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< Back Gabriela Perez Speaker Gabriela is a person who stutters and currently works for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in their State Supreme Court Initiative. Gabriela graduated from the University of Chicago with a degree in Global Studies and Latin American and Iberian Languages and recently completed a Fulbright teaching fellowship. Growing up with a stutter, Gabriela is passionate about disability rights and is proud of her involvement in the National Stuttering Association. She enjoys spending time with her family (two sets of twins!) and pets. Gabriela strongly believes in making the National Stuttering Association a more diverse, inclusive, equitable, and safe environment for all. She is excited to lead the DEI committee and work to increase access for marginalized people who stutter. Previous Next

Join the Santa Monica - Adult & Family stuttering support group. Connect with others, share experiences, and access resources through the National Stuttering Association. Santa Monica ADULT, FAMILY CHAPTER IN-PERSON MEETINGS SOUTHWEST REGION Official NSA Chapter - California State Welcome to the NSA Santa Monica 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, 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? Downtown Santa Monica Public Library, 2nd Floor - 601 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401 When? Meetings are held on the 1st Tuesday of each month from 6:30 PM - 7:45 PM. Chapter Leaders Who leads the meetings? Andrew Wang & Gregory Scott Chapter Leaders Get in touch! andrew8880298@gmail.com speechguygregory@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! ! 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 Beaumont - Adult stuttering support group. Connect with others, share experiences, and access resources through the National Stuttering Association. Beaumont ADULT CHAPTER VIRTUAL MEETINGS CENTRAL SOUTH REGION Official NSA Chapter - Texas State Welcome to the NSA Beaumont 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? Virtual meetings are held on Zoom. When? Virtual meetings are held on the 1st Thursday of each month from 6:30-8:00PM. Meetings are held on Zoom. For details about meetings and for any other information, please contact the Chapter Leader. Chapter Leaders Who leads the meetings? Stefanie Becerril Chapter Leader Get in touch! sbecerril1@lamar.edu (409) 880-8174 - 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 Joze Piranian Speaker Born and raised in Lebanon, Joze avoided speaking for over 25 years, hindered by the fear of being judged for his stutter. Everything changed when he decided to turn fear into action.Today, Joze has delivered five TEDx talks and performed stand-up comedy across three continents and in four languages. He has spoken at organizations such as the FBI, the United Nations, the Department of Justice, Google, Meta, Netflix, and TikTok. Words Left Unspoken, the movie about his journey directed by film-maker Josiane Blanc, premiered at the Reel World Film Festival in Toronto in October 2024. Previous Next

Join the Brooklyn - Adult stuttering support group. Connect with others, share experiences, and access resources through the National Stuttering Association. Brooklyn ADULT CHAPTER IN-PERSON MEETINGS NORTHEAST REGION Official NSA Chapter - New York State Welcome to the NSA Brooklyn 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? Brooklyn YWCA (30 3rd Avenue, Between Atlantic Ave and State Street Brooklyn NY, 11217). When? Meetings are held every other month on the 2nd Wednesday from 7:00 PM to 8:30PM. Contact the Chapter Leader to confirm meeting dates before attending. Chapter Leaders Who leads the meetings? Geoffry Gertz Chapter Leader Get in touch! BrooklynStutters@gmail.com - https://www.nsachapters.org/brooklyn/ 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 Tallahassee - Adult stuttering support group. Connect with others, share experiences, and access resources through the National Stuttering Association. Tallahassee ADULT CHAPTER IN-PERSON MEETINGS SOUTHEAST REGION Official NSA Chapter - Florida State Welcome to the NSA Tallahassee 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? LeRoy Collins Leon County Main Public Library (Henderson Room, 2nd Floor West) 200 W Park Avenue Tallahassee, Florida 32301 When? Meetings are held on the 1st Tuesday of each month from 7:00-8:30PM. Chapter Leaders Who leads the meetings? Danny Chiarodit Chapter Leader Get in touch! NSATallahassee@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! ! 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

