Chapter Leader & Regional Chapter Coordinator Breakfast & Workshop

Current NSA Chapter Leaders and Regional Chapter Coordinators: this one is just for you! Come together before a busy day of workshops and enjoy breakfast on us as our Board Chair’s way of saying thank you for your hard work throughout the year.

July 6th, 2023 7:45 AM

Yoga

Join us for a light morning stretch to clear your minds, get your muscles moving, and get centered for the full day ahead. Open to all levels, ages, and abilities. Please wear comfortable clothes and bring water and a towel or mat.

July 6th, 2023 8:00 AM

Dealing with Bullies: What do I say? What do I do?

Family Program

Have you ever been teased or bullied about your stuttering? How did you deal with it? Did you ignore it? Stand up to the bully? Tell an adult? In this workshop, you’ll explore different options to deal with bullies. We’ll discuss differences between teasing and bullying, provide a variety of strategies you could use to respond to a bully and analyze the pros/cons of the different options. You’ll be able to try-out these strategies in a safe and supportive environment through interactive role-play activities.

Nancy Ribbler & more

July 6th, 2023 9:00 AM

Do we give our power away? How do we get it back?

What are you waiting for to live your fullest life? As a person who stutters we are often a bubbling with energy, ideas, things to say, ways we want to engage and participate. Where do we allow stuttering, or the thought of it, to hold us back? How can being a PWS actually give us power? How can we stand in our power? How can we speak up without being defensive or aggressive- but instead with certainty and grace. In this workshop we will shift the mindset, create and pocket some key phrases, tips and techniques and practice in a safe place.

Sarah D’Agostino

July 6th, 2023 9:00 AM

*Finding strength in community: Integrating support groups into stuttering therapy

This workshop is designed to explore the role of support groups in stuttering therapy. Participants will learn about the different types of support groups available for people who stutter and how to integrate them into stuttering therapy. Panelists will share their experiences and insights on how support groups can complement traditional speech therapy, and offer strategies for integrating support groups into stuttering therapy. There will be time for group discussion to allow participants to share their own experiences and learn from each other.

Courtney Margulis & more

July 6th, 2023 9:00 AM

First Timer Beach It Up Photos

One of the best things about attending the NSA Conference is taking pictures to keep as lasting memories. We’re offering first timers and their new friends and families a fun opportunity to get your picture taken on the beach. Sign up when you check in and head to the Big Beach Chair and get your photo snapped by our professional photographer. We’ll send it to you in a few weeks in a keepsake frame.

July 6th, 2023 9:00 AM

From Here to There

Family Programs

As parents, we watch our children who stutter go from one life stage to another – and the challenges they may present. From young children, to elementary school, to the dreaded middle school years and on to high school, join our us as a panel of parents and their children who stutter as we discuss these stages and experiences by sharing our stories and answer questions for parents getting ready to enter the next stage.

Nicole Taulman & more

July 6th, 2023 9:00 AM

Meet the Teen Advisory Council (TAC)

Join the TAC as they share their individual stories, the role of the TAC in the NSA and the impact their involvement in the NSA has had on them.

TAC 

July 6th, 2023 9:00 AM

Stuttering Jeopardy

Kids

Do you think you know everything about stuttering? Now’s your chance to test your knowledge against your friends! Stutterers and siblings will be working together to beat the clock and the other teams in this stuttering-related trivia competition. The team with the most points at the end of the game will be declared the champion and awesome prizes will be awarded!

Dan Haus

July 6th, 2023 9:00 AM

*Us vs. Them: Intersectionality, Stigmatization, and Disability

Intersectionality describes the interwoven nature of possessing multiple marginalized identities and its connection to the continuous experience of discrimination and oppression. Stigmatization is a byproduct of such experiences
and its chronic exposure can lead to self-stigma. Panelists will discuss intersectional stigma with a focus on self-stigma and its contribution to PWS/stutterers utilizing assimilation as a survival mechanism, our views on disability, and the development of the “”us vs. them”” phenomenon in relation to general society and other marginalized groups.

Sulema Rodriguez & Derek Daniels

July 6th, 2023 9:00 AM

Young Adult Introduction

Come meet the Young Adult Committee! Get to know the YAC members as they share their lived experiences from childhood through young adulthood and learn about their role in the NSA and the NSA’s young adult community.

Young Adult Committee

July 6th, 2023 9:00 AM

Keynote – Can Stuttering and Confidence Co-Exist?

Drawing from his personal stuttering journey, from holding back immensely to performing on stages worldwide, Joze Piranian will share insights about confronting our speaking challenges, reframing our relationship with fear, and becoming the best version of ourselves as stutterers with confidence. Moreover, Joze will share mindset shifts and mental wellness strategies that have empowered him towards self-acceptance and ongoing personal growth. The transformational insights of this keynote will be infused with lighthearted moments of stand-up comedy.

Joze Piranian

July 6th, 2023 10:15 AM

Express Yourself

Whether it’s being the sibling of someone who stutters or something else, we all have something special to share with the world. This workshop will give siblings of kids and teens who stutter an opportunity to express themselves through writing and art. Participants can write a poem or create a piece of art that represents themselves. There will be opportunities to create acrostic poems where each line of the poem begins with a letter in a word as the theme.

