I've been a member of the NSA for 32 years, and will say without qualification that it does extraordinary work. The NSA has had a positive impact of thousands of people who stutter. I was an active member for almost 30 years and still keep in touch. The NSA plays a vital role in the world-wide stuttering community, and through the years, I've seen many, many people make major transformations in their life through their participation.
I have been involved in the NSA since 1996. In those years, I have been a part of amazing stories of change, hope and acceptance for children, teens and adults who stutter and their families. This support organization is undeniably the best place for those who stutter to discover they are not alone! Most of my expereince has been in the NSAs Family Programs. I cannot put into words the importance of bringing together children and teens who stutter and their families. The support and education they recieve through the NSA is a life-changing process!
My name is Steven Kaufman and I am the Long Island chapter leader (along with teammate and chapter leader Lori Melnitsky) for the National Stuttering Association. I can say emphatically that the NSA is my rock, my strength, and my courage to do what's right in this world. Ever since age three, I have been a person who stutters. I really didn't think much of it until I got to high school and saw how much of an impact could have. I suffered through everything-the teasing, the Porky Pig jokes, the humiliations of not being picked to volunteer in class because the teacher just "did not have time" to listen to me. It got so bad that I would eat in the nurse's offide during lunchtime just to have a place of solitude. I felt so ashamed that I dared not tell my parents what was going on. When I entered junior college, I heard all the cliches: "This will be a new beginning," and others. It wasn't. It was just more of the same. I felt myself undergoing a bitter metamorphisis into someone I could not recognize, feeling like my body and soul were fighting each other for control. A few years later, I found work at a law firm, but not in the position I ideally had hoped to get. The firm decided to place me in the billing department, because my speech apparently was too big of a concern for them. Feeling absolutely low, it was at this point that I heard about the National Stuttering Association's annual conference, held in Long Beach, Calif. I believe that in every life, we have defining moments that show our character. On a spur of the moment, I booked my plane ticket and hotel. When I told my parents I was going, they said "Why?" and used a sarcastic tone. I knew right then there, it was now or never. The plane touched down a few hours later, and I wondered what I got myself into. Well, what I did get myself into was an amazing family who I love more than life itself. I found seminars that not only challenged me emotionally, but mentally too, forcing me to look at stuttering in ways I never knew existed. I finally saw how to tap into my potential and deal with negative feelings in a constructive manner. I began to fully understand why the NSA believe that if you stutter, you're not alone. I am a firm believer that at these conferences, I have no friends, but teammates: over 600, and growing. You should not be afraid of your stuttering. But your stuttering should be very afraid of you. It is because of the National Stuttering Association that I have helped transform my life in many ways. I am now very outspoken about stuttering. I have a blog that reaches teammates who stutter from here and abroad. I've lectured at Seton Hall University, Columbia University, Mercy College, to name a few. I am a chapter leader and absolutely love it, and I do a great deal of work with them in various capacities. I stand by my teammates and whenever we struggle with challenges, we'll always be there. When all else fails, the NSA doesn't. The NSA's impact on children and teens is amazing. Every year at our conferences, we take pride in welcoming "first-timers," who are given special recognition. This past year, we had 160 teammates who were "first-timers," many were young children who came with their mothers, and families. The children were very shy and apprehensive, but within one hour, they are laughing and talking nonstop. At the closing banquet, it is very emotional for all, but it's really like watching a butterfly emerge from the cocoon. You will never ever see the person the way they were again. The National Stuttering Association is the biggest advocacy organization in the world. I have no doubt saying emphatically, it is the number one fan club for teammates who stutter. For anyone who stutters, I can't stress to them how important it is to get involved. It truly is magical in every way.
The NSA is a wonderful organization. Since stuttering is such a rare disorder that most people who stutter end up trying to cope with it themselves, never really being able to confide in anyone or get the support that they need. The NSA offers all of this and so much more. Just by being in a room filled with people just like me was enough to turn my life around. It gave e the self confindence that I needed to make some changes in my life and the strength to carry on with my life. I would highly reccomned the organization to anyone who stutters or anyone who is in anyway affected by stuttering.
A great organization that provides invaluable support and assistance to the entire stuttering community across the United States of America.
