19:36:50 From John Ontiveros : If anyone has any question they would like to ask Heather and Carl, please post them in the chat. 19:37:10 From John Ontiveros : We will address them during our Q&A session at the end of the presentation 19:39:05 From John Ontiveros : Mock Interviews are such a great resource!! 19:40:36 From Raja Vaidya : Hello All, Raja here the Kickboxing Opera singing Cancer Scientist from Philly. and a person who stutters. 19:41:03 From John Ontiveros : Wow....welcome Raja!! 19:41:36 From John Ontiveros : I've been wanting to learn martial arts and self-defense myself. 19:41:50 From Raja Vaidya : I have an interesting stuttering journey to share later if there is time. 19:41:52 From John Ontiveros : Nice meme Carl! 19:42:41 From Bobby Edwards : Just putting it out there. I was laid off in January (long story). I'll be honest, I'm not really focusing in finding work right away, taking a break if you will. I'm a former IT Helpdesk Specialist. But if anyone has any leads, you can let me know. 19:42:54 From Raja Vaidya : @ John - I've been teaching martial arts 37 years. I highly recommend it. 19:44:17 From Raja Vaidya : @ Bobby I feel your pain. after 11 years at JNJ my boss retired so they pushed me out. (not cool). so I'm pivoting and using overcoming my fear of speaking into an online coaching program. time to Pivot. 19:44:45 From John Ontiveros : Sorry to hear that Bobby! When you are ready to being interviewing, please reach out to us to schedule a mock interview to help you prepare! 19:46:35 From John Ontiveros : Wow....time is flying! The conference is almost here! 19:47:18 From Raja Vaidya : I'd love to talk with the event organizer for the event. 19:49:25 From Frank Stechel : Go to westutter.org to find out more information about the annual conference 6/29-7/4 19:51:15 From Raja Vaidya : thx Frank 19:52:50 From Tommy Turkovic : Did you guys tell your boss you are going on vacation or did you tell them about the conference? To have time off from work to go 19:55:19 From John Ontiveros : I always just say I'm going to vacation initially. Then,, if/when I get asked what I'll be doing by a co-worker or boss I tell them about the conference 19:55:52 From Serenity Wood : I actually got my employer to put it down as work related training, but my current employer is a lot more accomadating than my previous employer. 19:55:57 From John Ontiveros : The annual conference is so fun, it is like being on vacation! 19:59:58 From Tommy Turkovic : I plan on starting a new job soon so I'm not sure how to go about it and tell them. But I will wait closer to the event so I don't lose out on the opportunity 20:00:16 From Christopher Monello : Thanks so much for these practical tips Heather! We all need these resources during those anxious scenarious. 20:01:14 From John Ontiveros : Tommy, yes stuttering disclosure will be covered soon. If that is what you meant. 20:03:56 From Tommy Turkovic : I should have specified this was regarding how to ask about taking time off for the conference, but thank you for that as well! 20:06:01 From Frank Stechel : Would there be negative consequences if you said you were going to a conference dealing with stuttering? 20:06:08 From Elizabeth Edwards : Tommy, I’m moving to Baltimore in a few weeks and am planning to tell my boss that I will need that time off early on. By sharing, it will help them learn more about me and what I’m passionate about. I’m hoping it’ll help break the ice early on with my new employer, while also explaining my need for the time off. 20:08:53 From Douglas Scott : https://westutter.org/conference/ 20:09:50 From Christopher Monello : I've been interviewing recently and what's been helpful to me is sharing my stutter ahead of the interview via email or LinkedIn. Here's my template for others who might be curious: Hope you had a great weekend. Before our call tomorrow, I think it’s important to share that I’m a person who stutters and this impacts the way that I speak and communicate to others. I’m super passionate about helping others in my community achieve their own career success and build their confidence. I’m a board member of the We Stutter at Work Board of the National Stuttering Association (NSA) and we offer mock interviews and webinars to those in our community looking for help. Here’s my profile on the NSA for you to learn more: https://westutter.org/team/chris-monello/ I always like to share this ahead of meeting with someone new! Thanks in advance for reading my background. Talk to you tomorrow! Thanks again for your consideration, 20:10:01 From Abi Salu : For me, disclosing at the start of interviews works like magic! Helps to take the pressure off, I still stutter but keeps me stable. 