Emily Webb

July 6th, 2023 10:15 AM

What we think our stutter looks like!

Family Program

Many kids grow up with the stigma that stuttering is bad or to not be talked about. To help break out of that stigma, the kids will be painting or drawing what they think their stuttering looks like to them. This will give them a sense of individuality, showing them that everyone’s stutter is different. They will be able to make the paintings colorful and fun to show the kids that stuttering is a positive and happy thing.

Morgan Mowery & Russell Stevens

July 6th, 2023 10:15 AM

#Stuttering – Just Get It Out!

Do you wish you could be more active in spreading awareness about stuttering? Very often, we who stutter are really good at raising awareness in our own stuttering circles. But to effect real change, we need to go beyond our own community and get the word out in the mainstream. Then we can make real inroads towards normalizing stuttering and making representation commonplace. Find out what a cross section of Gen X, Millenials and Gen Z can do together to just get the word out about stuttering. And maybe you’ll even get a chance to watch a cute puppy video too!

Marc Winski, Pamela Mertz, & Eli Taulman

July 6th, 2023 1:00 PM

Group Sing-Along

Family Program

We will introduce the attendees to the wonderful world of singing, a superpower for PWS. When you sing you use a different part of your brain than when you are talking, which allows you to be fluent. Performing arts are also a great way to build confidence as a PWS. The main event will be a group sing-along/karaoke of different songs. We hope that we will introduce the kids to singing in a fun way, with a unique emphasis on the positive impact both singing and performing arts can have in their lives.

Nicholas and Cece Linardon

July 6th, 2023 1:00 PM

Liquid Courage: A Discussion about Alcohol & Stuttering

Alcohol has been known to give people “liquid courage”. If you’re a person who stutters (PWS), this “liquid courage” may be used to reduce the fear and anxieties related to stuttering. This workshop will begin with a PWS sharing her own experiences drinking to cope with stuttering. Participants will then break out into small groups to share and discuss their own experiences using alcohol as a coping mechanism. The goal of this workshop is to provide a safe, judgment-free space to discuss alcohol use as it relates to stuttering, the effects of drinking to cope with stuttering, and alternative ways to cope when the fear of stuttering kicks in.

Lindsay Lowy

July 6th, 2023 1:00 PM

First Timer Beach It Up Photos

One of the best things about attending the NSA Conference is taking pictures to keep as lasting memories. We’re offering first timers and their new friends and families a fun opportunity to get your picture taken on the beach. Sign up when you check in and head to the Big Beach Chair and get your photo snapped by our professional photographer. We’ll send it to you in a few weeks in a keepsake frame.

July 6th, 2023 1:00 PM

Open Microphone

People who stutter don’t often feel comfortable to speak up when they may be the only one in a room who stutters. Here’s your chance to try it, to step up to a mic and say whatever you want in a safe, judgment free zone. You can introduce yourself and that’s it. You can tell us more, like why you decided to attend this conference. Or you can just listen and cheer others on. Open mic sessions can often be the best part of the conference because people speak spontaneously and from the heart.

Jeremiah Williams

July 6th, 2023 1:00 PM

*Speech techniques: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

Speech modification techniques: Do you love them? Hate them? Have a love/hate relationship with them? This workshop begins with the research evidence on speech techniques and merges into an open discussion using live polls and small group discussions on this divisive but important topic.

Thales De Nardo

July 6th, 2023 1:00 PM

What We Wish We Knew

Family Programs

Join this panel of 3 moms and their young adult ‘kids’ who stutter as they discuss the challenges and triumphs of navigating their stuttering journey through childhood, the teen years, college and beyond. During this workshop, the panel will discuss what approaches worked and what didn’t, what the parents wished they had known as it relates to how situations were handled such as speech therapy, social interactions, and school. They will share their lived experiences as well as how open communication and the passage of time has allowed for grace, understanding, and strengthened relationships. The panel will open the discussion to workshop attendees.

Stephanie & Cameron Coppen, Kristine & Caden Short, Kim & Morgan Mowery

July 6th, 2023 1:00PM

Your Right to Reasonable Accommodations

Young Adults

Federal law gives people who stutter the right to reasonable accommodations in the educational and workplace environments. Come learn about your rights from attorney and PWS Ben North and PWS Elizabeth Minton (who began stuttering as an adult), so you can better navigate entering the workforce as a young adult who stutters

Ben North

July 6th, 2023 1:00 PM

Empowering Communication Through Debate: How to Defend Your Hot Take

Family Program

In contrast to fluency-centered approaches, The Blank Center CARE Model™ empowers authenticity, and spontaneity in communication. One method for strengthening your authentic voice is debate. Debating is a vital communication skill that is used on talk shows, in the political arena, and even in the comments section of your favorite social media. Debate participation is shown to increase communication skills, self-esteem, and critical thinking skills. During this teen workshop, participants will learn the do’s and don’ts of winning an argument and will get to participate in practice debates on fun and interesting topics.