Learn how Derek Sutor,a person who stutters, achieved career success. Get inspired by their journey. Special Education Teacher Derek Sutor Briefly describe your daily job duties. I am a Special Education teacher in a co-teaching setting, teaching Algebra and Geometry. I also serve as my school’s Special Education Department Chair, overseeing the Instructional Assistants, serving as a liaison between the Special Education department and administration, coordinating school-wide testing for students with accommodations and serving on building leadership committees. As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job. Being an educator and a coach, verbal communication is essential in building relationships, whether it be with my students in class, players I coach, my colleagues I interact with throughout the day, parents I communicate with on the phone or any other interaction I may have. Being able to communicate thoroughly is vital in my roles. There are situations that come up throughout my day where I may need to have more difficult conversations than normal, so making sure I say exactly what needs to be said is important. 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 openly told the hiring committee that I had a stutter and that I actually use it as a tool to build relationships with students, showing that I have my own hurdles and obstacles to overcome on a daily basis. I am always open and honest with colleagues, letting them know that I have a stutter and I may have disfluencies from time to time. I know that the majority of people do not pay attention to my stutter, but I sometimes inform people beforehand that I have one, just for my own piece of mind. It allows me to enter a conversation calmer, knowing that it’s out there. Describe how stuttering makes you a better, more valued contributor at work. Stuttering shows my vulnerability. As an educator and a coach, we consistently preach to our students/players that we all have a story and adversity that we must face on a daily basis. Whether it’s a disability, a disorder, balancing schoolwork/a job/sports/life, we all have things on our plate that we deal with on a daily basis and must overcome day in and day out. I try to show the students that even though I have something that could hold me back, I don’t allow it to and can perform my job duties to the best of my ability. What is your proudest moment at your current company? In 2019, I was honored as the High School Teacher of the Year for my county. The award meant more to me than most know, simply for the fact that, in 2011, I almost quit the teaching profession because my fluency had gotten so bad. I was at a low point in my life, barely able to say a complete sentence without a prolongation or a block. It was then that I decided to get some intensive help at a speech therapy clinic on the east coast for two weeks. After two weeks of staying in a hotel and attending the clinic for two weeks, I had the confidence to know that I had the tools to be in control of my fluency. Since that day, it was a journey of continuing to work on my fluency, building more and more confidence each day. Being honored as a High School Teacher of the Year made it feel that things had “come full circle”. What are your long-term career aspirations? I am currently continuing my education for a second master’s degree, with it being in Educational Leadership with a Principal Endorsement, which would allow me to pursue an administrative role in the schools. I would like to be a Director of Special Education or a Student Services Coordinator, being able to stay in the field of Special Education, but in more of a leadership/administrative role. What’s your best advice for people who stutter just entering the workplace and for those in a career striving to achieve greater success? You have so much to offer and do not have to be defined by your stutter. We are not defined by what happens to us, but rather how we respond to what happens to us. Embrace your story and allow it to help you along your journey. There will never be a case where your stutter is completely gone, but knowing that you have the tools and the ability to manage it is such an empowering feeling. You are a stutterer … be proud of it!

Learn how Emily Anderson,a person who stutters, achieved career success. Get inspired by their journey. Environmental Specialist Emily Anderson Briefly describe your daily job duties. As an Environmental Specialist at DOWL, my job duties vary depending on the project we are working on and the time of the year. During the summer, I am very busy with wetland delineation fieldwork. When a client wants to fill wetland for development, they need the proper permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. That’s when a third party, like what I do at DOWL, does fieldwork to identify the wetland. We look for three things: hydrophytic vegetation, hydric soils, and hydrology. Simply put, we dig big holes and analyze the soils plus the surrounding environment. It’s a lot of fun and has brought me to such beautiful regions of Alaska. When not doing field work, I am working on permits, Environmental Assessments and Environmental Impact Statements for major projects. As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job. My biggest challenge is participating on teleconferences. Because projects involve a lot of different people from a variety of sectors, teleconferences are very common in my field of work. I already stutter a lot on the phone and when I know there are many people on the line, important people for that matter, it can be very stressful for me. It’s also difficult to find a moment to talk on teleconferences. Sometimes I will start to speak, stutter, and someone will start speaking because they think the line is open. It is not their fault but just something that happens. 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 disclose my stutter and it felt AMAZING. I knew I wanted to disclose but I was waiting for the right moments to do so. I wanted to make it organic and prove it as a strength of mine. My interviewers asked me what I like to do in my free time. I responded with the normal outdoor Alaskan activities but also said I like being a role model to people who stutter, especially the younger generation. I brought up my leadership role with the Alaska NSA Family Chapter and what an impact it has had on children and their parents. My interviewers were completely blown away and loved it. Currently when I disclose to clients or other coworkers, I also wait for it to be organic. If I am just casually stuttering, I usually don’t disclose unless I need to. But if I’m in a big meeting or presentation, I will simply say: “Just a heads up, I do stutter so it may take me an extra moment.” I have even had people approach me after presentations to tell me how great it was that I told the crowd that. It really helps people feel comfortable with you when you disclose your stutter. Describe how stuttering makes you a better, more valued contributor at work. Being a person who stutters in the workplace makes me a very conscientious speaker. I take my time when I speak up and choose my words wisely. This is not to avoid stuttering or to choose words I will not stutter on, but rather, it makes me feel better when I take my time. I’ve found speaking slowly and concisely demands attention from people. What is your proudest moment at your current company? I have only been at my current company for about 6 months now, so I expect a giant proud moment is yet to come. As of now, my colleagues and supervisors have been very vocal about my strengths and willingness to help where needed. Something I am proud of is that out of the entire environmental department, I have logged the most hours in the field. For someone of my age and experience level, that is certainly something to be proud of. What are your long-term career aspirations? Thankfully in the environmental science world, there’s always work to be done and a large variety of it. However, that makes my field very broad because I’m interested in absolutely everything. Once I narrow in my interests, I hope to go back to school to obtain my master’s degree. I would love to study the social effects of climate change, especially since Alaska is being hit rather hard by the changing climate. 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 advice is do not let stuttering define you. Use your stutter as a strength. Show people that it’s just one part of you and it does not hold you back. Plus, I promise we, people who stutter, notice our stutter way more than anyone else! It can feel like such a huge deal to tell someone that you stutter, but chances are they are going to accept and move on. It is not a big deal to them. They value you for your brain, your talent, your personality. Your stutter can be an asset, if you let it be that.