20:10:08 From Anabel Augustin : For the job that i have now, i started my interview with saying, before we start, i wanted to inform you that i stutter which means that sometimes i block, repeat words or speak slowly to be fluent and to please not speak for me and i say Do you have any questions for me concerning my stutter. 20:10:55 From Abi Salu : Funny thing is, for every interview I’ve disclosed I seem to always get the offer as opposed to times when I try to hide it. 20:11:28 From Christopher Monello : Abi I agree same experience. I think it sets us free from the fear of stuttering and we are more comfortable interviewing 20:11:34 From Anabel Augustin : I like to inform people the ways that i stutter because we all stutter differently and i feel that by educating people it helps him to know that speaking with me will be different than the norm and that way i also feel comfortable and won’t need to hide or try to speak so fluently that i lose my message. 20:11:38 From Elizabeth Edwards : Thanks for sharing the template! It’s great to learn more about how we all disclose differently. 20:11:39 From John Ontiveros : I also regularly disclose my stutter at the beginning of interviews. My approach is to do when they ask the usual question of "Please tell us about yourself" 20:12:10 From Raja Vaidya : For internviews and when I do high ticket closing calls, I say up front " Just so you know for full transparency, I do have a speech impediment/stutter and it doesn't bother me so I hope it doesn't bother you. In fact it's probably god's way of slowing me down because I get so passionate and excited about what I do. shall we begin? " 20:13:10 From Elizabeth Edwards : I put the NSA conference on my resume under academic/career conferences I attend. I then disclose via email when I am offered an interview and then I disclose again when I interview if a new person is present. 20:13:15 From John Ontiveros : I usually say something along the lines, I would also like you to know that I have a speech impediment. So, if you hear me stutter or notice me having a difficult time on a word or sound....please give me a moment to get my words out and I would really appreciate it. 20:14:11 From John Ontiveros : I usually bring it up in the beginning when I am introduced to my team. 20:14:14 From Christopher Monello : I say stutter 20:14:55 From Bill : If job interviewers ask What’s your greatest strength and weakness? How to incorporate stuttering until your strength and weakness?? 20:14:57 From John Ontiveros : I like saying speech impediment, because not a lot of people know what stuttering is. As in the nature of it. Then I let then know, in so many words, that I am a person who stutters. 20:15:19 From Serenity Wood : I say speech impediment as I also have a couple pronunciation issues. 20:15:27 From Abi Salu : I share during interviews. 20:15:32 From Derek Mitchell : I normally would mention it during my first team meeting when I have introduce myself. It can be uncomfortable to disclose to that many people at one time but it does allow me to put it out there to a larger number of people so I don’t have to have to bring it up multiple times with smaller groups. 20:15:40 From Frank Stechel : I was a manager at a state agency and disclosed my stuttering to my staff at the very first staff meeting. 20:15:42 From Tommy Turkovic : I always bring it up, its the first thing I say to let them know. Because if not they will think alot of things of you 20:16:00 From Nakia Grayson : I have brought it up while doing a virtual presentation and said it at the beginning. I mentioned to folks that in case there is a break in my speak, just want folks to know that I stutter and not my network. I also have brought it up before doing a brief out to my senior level management. 20:16:17 From Nakia Grayson : I have shared it during some interviews and some not. 20:16:26 From Christopher Monello : For me, it's about finding the right moment to disclose. For me I like to disclose one on one with colleagues typically in a more social setting. I find it easier and more personal. 20:16:36 From Serenity Wood : I brought it up with my manager at my interview and he discussed it with the team as part of the hiring process. 