Caitlin Franchini

July 6th, 2023 2:15 PM

Family Olympics

Family Program

Calling all parents, teens, tweens, and kids! Come join the NSA Family Olympics where we will compete in challenges like the hula hoop race, tug of war, limbo, and more! This will help create more memories to take home.

Caribbean Salons 6-8

July 6th, 2023 2:15 PM

*Invisible Courage

People who stutter are vulnerable and authentic as soon as we open our mouths to speak. Many people who do not stutter may secretly wish they could be so authentic. What are some ways to develop self confidence and courage? What value does stuttering bring to conversations? Sometimes, when we are open, it encourages others to open up about something (maybe a hidden disability.)

Saundra Russell-Smith

July 6th, 2023 2:15 PM

Passing Twice: LGBTQ+ People who Stutter

Passing Twice is a guided open discussion for LGBTQ+ people who stutter and their families, friends, and allies. Discussion topics will be open to anything relating to the intersections of these two communities, with a focus on the experiences of “coming out” and “passing” encountered by members of both the LGBTQ+ and stuttering communities.

Edmund Metzold

July 6th, 2023 2:15 PM

Stutter Social: Keeping Connected

Come join us and get a sampling of the Stutter Social experience. Imagine being understood by and learning from others who stutter. Created and launched in 2011, Stutter Social is a free, web-based community that that meets 4 times/week that provides a safe place for people who stutter (PWS) to connect with others from around the world. This workshop will focus on a panel of a few devoted hosts who will be sharing inspiring stories of Stutter Social participants. Participants will be welcome to ask questions and/or share their own experiences. If you want to keep the conference vibe going and continue to talk or listen to stuttering related topics after the conference is over, you don’t want to miss this one.

Mitchell Trichon & Bob Wellington

July 6th, 2023 2:15 PM

Stuttering Across the Generations (What I wish I knew 20 years ago)

Multigenerational panel discussion of the challenges of younger PWS with feedback and experiential advice for the younger generation from older PWS.

Tanya Banks & more

July 6th, 2023 2:15 PM

We Need to Talk About This: Covert Stuttering

If you have ever approached a word or opportunity, and stopped in your tracks because of the fear that you might stutter; If you have ever felt the terror of a panic attack or the guilt and shame at not being able to “control” your speech; If your life-long goal was to avoid stuttering at any cost; then you might be a Covert Person Who Stutters.
It wasn’t until Rachel McCullough heard the phrase, “Covert Person Who Stutters,” that she realized she wasn’t alone in her experiences and embarked on a journey towards acceptance, true freedom of communication and self-compassion. This interactive session will focus on hope and acceptance.

Rachel McCullough

July 6th, 2023 2:15 PM

*A Multicultural Perspective of Stuttering in the Workplace

For individuals who stutter, workplace discrimination is a known experience, and has led to a portion of the community experiencing work limitations. It has also been found that minorities face discrimination in their everyday lives (Harnois, et al. 2020); however, from findings in stuttering research, there has been limited documentation on minorities who stutter and the experiences they have had at work (Plexico, et al., 2019). In this workshop we will share findings from our research on the workplace experiences of people of color who stutter. We will facilitate a group discussion on workplace advocacy and clinical implications.

Angela Medina & Kristina Bonfield

July 6th, 2023 3:30 PM

The Art of Mingling

Do you get dry mouth and sweaty palms in a room full of strangers? Do you prefer texting over face-to-face interactions? Is mingling your worst nightmare? That was me for most of my life! As a person who stutters I thought that being social and outgoing was out of the realm of possibilities (and I envied those who did it), but over the years I’ve discovered that stuttering is not only NOT an impediment, it might actually hold the secret to be known as a great conversationalist! Join us for this very interactive workshop in which we will learn –and put in practice!– some proven techniques to start conversation with strangers, have meaningful conversations, and ultimately become who you really want to be.

David Apulche

July 6th, 2023 3:30 PM

Claiming your virtual presence

In the era of remote work/school, video calls and virtual meetings have become an important channel for professional and personal communications. However, people who stutter may face new and additional challenges when participating in conversation over video conferencing platforms. During this workshop, we will first discuss and share strategies for people who stutter to claim their presence and have a stronger voice in video call, and then work with the attendees to build a consensus on reasonable accommodations expected from meeting organizers and meeting platforms that would empower the participation of people who stutter.

Shaomei Wu

July 6th, 2023 3:30 PM

Courage in Self-Disclosure: Preparing for College

Family Program

If you are getting ready for college and thinking of how to share your stutter, then this workshop is for you! The courage that you have faced over the years has prepared you for this day! Whether you are just beginning the college process and are brainstorming for your essay, or if you are preparing to start school in September, the power of stuttering self-disclosure is within you. This workshop will help to support the ideas that to be courageous and share your stutter with peers and professors will empower and embolden you. Courage in self-disclosure can be done in small but mighty steps where you have the control. You are in charge!

