Support Groups explained
NSA Family chapters are designed for children and teens (ages 7-17) who stutter and their families. At our Family chapter meetings, children and teens will break into age-appropriate groups to share their experiences, their challenges and their successes, while parents gather to discuss their unique experience as parents of children who stutter.
Adult chapters are designed for adults who stutter (18+) and their families. Our Adult Chapters form one of the core programs of the NSA.
Military Support chapters are for active and former military personnel and explore the challenges unique to those PWS who serve.
NSA Adult Chapters
The National Stuttering Association’s® motto: If You Stutter, You’re Not Alone®, is what our local support groups are all about! For many, NSA chapter meetings are the first time they have ever talked about stuttering with other people who stutter. Local support groups are a proven way to build self-confidence, practice speaking in a safe environment and explore new ways to cope with stuttering. Chapter meetings are open to adults who stutter, parents/significant others/friends of stutterers, speech-language pathologists (SLPs), and anyone that wants to learn more about stuttering. If you don’t see a chapter in your area and are interested in starting one, or if you have any further questions regarding our Adult Chapters, please contact Pamela Mertz.
NSA Family Chapters
Our Family Chapters are the place to meet other kids and teens who stutter and their parents. Meeting people face to face is the greatest way to learn that if you stutter, you are not alone. We offer combined Family Groups, NSAKids, NSA Teen groups. Parents are encouraged to participate in the groups and are required to stay with minor children. If there is currently not a chapter in your area, please keep checking, as new groups are forming fast. If you don’t see a chapter in your area and are interested in starting one, or if you have any further questions regarding our Family Chapters, please contact Sarah Onofri.
Interested in starting or leading a chapter?
It can be easier than you might think! Simply contact the Regional Chapter Coordinator in your state, or the Family Programs or Adult Programs Chair indicated above (depending on the type of chapter you are interested in starting), and we’ll walk you through the process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our purpose is to provide information, advocacy and mutual support for people who stutter and their families.
Our main monthly meetings are friendly and informal. Attendance ranges from 15 to 40 people. We open the meeting by “checking in” to share recent experiences. Then we usually have a discussion program to exchange information about stuttering and handling stuttering-related situations.
We used to consider you an NSA member only if you paid annual dues. That used to cover the cost of mailing our Letting Go newsletter and made the newsletter a “perk” of membership. Now that our publications are distributed mostly online, dropping the dues requirement enables us to be more inclusive. So people who participate in our programs can identify with the NSA as members whether or not they can contribute financially.
Supporters benefit from possible tax deductions, recognition as a contributor, and the satisfaction of knowing you are helping the NSA reach out to more people who stutter.
If participating in NSA activities has helped you, we hope you will “give back” to the extent you are able to contribute. Over the years, the NSA has grown because people came to us for support, gained self-confidence and strength through our programs, and were then empowered to reach out to others. Are you one of those people?
People who stutter (young and old!), as well as their families, are encouraged to attend. There is a variety of programming for people of all ages, as well as for family members. Additionally, we strongly encourage speech-language pathologists and speech-language pathology students to join us.