20:16:52 From Bill : Is stuttering a weakness or a strength? They always ask what’s your greatest weakness? And how are you working on improving your weakness!?? 20:17:03 From John Ontiveros : I always try and disclose at the very beginning of being introduced to a team or my manager. I try and take that approach because the more time passes, it could be harder to disclose. Doing at the beginning kind of "rips the bandaid off" so to speak. 20:17:25 From Christopher Monello : Yes agree with John. Rip the bandaid off right at the get go! 20:17:48 From Bill : Letting the stuttering cat out of the bag? But why would they hire you over someone who don’t stutter??? 20:17:48 From Abi Salu : I used to be shy about associating with stuttering groups on LinkedIn. I do so now and serves as a way of advertising my stutter. 20:17:54 From John Ontiveros : I was also very resistant to disclose and voluntary stuttering! But, it gets easier with practice. 20:17:56 From Nakia Grayson : Bill, I say it’s my strength now. It’s my greatest fight, but yet I push myself to do public speaking. 20:18:10 From Christopher Monello : also having your manager know about your stutter gives you support right away. having a positive reaction from your manager will give you the confidence to disclose to more people 20:18:17 From Anabel Augustin : I always follow up with my disclosure with asking if there’s any questions about me stuttering to leave the subject open to any questions to show them that i am comfortable and not ashamed. 20:18:54 From Bill : Anyone actually use voluntary stuttering pseudo stuttering fake stuttering at job interviews? 20:18:58 From Elizabeth Edwards : When I don’t disclose during initial conversations, it puts more pressure on me for future conversations. When I disclose, I feel much more comfortable right away 20:19:34 From Anabel Augustin : Bill- i say it is my strength because i am able to relate to people who have a personal struggle and it has taught me to be a better listener, more patient and have perserverance to always keep going no matter the obstacles. 20:19:37 From Raja Vaidya : I always bring it up because to hide it means you are ashamed of it and you shouldn't be. there is nothing wrong with you. Instead I say it matter of factly so we can focus on the real issue and not my stuttering. 20:19:38 From Nakia Grayson : Bill, I never have done that before, but I have heard others do it in meetings. 20:19:40 From John Ontiveros : Heather also calls it stuttering swag! LOL 20:20:29 From Anabel Augustin : I have done voluntary stuttering at visits with my clients but not at interviews. 20:20:45 From Anabel Augustin : it is a lot harder to stutter voluntary than people think. 20:20:57 From John Ontiveros : Ok cool Anabel. And how does that work for you with clients? 20:21:12 From Raja Vaidya : I"ve taught "Speaker Confidence Workshops" at fortune 500 companies and people forget that communication is 55% body language, 38% TONE, and only 7% verbal.. that gives me a "inside" advantage that only 7% of my stutter matters. 20:21:22 From John Ontiveros : And I agree it is more challenging that people realize! 20:22:03 From John Ontiveros : Very true Raja! Very little of what we communicate is verbal! 20:22:19 From Anabel Augustin : john- since i disclose from the first phone call with my client or first meeting, if i am being too fluent then i challenge myself to stutter voluntary on several words because i am always struggling to speak fluently so why not struggle to stutter voluntary. 20:22:44 From John Ontiveros : Realizing that surprising fact is what can give us more power during communication as people who stutter! 20:22:55 From Joel Fishkin : Periodically HR sends forms out asking if staff has a disability. I have never indicated "yes." What have others done? 20:23:18 From Christopher Monello : I always say no Joel 20:23:19 From Bill : Is it askjane 20:23:39 From Nakia Grayson : Joel, I indicated once yes and I think it’s still on my personnel file. 20:23:49 From Raja Vaidya : I was irritated at JNJ that among their list of disabilities they don't have anything like a "verbal disability". the closest maybe was mental health. 20:24:09 From Frank Stechel : Many employers are aware and accommodating towards accommodations because of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). 