Emily Root

July 6th, 2023 3:30 PM

*Fighting Fear with Fear

Are you feeling like taking a risk? Fear can be a debilitating thing – making it harder to be ourselves, talk to others, and stutter. In this workshop, we will explore what our own fears are related to stuttering, and how we can begin to actively use that fear to change your relationship with stuttering. We will borrow the stuttering affirming concept of paradoxical assignments from Avoidance Reduction Therapy for Stuttering in order to flip the narrative from: I can’t do this because I’m afraid; to I can let myself feel the fear and do it anyways. This workshop will cover how you can plan, prepare, and work to reduce the impact of fear in yo

Nicholas Brow & Maria Binger

July 6th, 2023 3:30 PM

First Timers Open Mic

People who stutter don’t often feel comfortable to speak up when they may be the only one who stutters. Here’s your chance to try it, to step up to a mic and say whatever you want in a safe, judgment free zone. You can introduce yourself and that’s it. You can tell us more, like why you decided to attend the conference. Or you can just listen and cheer your new friends on. Open mic sessions can often be the best part of the conference because people speak spontaneously and from the heart.

Emma MacMillan

July 6th, 2023 3:30 PM

SLP Breakfast

July 7, 2023 7:45AM

First Timers Check In

Join us for coffee and muffins for a quick informal check in to see how things are going so far. Ask questions you might have about the final two days and compare notes about what’s been the best experience so far. If you haven’t already, take a few minutes to exchange contact information with new friends and send Facebook friend requests!

Allison Daly

July 7, 2023 8:30AM

*(Re)Evaluating advice to the parents of children who stutter

This session will present interim findings from an NSA CASE grant project to evaluate the evidence base for traditional advice to the parents of young children who stutter (CWS; e.g., slowed speech, adjusted turn-taking, changes to language style). We have used longitudinal data from a large longitudinal study of CWS to evaluate whether short- or long-term fluency outcomes relate to parents’ use of such strategies. To date, none seem to influence concurrent fluency or fluency outcomes. We discuss our findings, ramifications, and future directions to improve therapy options for young CWS.

Nan Bernstsein Ratner

July 7, 2023 9:00AM

Becoming an Acceptance Advocate: A Parent Tutorial

Family Program

Wherever you are on your journey with your child or loved one who stutters, talking about acceptance with well-meaning friends and family can be difficult. While parents and family members provide unwavering support, challenges to your value system from others can still occur, and you don’t have to face it alone. This workshop will provide strategies to support you in becoming a number one “acceptance advocate” to your friends and family members in a positive, yet unapologetic manner. Discussing acceptance gives you control of the narrative within your circle, and directly helps your loved one as you advocate on their behalf.

Emily Root

July 7, 2023 9:00AM

*Five Reactions: Language and Awareness for Self-Discovery

What are our reactions to stuttering? Avoidance. Desire. Anxiousness. Doubt. Low energy. When stuttering, we can have one or more of these reactions in just a split-second. Reactions dictate how we are, and they can overwhelm who we want to be. During this interactive workshop, through engaging personal stories, you will see how these five reactions show up for you when stuttering. Knowing and understanding our reactions holds the potential for self-discovery and self-acceptance. This awareness and understanding moved the presenter, Shawn Holmes, from covert stuttering to empowerment and self-disclosure through self-discovery.

Shawn Y. Holmes

July 7, 2023 9:00AM

How To Kill a Job Interview

Young Adults

Job interviews can be stressful, but they can be a little less stressful if you know how to strategically handle your stuttering

Cameron Joyce & Tatum Machnica

July 7, 2023 9:00AM

Sports and Stuttering

Family Program

Sometimes playing a sport as a person who stutters can be difficult. Talking to your coach, new teammates, and especially asking questions may be terrifying. A first practice can be stressful, but it’s made one hundred times worse when you are worried about stuttering. This workshop is meant for new athletes, old athletes, and people looking to try athletics who seek advice in this endeavor. This workshop hopes to install confidence in teenage athletes and truly teach that stuttering should not hold anyone back in what they want to do.

Gabe Reinstein, Adam Karr, Russell Stevens

July 7, 2023 9:00AM

Stuttering Dance: A Framework to Go With the Flow

Stuttering is an emotional journey, and its ups and downs can leave many PWS and loved ones feeling frustrated. But there is hope. Our interactive workshop will include true stories of adversity and show how they found their way. Coming to terms with stuttering is about learning how to dance with your stutter, not fighting it.

Through small group discussions and exercises, facilitated by our team, participants will explore a 4-part framework: self-knowledge, self-adjustment, self-acceptance, and self-advocacy. Discover how to build resilience, identify strengths, and tap into inner resources. Leave with practical takeaways and a renewed hope

Uri Schneider & more

July 7, 2023 9:00AM

Stuttering en Español: Considerations for Support Groups

It’s no secret that stuttering support groups are beneficial to those who attend them (Boyle, 2013; Bradberry, 1997; Medina et al., 2019; Murgallis et al., 2015; Plexico et al., 2005; Reardon & Reeves, 2002; Yaruss et al., 2002). To date, the extent to which these benefits can reaped in the U.S. has been limited by language, in that support groups are primarily facilitated in English. The purpose of this workshop is to present findings on the needs and perceptions of Hispanic, Spanish-speakers who stutter relative to stuttering support. How these preliminary data will inform the development of a Spanish-language stuttering support group.