Join the Eugene - Kids stuttering support group. Connect with others, share experiences, and access resources through the National Stuttering Association. Eugene - Kids KIDS CHAPTER VIRTUAL MEETINGS NORTHWEST REGION Official NSA Chapter - Oregon State Welcome to the NSA Eugene Kids 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? Kids 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? Meetings are held virtually with in-person special events. Please contact the Chapter Leader for the meeting link. When? Meetings are held on the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 PM. Chapter Leaders Who leads the meetings? Fajhr Qureshi Chapter Leader Get in touch! nsa.eugene.or@gmail.com 480-678-5852 https://www.instagram.com/nsa.eugene.or/ 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 Elizabeth Minton’s Journey from Feeling Lost to Leading with Purpose When Elizabeth Minton developed an acquired stutter five years ago, she didn’t know where to turn. She felt isolated and uncertain—until she found the National Stuttering Association. “The NSA gave me a whole new community of amazing people and helped inspire me to become an SLP.” Now, four years into her involvement with the NSA, Elizabeth uses her experience to help others navigate their journeys. The NSA’s impact on Elizabeth has been both personal and professional. It opened doors, built friendships, and gave her the courage to chase a new dream: becoming an SLP. Elizabeth encourages new members to lean in with openness: “Be open to new friendships and new things.” And that spirit of courage has always been part of who she is. She was the first woman on her undergraduate university’s Ultimate Frisbee team—breaking barriers before she even knew she’d be helping others do the same in the stuttering world. Let’s get to know Elizabeth a little better: Favorite ice cream flavor: Chocolate Birthday Cake Favorite movie to rewatch: The Emperor’s New Groove Karaoke go-to: Anything by Panic! At The Disco Tea lover: especially a good cup of English Breakfast Dream vacation: Italy We’re grateful for Elizabeth’s leadership, passion, and vulnerability. No matter how your journey with stuttering begins, there is always a place for you here—and a way to turn your story into strength. Previous Next

Learn how Steven Dunn,a person who stutters, achieved career success. Get inspired by their journey. Trial Lawyer Steven Dunn Dallas, TX Trial Lawyer Dunn Law Firm Briefly describe your daily job duties. Daily job duties include helping people who are disadvantaged due to mental health challenges, specifically eating disorders. As a trial lawyer, I help them seek justice, health care, and support in a loving and caring environment. As a father whose daughter was taken from him by anorexia, I know the pain caused by the loss of a loved one, and fight daily for the mental health of others. As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job. During trial I explain to the jury, “You may have noticed that I stutter. If that would be a problem for you to see my client objectively, let me know and we can talk to the judge about this”. What are your long-term career aspirations? Continuing to help others with their challenges! Did you self-disclose your stuttering during the job hiring process? As someone who is self-employed, the hiring process is not exactly applicable. However, I am very upfront talking with clients, new friends, and acquaintances about this. What is your proudest moment at your current company? Helping others to recover from eating disorders. What’s your best advice for people who stutter just entering the workplace and for those in a career striving to achieve greater success? Be resilient!

Join the Cookeville - Adult stuttering support group. Connect with others, share experiences, and access resources through the National Stuttering Association. Cookeville ADULT CHAPTER IN-PERSON MEETINGS SOUTHEAST REGION Official NSA Chapter-Tennessee State Welcome to the NSA Cookeville Chapter 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? The Table Board Game Lounge 18 W Spring Street, Cookeville, TN 38501 When? 3rd Sunday of each month 1:30-3:00 Central Time First Meeting on October 19, 2025 Chapter Leaders Who leads the meetings? Shannon Buford Chapter Leader Get in touch! cookevillestutters@gmail.com 931-644-7074 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