20:24:16 From Anabel Augustin : Through indeed i stated i had a disability and in any paperwork i say i have a disability to own it and to show everyone that i can still do my job 20:24:35 From Christopher Monello : Disclosing with your manager or colleagues is the best way to find allies in the workplace. people will embrace you and support you. 20:25:29 From John Ontiveros : Anabel, I like your approach with voluntary stuttering especially as a way of challenging yourself and representing yourself as a person who stutters when we are being particularly fluent. 20:25:33 From Nakia Grayson : Having a work friend/ally is a great tip. I did this with one of my current colleagues and even invited her to a speech program graduation that I took part in where I shared my experience with stuttering and the takeaways from the program. 20:26:15 From Anabel Augustin : Yes and remember that your manager/colleagues or boss may have family members or close individuals that they know who stutter and have some type of disability, thus many people don’t except you to be perfect just capable of doing the job and having a stutter does not mean that you are not capable of doing any job. 20:26:27 From Frank Stechel : That's terrific Nakia! 20:27:19 From Carl Coffey : That’s great Nakia! A former coworker of mine was a great resource for me - we never discussed my stutter, but she *got it* 20:28:03 From Carl Coffey : Whenever we had conference calls and we’d have to announce our names when we entered the call (which I was terrified of), she’d say “Kimothy and Carl just joined!” - that was such a relief to me 20:28:23 From John Ontiveros : That so great Carl!! 20:28:56 From Nakia Grayson : Thanks Frank and Carl. 20:29:31 From Nakia Grayson : Awww, that was nice of Kimothy, Carl. 20:29:45 From Raja Vaidya : at Karate tournaments where you have to announce your Name, School, and Form I would try to find one of the judges beforehand and let them know my difficulties so they'd all know ahead of time. they actually respected me more for that. 20:33:08 From John Ontiveros : Nice approach Raja! So great that they respected you for that. 20:36:22 From Carl Coffey : I love that paradigm shift, Heather - find the positive & encourage us to focus on the good first 20:36:34 From Nakia Grayson : This is awesome. I often go straight to what I did wrong instead of what I did that I like. 20:38:34 From John Ontiveros : I be very red pencil myself sometimes!! 20:38:37 From John Ontiveros : can be 20:38:52 From Anabel Augustin : Yes we are our biggest critic! 20:38:52 From John Ontiveros : Yup me too!!! 20:39:15 From Raja Vaidya : I remember in Toastmasters we mention that there are 3 speeches.. the one you practiced, the one you gave, and the one you wish you gave.. regardless your only comparator is yourself. 20:39:24 From Anabel Augustin : and its harder for me to find the positive in what i did because i am so focused on everything i did wrong 20:41:28 From Nakia Grayson : Love that, Raja! 20:42:27 From Frank Stechel : Sometimes it's better to have some distance before doing a "post-mortem" and judging yourself for something or another. 20:42:33 From Raja Vaidya : @ Anabel, remind yourself you are AMAZING and only getting better.. :-) 20:42:44 From Anabel Augustin : yess thank you raja! 20:42:52 From John Ontiveros : Amen Raja!! 20:42:53 From Raja Vaidya : @ Frank and regardless of the autopsy it never saves the patient.. 20:43:00 From Heather Najman : Yes, Frank….the power of the Pause 20:43:03 From Anabel Augustin : the only hard day was yesterday and today is a whole new day for new opportunities 20:43:06 From Heather Najman : Pause before the post mortem 20:43:14 From John Ontiveros : Wow great line Raja 20:43:37 From Frank Stechel : yes, that's good Raja ! 20:43:51 From John Ontiveros : Yes, Frank I am currently learning the power of the pause myself! 20:44:08 From Raja Vaidya : lol I'm full of useless information that inspires others. the hardest thing I learned was to laugh at myself 20:44:21 From Bill : Question: I’m in sales and marketing 😀🍉. what speech techniques work best when you absolutely have to fluent in a sales presentation to vendors and outsiders? Thanks!! 20:45:25 From John Ontiveros : Bill, my opinion is that the more we try to be fluent....there isn't a whole lot we can do to be fluent. 20:45:57 From Joel Fishkin : The answer is "you don't need to be fluent." You need to communicate your idea or pitch. 