Angela Medina, Amelia Capote, Maegan Cuesta

July 7, 2023 9:00AM

That’s a Stretch

Let’s start the morning off right with some stretching and mindfulness activities. We will discuss as a group how we like to relax and use our bodies to express how we feel.

Emily Webb

July 7, 2023 9:00AM

Keynote – Life begins where fear ends: Owning your inner rockstar

What is it you have always wanted to be, or do, if you didn’t stutter? What holds you back? For half her life, Pamela Mertz let shame and fear hold her back from being her true self. The person she wanted to be was always there, she just didn’t see her for so long. Pam will share how her deep dive into covert stuttering shaped who she was and who she became. She will share how she found her voice, and learned that she could help others find their voice too, which became the most transformative thing in her life. Her keynote will offer insights into how talking openly about stuttering helps more people than we will often ever know.

Pamela Mertz

July 7, 2023 10:30AM

Stuttering Snowball Challenge

Family Program

The snowball challenge/fight: identify a fact about yourself, identify something about stuttering that is hard, and identify something about stuttering this good. Write it on paper, throw your paper/snowball, pick up someone’s else’s snowball, and discuss. Learn about yourself and others while getting to take part in a paper snowball challenge.

Phil and Holly Nover

July 7, 2023 10:30AM

*2023 BIPOC Think Tank

The NSA understands the importance of supporting its members who exist at the intersection of underrepresented and marginalized identities. During this workshop, we will highlight organization-wide changes that have been made over the past year to represent and support diverse communities within the stuttering community. You will have an opportunity to connect with others through small and large group discussions of selected topics. An open forum will also be facilitated for attendees to share their thoughts and ideas for the upcoming year. We look forward to seeing new and familiar faces!

Angela Medina & Christian Ting

July 7, 2023 1:30PM

Covert Open Mic

Covert stuttering can feel like a “big secret” that you have to keep all to yourself. It can be empowering and liberating to learn that you are not alone. Speaking your truth with others who also have struggled with shame and silence can lead to finding community and acceptance. This open mic session will give you a chance to share your story and feel the love!

Colin Jared

July 7, 2023 1:30PM

Dating – It’s not all about your stutter.

Dating can be challenging especially for those who stutter. Stuttering should not be a dating barrier. Come and hear from people who stutter who have found success in dating.

Bobby Holley & more

July 7, 2023 1:30PM

Feeling Powerful About Stuttering

Family Program

Stuttering can feel frustrating and take a lot of energy to talk about when you don’t have the words to describe it. Having the words to talk about stuttering can help you feel powerful and make things easier. In this workshop, we will do activities that make you feel in charge of your stutter and learn ways to talk about stuttering that makes you feel powerful. You can expect lots of fun, including drawing, acting silly, and running around feeling powerful.

Chaya Goldstein-Schuff

July 7, 2023 1:30PM

Highly Effective Interview Skills For People Who Stutter

It’s no secret that interviewing is one of the most challenging and nerve racking situations for people who stutter! There can be a great deal of confusion and uncertainty around how to best prepare for an interview. In this workshop we will provide some valuable advice and best practices for how to successfully interview as a person who stutters. We will cover important topics like should you disclose your stutter during an interview….if so when and how should you do it, how to communicate effectively to your interviewers while stuttering, and how to portray your stutter as a strength rather than a disadvantage.

John Ontiveros

July 7, 2023 1:30PM

Siblings: Fun and Games with the NSA

Let’s get up and moving and play some games! This is a great way to connect with other siblings of kids and teens who stutter in an informal setting. We’ll play some large group games and there will be an opportunity to work in small groups.

Joseph Abadiotakis

July 7, 2023 1:30PM

Captain Covert vs EmpowerON

Family Program

Sometimes it is just easier to hide your stutter which leads to a life of Covert Stuttering. At the NSA, we want even our youngest stutterers to do so freely and confidently! Children may not even know they are doing it, so we want to teach them what it means to be covert and to show them how they have super powers being a Person Who Stutters. Come watch the ultimate battle between Captain Covert and EmpowerON in an informative, fun, and active skit and then spend some time decorating your own EmpowerON cape! (Parents are encouraged to attend with their children).

Eli Taulman & Evan Kaczmarski

July 7, 2023 2:45PM

*Full Disclosure: Hands-on Self Advocacy Workshop

Self disclosure is not as simple as it seems. This workshop will present a format for successful self advocacy, based on research and real-life examples. The workshop will engage participants to explore self-advocacy through the lens of people who stutter and allies. And we will provide space to experience the do’s and don’ts of disclosure through interactive role play with honest and constructive feedback. This workshop will offer foundational introduction to “why” self-advocacy matters and the practical “how to” to give participants practical knowledge and skills to improve their communication experiences – for both conversational partners.

Jennifer Scharf & more

July 7, 2023 2:45PM

Go Out and Advertise

Young Adults

No better place to practice advertising in public than at the NSA. Join Aidan and Lydia in going out into to community and to coffeeshops and talking about stuttering to members of the public

Aidan Marshall-Cort and Lydia Webb

July 7, 2023 2:45PM

Open Mic

People who stutter don’t often feel comfortable to speak up when they may be the only one in a room who stutters. Here’s your chance to try it, to step up to a mic and say whatever you want in a safe, judgment free zone. You can introduce yourself and that’s it. You can tell us more, like why you decided to attend this conference. Or you can just listen and cheer others on. Open mic sessions can often be the best part of the conference because people speak spontaneously and from the heart.

