Join the Central New Jersey - Adult & Teen stuttering support group. Connect with others, share experiences, and access resources through the National Stuttering Association. Central New Jersey ADULT, TEEN CHAPTER IN-PERSON MEETINGS MID-ATLANTIC REGION Official NSA Chapter - New Jersey State Welcome to the NSA Central New Jersey 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, Teen 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? Panera Bread 1064 US Hwy 9 Parlin, NJ 08859 When? Meetings are held on the 1st Friday of each month from 7:30-9:00PM. Chapter Leaders Who leads the meetings? Joan Ross & Sydney Mail Chapter Leaders Get in touch! jross12@aol.com (732) 995-1722 https://www.facebook.com/groups/375408645956134 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

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

Meet Rowan, a valued member of the National Stuttering Association team. Learn more about their role and contributions. Rowan Sisters Who Stutter Member Outreach Coordinator Rowan serves as the Member Outreach Coordinator for Sisters Who Stutter (SWS), where she focuses on strengthening member connection, engagement, and support within the community. She is also the Chair of Sisters Who Stutter, a group within the National Stuttering Association (NSA) dedicated to empowering and uplifting girls who stutter. In her outreach role, Rowan helps welcome new members, foster meaningful relationships, and ensure that girls feel seen, supported, and included. Her leadership is rooted in creating safe, affirming spaces where confidence can grow and shared experiences can turn into lasting connection. Rowan brings dedication and resilience to everything she does. She has been a member of her school’s Varsity Swim Team since seventh grade and also participates in Track and Field as a long-distance runner. Her athletic journey reflects her perseverance, discipline, and commitment to personal growth. Looking ahead, Rowan hopes to pursue a future in archaeology, combining her curiosity, love of history, and passion for discovery. She credits the NSA and Sisters Who Stutter community with helping her embrace her stutter and develop the confidence to lead and support others. Through her outreach work and leadership, Rowan continues to play a meaningful role in building a connected, welcoming community for girls who stutter.

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.

< Back Previous Dustin Linkins Presenter Dustin Linkins is a person who stutters, he has been part of the National Stuttering Association since 2011. Dustin is 3 years sober as of March 28th 2026. He never thought his soberity and stutter would link up to help others. He is leading the sober check-in on Thursday, July 2nd and Saturday. We can have fun without a drink. Dustin found the joy of scuba 2 yrs ago and spends his old alcohol money on scuba trips and gear. Next

< Back Previous Nayha Auradkar Presenter Nayha Auradkar is a person who stutters and co-leader of the “NSA Connects: Asians Who Stutter” group. She is a graduate of the University of Washington and currently works as a software engineer in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is passionate about providing community and resources to people who stutter. In her free time, Nayha enjoys running, hiking, and anything outdoorsy. Next

Join the Denver - Adult stuttering support group. Connect with others, share experiences, and access resources through the National Stuttering Association. Denver ADULT CHAPTER IN-PERSON MEETINGS SOUTHWEST REGION Official NSA Chapter - Colorado State Welcome to the NSA Denver Adult 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? Chase Building, 2696 S Colorado Blvd Suite #345, Denver CO 80222 When? Meetings are held on the 1st Monday of the month from 6:30 to 7:30 PM. Chapter Leaders Who leads the meetings? John Raab Chapter Leader Get in touch! johnraab@comcast.net (303) 841-7374 https://www.westutter.org/chapter/denver 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 Haley Totherow Presenter Haley Totherow resides in Benicia, California. Her background is in both Bakery Production and Social Media Coordination. She is most passionate about stuttering advocacy, including running her own Instagram account focused on stuttering awareness, @StutterWithMe. In her free time, she enjoys baking, doing crafts, and adding to her trinket collection. Next