20:46:10 From John Ontiveros : Yes Joel!! 20:46:20 From Anabel Augustin : Bill-not everyone is fluent all the times. Even people who don’t stutter stumble sometimes, but as a person who stutters we just stumble a little bit more. 20:46:21 From Raja Vaidya : on Point Joel 20:46:26 From Nakia Grayson : Bill, I did sales for a few years and I just was myself. Honestly, didn’t even know speech techniques exist then. 20:46:36 From Nakia Grayson : about* 20:47:20 From Abi Salu : I started a new job recently. I disclosed during the interviews but find myself now getting apprehensive about stuttering to my managers (who already know I stutter and still have me the job). It sucks right now. 20:47:44 From John Ontiveros : Yes, the date may change to April 27th. Stay tuned!! 20:47:46 From Abi Salu : *still gave 20:47:48 From Jimmie Johnson : Absolutely. I had my first webinar yesterday to an unknown audience which is difficult for me. It was tough and I had a lot of dysfluency but I got my message across. Several people asked if I would do more and I replied, "Anytime, Anywhere!" 20:48:07 From Nakia Grayson : Bill, I’m not discouraging speech techniques. I just didn’t know about them then. If I was in the role now, I would try and win over people with my charm and listening skills. :) 20:48:08 From Raja Vaidya : @ Bill I "Talked" my way into a high ticket sales positions after 22 years of cancer scientist. I recommend using mutleiple techniques, presnetations, or slidesoand using body language but even more imporatantly give the audience what they want. the WIIFM "what's in it for me" and they won't care if you stutter. 20:48:36 From Frank Stechel : Bill a speech and language pathologist is the best person to address your question. I certainly understand your concern but the fluency techniques that I or someone else uses might or probably wouldn't work for you …. and any techniques have to be practiced and developed over time. 20:48:53 From Douglas Scott : correction it is the 39th annual conference The 45th year of the existence of the NSA 20:49:34 From Carl Coffey : Ah, thanks for clarifying Doug! 20:49:42 From Douglas Scott : NSA founded in 1977 20:49:56 From John Ontiveros : Well said Frank! Asking for speech techniques can be tricky because what works for one person who stutters might not work for another. 20:49:57 From Carl Coffey : Always good to have a friend to keep me honest 🙂 20:49:58 From Bill : Thanks! What medications are there for people who stutter? 20:50:26 From Bill : Need a name so I can get my doctor to prescribe it? 20:50:47 From Bill : I thought there was no FDA approved medication for the treatment of stuttering? 20:51:13 From Bill : Thanks everyone hope to see everyone at the stuttering conference Im new to NSA 20:51:29 From Christopher Monello : Thanks so much Heather and Carl, what a great webinar! 20:51:29 From Frank Stechel : There is no FDA approved medication specifically for stuttering but there are medications obviously for anxiety. 20:51:44 From Raja Vaidya : @ Bill, there is a company trying to get one through clinincal trials. I can't discuss it yet but I'm waiting with bated breath to see if it's real and what is the real efficacy 20:52:55 From Carl Coffey : That is correct Bill - no FDA approved medications, but some treatments that are off label use and in trials. 20:53:32 From Bill : Why are stutterers prescribed medication for the treatment of schizophrenia for treating stuttering???? 20:54:31 From John Ontiveros : Brene Brown also found that the more vulnerable managers are to their employees, the more effective they became as a leader! 20:54:39 From Raja Vaidya : Glad to meet you all. Feel free to connect on FB or LinkedIn 20:54:57 From John Ontiveros : As in their ability to ask for support and admit they don't always have all the answers. 20:57:01 From Carl Coffey : Just joined Toastmasters as well, highly recommend! 20:57:26 From John Ontiveros : I've been a part of TM for while too! Also highly recommended. 20:58:14 From Bill : Raja isn’t that job discrimination? 20:59:19 From Bill : Do you offer personal coaching? 21:00:27 From Jimmie Johnson : Thanks everyone. Love to be with my people. 21:01:45 From Raja Vaidya : please connect all. glad to chat and share strategies.. https://www.linkedin.com/in/raja-vaidya-scientist-speaker-coach/ 21:01:59 From Steve Weiss : Thank you all, this is really helpful and I really appreciate it! 21:02:13 From Bill : Thanks Raja will you be at NSA conference in California?? 21:02:15 From Raja Vaidya : Yes, Thanks John, Carl and Heather for the great info. 21:02:39 From Bobby Edwards : Thank you everyone! Have a good night! 21:03:00 From Raja Vaidya : I"ll try to be there. have to see what my schedule and book tour allow going forward 21:03:18 From Bill : What’s the name of your book?