Meredith Sonson

July 7, 2023 2:45PM

Parent Mindfulness and Support

Family Program

During this workshop, we will first assess which Archetypal Pattern you present in your daily life, then discuss how this influences your life choices and how you parent. We will briefly discuss the elements of your personality that you work hard not to express in your daily life, and how you might soften to allow some of those element to shine through as your children age and prepare to leave the home. Then, Evan and maybe some of his friends, if we are lucky to recruit them, have agreed to sit for a Q&A Panel in NSA Fashion to answer questions about the “Do & Do Nots” of what is needed from mom and/or dad as they begin their own life journey in their first year out of the family home.

Wendy Tiller

July 7, 2023 2:45PM

Starting highschool with a stutter

Family Program

In our workshop, we will be focusing on stuttering in high school. It will be an open discussion including guiding questions. There will be the opportunity to ask those who have graduated high school to pass on advice to those who or just starting.

Morgan Mowery & Brooklyn Benedikt

July 7, 2023 2:45PM

*Trauma Informed Stuttering Therapy: What it Is and Why It Matters

Can stuttering be experienced as a trauma? If so, what can we do about it? This presentation demonstrates how the experience of stuttering can be a trauma, the body’s response to trauma, and how we can use trauma-informed principles to support clients in and outside the therapy room.

Together we will explore different kinds of traumas, the fight, flee, and freeze responses, and how these responses relate to moments of stuttering. We will discuss how to move out of a cycle of stuttering trauma and onto a path of change. By the end of the presentation, you will feel empowered to support your clients to live their best lives possible.

Chaya Goldstein-Schuff

July 7, 2023 2:45PM

Women Who Stutter Connect

Women who stutter are a minority within a minority. Of the 1-2% of the population that stutters, only 1 in 5 are women. Many women who stutter have never met other women who stutter, which results in isolation and shame. We might find ourselves silently bearing that shame, and the exhaustion that comes from trying to be everything to everyone, except ourselves. Let’s change that by talking about what we can do to successfully navigate the world as women who stutter, build confidence and strengthen relationships by staying connected all year round.

Pamela Mertz & more

July 7, 2023 2:45PM

Unlocking the Secret World of Men Who Stutter

This workshop addresses the challenges faced by men who stutter in their personal and professional lives. Topics include societal expectations, perceptions of weakness, and building relationships. The workshop also provides a space for men to connect and share experiences. The goal is to better understand the unique issues men who stutter face and support them in their lives. Persons who identify as a man and/or non-binary are welcome to attend.

Andrew Bowers & Timothy Flynn

July 7, 2023 2:45PM

Did you Forget your Name? No, Did You?

Chances are, we have all experienced someone saying something negative or reacting negatively to our stuttering. How we respond plays a huge part in how we bounce back from a stressful interaction. In this session, we will talk about responding to stressful comments or reactions from others in ways that don’t ruin our day. We will brainstorm fun comeback lines like, “you’re not stuttering right, let me show you how” to illustrate how humor can lighten a negative moment while educating about stuttering. We’ll also talk about whether it is our responsibility to educate EVERYONE we meet about stuttering.

Jonathan Woolard

July 7, 2023 4:00PM

Just For Dads

Family Programs

Join us in a roundtable discussion with dads of children who stutter. The dads may also have a stutter themselves or have a spouse or other relative who stutters. This is an opportunity to talk with other father’s, male spouses, uncles, etc. who really understand the experience of raising a child who stutters. We will talk about the challenges and triumphs and everything in between.

Seth Deitchman & Mike Goscia

July 7, 2023 4:00PM

Just for Moms

Family Programs

There’s a saying that a mother is only as happy as her unhappiest child, and for most of us that could not be truer. We want our children to be happy, confident, accepted and appreciated for who they are, but when our child is struggling, for any reason, we feel it deeply. In this workshop we will discuss the unique relationship and bond moms share with their kids and lean on each other for inspiration and support. We will also discuss the importance of self-care, so we are our best selves when our kids need us most.

Holly Nover & Annemarie Whitesel

July 7, 2023 4:00PM

*No One is Perfect

Trying to find out tomorrow’s answers today can stifle our energy by the added pressure. The feeling that we must make the perfect decision at all times leads to guilt, burn out, and self-doubt. Sometimes we think we must be “people pleasers” for people to like or accept us. Who are we trying to prove, them or ourselves? What can we do to reverse PWS’s inclination to be perfect in everything else in our lives in order to compensate for stuttering? The drive to be successful becomes a bit easier when we focus on what we are saying rather than how we are saying it.

Emily Anderson

July 7, 2023 4:00PM

Scavenger Hunt (Family Programs)

Hey kids, ready to have some fun and meet new friends?! Come join us as we explore and search for treasures around the hotel. Each group will be paired up with older teens and adults to help gather all the silly and exciting items during the scavenger hunt!

