I have a block I’ll pause and say, “You can probably tell that I have a stutter so just hang in there with me as I get through this.” Describe how stuttering makes you a better, more valued contributor at work. I think my stuttering makes me a good listener and you can always count on me to practice heavily before a client meeting or presentation. That doesn’t mean I won’t stutter, but I try to prepare my best to eliminate some of the stress involved with presenting. What is your proudest moment at your current company? My proudest moment has to be when I was able to see an engineering design that I worked on in real life. Seeing something from paper come to life is super exciting and rewarding! What are your long-term career aspirations? I’d like to continue learning more about controlling lead in drinking water and recycled water and I’d like to get my Professional Engineering license in the next few 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? My best advice is to share your stutter with your coworkers. By doing so, you eliminate the guess work for your coworkers at why you might not be presenting or communicating with perfect fluency. I’ve often worried that my stutter comes across as unprofessional or as if I haven’t prepared enough, so disclosing lets the client and coworkers know that I’m capable and prepared – I just have a little road block to get over when I speak. I’ve found that my coworkers and the clients we work with are extremely understanding and encouraging.

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.

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! 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? Our purpose is to provide information, advocacy and mutual support for people who stutter, their families, and speech-language pathologists (SLPs). Come join us and experience the NSA’s motto in action: If You Stutter, You’re Not Alone®. How can I find a local NSA chapter? You can find a local NSA chapter by using the chapter locator on our website. Simply enter your location to find the nearest chapter and contact details. Visit our Chapter Locator to find a chapter near you. What happens at an NSA meeting? Your Chapter Leader may prepare a topic for the meeting or might open the floor for discussion and see where things go. Some chapters may also host social events outside of the traditional chapter meeting. The magic of the NSA is just being among other people who stutter, building connections, and having fun while doing it! NSA Chapters give people who stutter, their families and SLPs, a chance to connect and have fun-filled experiences together! Who attends an NSA Chapter? People of all ages who stutter, along with their family and friends, speech-language pathologists (SLPs), and anyone interested in stuttering, are welcome at our chapters! Do you need to RSVP before joining an NSA chapter meeting? You do not need to RSVP, but it is a good idea to let the Chapter Leader know you’re coming. That helps them welcome you and makes your first visit a little easier. Do you offer virtual chapter meetings? Several NSA chapters now meet virtually, making it easy to join from wherever you are. On our Chapter Locator page, you can filter by meeting type and look specifically for virtual or hybrid chapters. When you find one that fits your needs, simply reach out to the Chapter Leader(s) for details on how to join their next meeting. We’d love to welcome you into the community. Don’t see an answer to your question? Email us at info@westutter.org How do I start a local NSA chapter? If you’re interested in starting a chapter, we’d love to hear from you. The NSA can help you understand what’s involved and what support is available. Please reach out to us at info@westutter.org to get started. How do I start a local NSA chapter? Starting a chapter is a great way to build community close to home. Email us at info@westutter.org and we’ll connect you with the guidance and resources you need to get started. You do not have to do it alone. How can I start a new NSA chapter in my area? Starting a chapter begins with reaching out to the NSA so we can help you get set up. We’ll walk you through the next steps, share helpful materials, and support you as you build a welcoming community for people who stutter and their families. 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