Join the Boise - Adult stuttering support group. Connect with others, share experiences, and access resources through the National Stuttering Association. Boise ADULT CHAPTER IN-PERSON MEETINGS NORTHWEST REGION Official NSA Chapter - Idaho State Welcome to the NSA Boise 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? Hillcrest Library (Canyon Room) – 5246 W. Overland Road Boise, ID 83705 When? Meetings are held on the 2nd Thursday of each month at 7:00 PM - Starting March 13th Chapter Leaders Who leads the meetings? Guen Wood & Callan Wood Chapter Leaders Get in touch! Guenwood742@hotmail.com (208) 801-0827 - 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

Learn how Leonardo Soto,a person who stutters, achieved career success. Get inspired by their journey. Detective / Hostage Negotiator Leonardo Soto New Haven, CT Detective / Hostage Negotiator New Haven Police Department Briefly describe your daily job duties. I’m a detective with the Special Victims Unit (SVU). I specialize in investigating crimes involving human trafficking and child exploitation. I am also part of the Emergency Services Unit as a hostage / crisis negotiator. As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job. As a detective, you have to gain the victim’s trust and make them comfortable. As a person who stutters, it is often a challenge because people may not see you as competent because of the stuttering. It’s the same when speaking to a suspect as well. As a hostage negotiator, you have to speak with people during what can possibly be the worst moment in their lives. I have had successful negotiations during my career, but my stuttering was often questioned during the negotiation process. What are your long-term career aspirations? Eventually, I would like to take the next promotional test and become the unit commander for the special victims unit. Did you self-disclose your stuttering during the job hiring process? Before I was a police officer, I was a paramedic for many years, I never actually disclosed my stuttering during a hiring process. The first time I ever disclosed that I actively stuttered was when I went to Hostage negotiator school. Part of the process was to speak in front of the class about yourself and that was the first thing I disclosed. Since then, wherever I go or whatever I do if I have to speak to someone I will disclose. I also started disclosing that I stutter when I have to negotiate with someone. What is your proudest moment at your current company? Working in the law enforcement field for the last 15 years, I have had many proud moments. One of the proudest was when I graduated from the police academy. There were many doubts that I would even make it through the academy due to my stuttering, but with hard work and determination, I made it through and I’ve had a very successful career. Describe how stuttering makes you a better, more valued contributor at work. I think when people who are not law-enforcement hear that you as an officer stutter, they don’t just see the officer, but they tend to see the human being. 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 limit yourself. Never let anyone tell you that you can’t follow a dream or pursue a goal just because you stutter. Put it out there. Let everyone know that you stutter and you are confident within yourself. When people see your confidence, they will be confident in you as well.

Meet Patrice Nolan-Fox, a valued member of the National Stuttering Association team. Learn more about their role and contributions. Patrice Nolan-Fox Seasoned Voices Committee Patrice Nolan-Fox is a person who stutters with a deep understanding of covert stuttering. Over the course of her remarkable 44-year career as a speech and language pathologist, Patrice made significant contributions to her field, combining her professional expertise with her personal experiences to help others overcome obstacles and find their voices. Originally from Springfield, Massachusetts, Patrice now resides in the scenic town of Bennington, Vermont, where she continues to inspire those around her. Her long career reflects her passion for communication, education, and empowering individuals to reach their full potential. Patrice’s journey is a testament to her resilience and dedication. By navigating her own experiences with covert stuttering, she has developed a unique perspective that has enriched her work and her connection to the stuttering community. Her legacy as both a professional and an advocate continues to resonate with those she has touched throughout her life. Now enjoying her time in Vermont, Patrice’s story serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of perseverance, compassion, and the impact one person can have on countless lives.

< Back Previous Edmund Metzold Presenter Edmund Metzold has been an active member of the National Stuttering Association (NSA) since 2015, attending NSA Chapter meetings and Annual Conferences. He co-leads the NSA Boston Adult Chapter and is very involved with Passing Twice, an organization for LGBTQ+ people who stutter. Edmund works as a Senior Production Support Analyst for a healthcare data analytics company. In his free time, he loves traveling, playing trivia, and singing with his barbershop chorus and quartet. Next