October 15, 2022

Vineyard Church of Houston 1035 E 11th Street, Houston, TX 77009

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Jess G.
NSA Event Attendee

Stuttering has given me far more than it ever could have taken away. Once I walk into that event, time stands still for just one fleeting moment and how unbelievable it is. You can try to use every adjective out there to explain what it means to be with the most selfless, passionate people I know, but it is asking the impossible to do that. It is moments like that, which will always define my life.

9:00 – 9:30 AM
Registration
 

9:30 – 10:30 AM
Teens: Amplified Together!
By: Kayla O’Connor 

Join us for some fun while connecting with other teens who stutter! This workshop will provide an opportunity for teens to share their experiences with others who ‘get it’ in a safe and welcoming environment. Stuttering is only one part of who you are. Let’s support one another and learn about the amazing and unique qualities that make you ‘YOU’!

9:30 – 9:45 AM
Kids: Icebreaker
By: Rosie Brown, Arianna Gilliam, Kelly Cole, and Tiffany Ramon 

Hey kids! Let’s learn about our speech anatomy while having fun. We will play a game, get to know others who stutter and learn all at the same time!

9:45 – 10:30 AM
Kids: What is tension? What is smooth?
By: Rosie Brown, Arianna Gilliam, Kelly Cole, and Tiffany Ramon 

Some stuttering terms can be difficult for a child to understand. Kids will make a sand dial and use their senses to learn about tension and smooth.

9:45 – 10:30
Featured Presenter
By: Mario Salinas 

Mario Salinas, Manager for the historic Leonel Castillo Community Center, is a public speaker and community organizer with an incredible personal and professional story.

As a person who stutters, Mr. Salinas has stated, “I use my stutter to connect with people.” He is actively involved with self-help and support needs for people who stutter. Additionally, he has served as a chapter leader for the National Stuttering Association’s Houston chapter. He reinforces the belief that everyone has a voice that deserves to be heard and understood.

Mr. Salinas serves on the Latino Initiatives Advisory Committee for the Holocaust Museum Houston, Vice President of Latino Giving Houston, and is the recipient of a 2018 Comcast Hispanic Hero Award. He is engaged in making the communities he calls home the best they can be and is highly committed to raising awareness of stuttering in his travels.

During this compelling discussion, Mr. Salinas will challenge people who stutter to examine how to effectively navigate through daily communications: to shift focus on the importance of conveying messages and what is said rather than how to say it. He hopes that persons who stutter will leave with a deeper appreciation and understanding of how to tell their own stories.

10:45 AM – 12:00 PM
Teens: Amplified Together Forum 
By: Kayla O’Connor 

How do you feel about being a teen who stutters?  What do you wish non-stutterers knew? This is your time to share your thoughts and to be heard!  Let’s take this opportunity to learn from your peers who share similar experiences and discuss what it’s like being a teen who stutters with other teens who stutter. Whether you share or just listen, this workshop is designed to meet you where you feel most comfortable. There is strength in a shared community!

10:45 AM – 12:00 PM
Kids: Draw My Stutter 
By: Rosie Brown, Arianna Gilliam, Kelly Cole, and Tiffany Ramon 

Through this therapeutic activity, kids will feel empowered to express what their stutter looks like to them. They will have the opportunity to bring their stutter to life through art. Kids, get ready to unleash your inner artist!

start – end
Parents: Supporting Your Child Who Stutters
By: Cara Duggal, Sarah Bell, and Taylor Buzek 

We will explore strategies and discuss ways to support your child who stutters with an SLP, a person who stutters and parents of children who stutter. This session will allow you to connect with other parents who share similar experiences, challenges and successes.

10:45 AM – 12:00 PM
Adults: WeStutter @ Work
By: NSA WeStutter @ Work Panel 

The WeStutter@Work initiative from the NSA® seeks to eliminate the many workplace stigmas to improve employment outcomes for people who stutter. Please join this panel of inspiring and successful people who stutter as they share their experiences of navigating the workplace and how they’ve reached their professional goals.