Helene & Mark Haus

July 7, 2023 4:00PM

The Latinx/Hispanic Experience of Stuttering

Being a Latinx/Hispanic PWS/stutterer can lend itself to a unique experience of stuttering due to cultural and linguistic differences. This includes varying beliefs around the etiology and treatment of stuttering among community members. Often, many Latinx/Hispanic PWS/stutterers feel like a “double minority” in personal and professional environments. In this panel, we will explore these experiences while addressing the nuances involved across Latinx/Hispanic countries, dialects, and cultural practices and beliefs.

Sulema Rodriguez & Shirel Altmann

July 7, 2023 4:00PM

The Savvy Consumer: How to find a Helpful SLP

Finding an SLP who specializes in stuttering can be challenging, and understanding the marketplace of certification and specialization can be a confusing topic. However, when we understand the level of training, we can make more informed decisions and choose a therapist who meets our needs. This workshop gives an overview of the landscape of specialization and certification as well as information on different resources to find therapists with a special interest in stuttering (including, but not limited to BCS-F). Furthermore, we will have a discussion on what steps we can take as a community to increase access to quality services.

Reuben Schuff

July 7, 2023 4:00PM

Family Pirate Boat Adventure

Ahoy, mateys! Batten down the hatches and get your sea legs ready because we’re setting sail on the Intracoastal Waterway in search of fun and treasure! But beware – you may have to battle a real pirate to claim your loot! You won’t want to miss this fun and interactive excursion.

(Pre-Ticketed Event)

July 7, 2023 6:00PM

Keynote – Onward and Upward

Stutter-Stepping Your Way to the Top is all about owning your stutter! It’s about doing the hard things and not being controlled by fear, not letting obstacles and adversity become a block, but rather a building block to becoming your most confident, successful self (while defining success according to your own terms)!

Matice Morris

July 8th, 2023 9:00AM

Empowering Ourselves in the face of the Stigma of Stuttering

In this interactive workshop we will discuss stigma – public stigma and self-stigma – and examine how we are affected by it.
A primary goal of this workshop is to empower ourselves. The idea is to change ourselves such that we no longer let stigma affect us. This involves understanding the societal stigma and the self-stigma and letting go of our own self-limiting thoughts and beliefs.  Included in this workshop will be a discussion on how to recognize what is in our control and what is not. Ultimately have control only over our own beliefs and behaviors, and understanding this is where can create effective change for ourselves.

Hanan Hurwitz

July 8th, 2023 10:30AM

*Genetic Discoveries and Other Health Conditions Co-occurring with Stuttering: Q and A

New genes for stuttering have just been identified for stuttering. Data mining in electronic medical records and the results of a broad-health inventory for people who stutter have also identified other health conditions statistically more prominent across the lifespan of those who stutter.

Shelly Jo Kraft

July 8th, 2023 10:30AM

Slow Flow Yoga

Breathwork/relaxation opening, floor and standing classic postures of vinyasa yoga presented in a restorative flow. End with meditation. All Levels Welcome! Ideal experience with a yoga mat; mats will not be provided. You are welcome to bring a towel from your room. Come relax your tension away and share positive healing energy with fellow NSAers.

Wendy Tiller

July 8th, 2023 10:30AM

Stuttering while Black

Stuttering as a person of color is a unique existence within the stuttering world. You exist in two identities that each bring their own stigmas, anxieties, and attacks on your self-worth. Put them together, and it’s a whole new world only few can understand.

I am a 46 year old Black man who has stuttered since the age of 4. For years I have dealt with the anxiety and fear that being both Black and a stutterer would put a limit on what I could do. I was wrong. Come and hear my story and be inspired to live in your unapologetically authentic truth as a person who stutters, whether you are a person color or not.

Christopher McLeod

July 8th, 2023 10:30AM

Take a Step in the Write Direction

Writing is a rewarding and cathartic outlet to cope with the experience of stuttering and express ourselves in our own words. How would you describe your voice? What memories (happy or sad) do you have about stuttering? Through activities, such as poems, lists, and short narratives, we will give voice to our lived experiences and build community. By looking at some examples, we’ll learn literary techniques, and then write and share our own creative pieces. No previous creative-writing experience is necessary!

Adam Giannelli & Derek Daniels

July 8th, 2023 10:30AM

Teaching Kids to be Resilient

Family Programs

Alexandra Hewitt, a PWS and school counseling intern, will teach children and teens about resiliency and growth mindset skills – reminding them that you are not your stutter.

Alexandra Hewitt

July 8th, 2023 10:30AM

When To Disclose

Young Adults

Sometimes it’s hard to know when to tell someone you stutter, or when it seems easier to just get through the conversation. Come share your thoughts and experiences, and develop new ideas on when and how to disclose

Lydia Webb & Aidan Marshall Cort

July 8th, 2023 10:30AM

Yes You Can: Talking about Stuttering In The Home

Family Program

You are proud of your child who stutters every day but discussing stuttering in the home can be challenging. You may have an amazing alliance surrounding your child in the school and therapeutic setting, but research shows us that early acceptance begins with parents talking about stuttering in supportive and age-appropriate ways. In this workshop, parents will get a step-by-step guide to talking about stuttering with younger children, from using preferred toys to role-playing a stuttering conversation. Parents can model healthy attitudes about stuttering all while helping younger children who stutter, to learn how fun communication is!

Emily Root

July 8th, 2023 10:30AM

A Letter To My Stutter

As people who stutter, finding the words to express ourselves verbally can feel like climbing a mountain. After falling down several times in our pursuit to reach the top many of us are left with feelings of failure, shame, inferiority, frustration and defeat. Our words are often drowned in despair, floundering breath, and endless tension. In this workshop, you will be guided in a letter writing activity that will facilitate releasing your hidden voice and barring your soul to the world in a safe place.

Anabel Augustin

July 8th, 2023 1:00PM

After the Conference “Feels”

Teens

Join us as we discuss how we can channel the courage, confidence, and NSA spirit we experience at conference once we’re back home in our everyday lives.

Clint Holmes

July 8th, 2023 1:00PM

Fast Facts

Family Program

As people who stutter, finding the words to express ourselves verbally can feel like climbing a mountain. After falling down several times in our pursuit to reach the top many of us are left with feelings of failure, shame, inferiority, frustration and defeat. Our words are often drowned in despair, floundering breath, and endless tension. In this workshop, you will be guided in a letter writing activity that will facilitate releasing your hidden voice and barring your soul to the world in a safe place.

Katelyn Helfand

July 8th, 2023 1:00PM

Siblings – Message In A Bottle

As a sibling, it can be hard to watch your brother or sister have hard days with stuttering. In this workshop, we are going to write words of encouragement to our siblings, and keep them in a bottle, so when your brother or sister has a hard day, they can reach in and get some encouragement from you!

Joseph Abadiotakis

July 8th, 2023 1:00PM

*Stuttering and Humor

Do you have 10 minutes? I need to have a 5 minute conversation. This workshop will provide an opportunity for participants to explore humor and stuttering. Is stuttering funny? Or are the situations that stuttering sometimes put us in funny? Is there a difference? The presenter will share his own philosophy towards humor and how it helped the emotional toll of stuttering when he was younger. Participants will watch short clips and break into small groups to discuss whether or not the clip is funny. A substantial amount of time will be allotted for participants to share humorous stories related to stuttering at the end of the workshop.

Timothy Flynn

July 8th, 2023 1:00PM

Talk Like a River: Creative Writing for Kids

Family Program

Writing is an imaginative way to express our voices and share our stories. Through fun icebreaker activities and collaborative writing games, we’ll explore our stutters in a whole new way, writing and sharing our own creative pieces. For instance, using Jordan Scott’s children’s book I Talk Like a River (about a child who stutters) as inspiration for our own writing, we’ll come up with similes for our voices and other aspects of our personalities. What do you talk like? What do you dance like? No creative-writing experience necessary!

Adam Giannelli

July 8th, 2023 1:00PM

*Using Virtual Reality as an Enhanced Treatment Tool

The focus of this workshop is to report the initial findings of virtual reality (VR) technology to promote carry-over of therapeutic gains to settings that are commonly encountered by adolescents that stutter. The aim of this study was to 1) determine the impact on stuttering and basic biological function following an at-home trial program using VR in a school-based scenario, and 2) to report on the lived experiences of adolescents that stutter following an at-home trial program using VR in a school-based scenario. Results indicate changes in stuttering, changes in biological measures, and positive experiences by adolescent participants.

John Tetnowski & more

July 8th, 2023 1:00PM

What’s the Big IDEA? IDEA Law and IEPs

Family Programs

Come find out how to advocate for your child to make sure they are found eligible for an IEP and receive services from an SLP who has experience with stuttering. Share experiences, resources and learn how to tip the balance of power in favor of what’s best for the child who stutters. Strategies for SLPs to advocate for children while navigating school realities.

Elizabeth Gomez McDonald

July 8th, 2023 1:00PM

Closing Mic – The Floor is Yours

Young Adults

Young Adult Committee

July 8th, 2023 2:15PM

First Timer Closing Mic

Here’s one more time to take a chance and feel the thrill of saying what you want into a microphone knowing that you can take as long as you want. Tell us how the conference went and maybe, just maybe, tell us that you’ll be back again next year. Then you can help others have this same opportunity.

Amber Kennedy

July 8th, 2023 2:15PM

General Closing

July 8th, 2023 2:15PM

Kids Closing

Did you have a great time at the beach? What was your favorite memory? Did you make any new friends? We will answer these questions and more during this workshop. We will play games, eat snacks, and let our friends know what we loved most about this amazing conference. Let’s have one more party together just us kids!

Emily Webb

July 8th, 2023 2:15PM

Parents Closing

As conference comes to a close, join us as we gather one last time to share our experiences, what we’ve learned, what’s inspired us and how we plan to keep moving forward on this stuttering adventure with our kids who stutter.

Annemarie Whitesel

July 8th, 2023 2:15PM

Tween and Teens Closing

Let’s get together for one last workshop filled with fun and friends! Join us as we share what we’ve learned about ourselves, what we’ve enjoyed most at conference this year and what the last few days have meant to us all. This is always a favorite, so you won’t want to miss it.

Dan Haus

July 8th, 2023 2:15PM