I had just graduated college and was officially job hunting. I had a great lead for an accounting position so I picked up the phone to call for an interview. I couldn't get out the word "Hello" and the person on the other line hung up on me. Try again... and the same thing. Breathe, relax, easy onsets...The third time that he hung up, I fell to the ground in tears. Even with endless hours of speech therapy, my stuttering was frustrating, humiliating, debilitating. Along with the frustrations in not being able to get my words out was the embarrassment I felt when someone unknowingly teased me or the discouragement I felt when I backed down from a situation. Stuttering was a wall and as much as I tried to think about roses and puppies in between the blocks, I couldn't get over it. What was I going to do? How was I going to work in the professional world if I can't even say the word "hello"? Nobody could possibly understand how stuttering was controlling my decisions and consuming my thoughts until... I found the NSA. This organization has an amazing power where the people within make a difference! People who stutter often feel alone with the challenge so to connect with others who stutter either by email, articles, telephone, local support groups or annual conference is priceless. I did not meet anyone who stuttered until I was in my 20's and this experience was life changing. Seeing other people who stutter successfully communicating and living life to the fullest was the boost I needed to get over the wall. I could see clearly now how to use all the therapy techniques and take all the advice from speech pathologists over the years. The NSA has opened doors for me that I thought were sealed shut. The NSA has made me a stronger person and it has given me a place where I can give back. I went on to get a job that I wanted, and landed other positions that I would have otherwise been very frightened of (receptionist, waitress, sales, management, real estate). I gained confidence. I got married, have 2 beautiful girls and I still stutter. Now, I work for the NSA as the family programs administrator and web editor.
The NSA is the largest non-profit self-help organization for those affected by stuttering in the world. Formed in 1977 this vital organization brings hope, support, education and empowerment to the over 3 million people who stuttering in the United States. Through its vast network of local support groups the NSA provides a safe place for speaking, learning and sharing experiences. Parents are able to get accurate information from the leading experts in stuttering and become connected with other parents who have "been there". Its continuing education seminars help to bring cutting edge information about research and treatment to speech-language professionals. The NSA Research initiative provides assistance and participants to top researchers and research projects. Anyone affected by stuttering whether it be an adult, teen, parent or other family member, or a speech-language professional should become familiar with the NSA.
I have been associated with this organization for more than 20 years. I have seen, first-hand, the help, support and encouragement they offer people who stutter, their families and the SLPs who work with them. I have also had the pleasure of attending their annual conference every year since 1997.
The National Stuttering Association offers a selection of good quality materials for sale, free information online, and really fun annual conferences. It is an especially good place for speech language pathologists to get a reality-check regarding what stuttering and speech therapy really means to people who stutter. I highly recommend supporting this group.
I found out abut the NSA in 2000. When people told me about the national conference and how awesome it was, I did not believe them. I could not see how going to some hotel, with 500 plus people who stutter would do me any good. But I was totaly wrong. My first conference was in Boston and that change my life. I started to believe that it is ok to stutter and that I was not alone. Walking the Freedom trail in Boston made me see that there truely is freedom in stuttering. I have the freedom to use my voice even though it does not always work the way i want it to. The NSA taught me that just because I stutter does not mean that I am worthless. You know, if God pick Moses (who stutter) to lead his people for 40 years, then I to can lead the life I want and not the life someone else says I should lead. I am not a NSA chapter leader in Wisconsin.
The NSA helps people of all ages who stutter through chapters around the country. They also distribute informative and helpful pamphlets to schools and individuals. Knowing there is someone/s with the same problem as yourself is an extraordinary helpful fact. The NSA brings this to light. "You are not alone" becomes energy for your soul. In meetings there is a special bond that occurs. One finds that emotions one has are felt by everyone. Without the NSA one would not be able to reach out to others who stutter, not only to help, but be helped by the friendship and joy.
AMAZING! If you stutter, know someone who stutters, have a child/teen who stutters or are a SLP... this is the organization to get hooked into. "YOU ARE NOT ALONE" is their motto. How important is that to know when you feel (especially as a child) that you are the only one that stutters. Highly recommend calling/emailing them to learn more. www.westutter.org
I have been a member of this organization since 1995. It has given me the confidence and courage to deal with my stuttering and to become a mentor for other people who stutter. It's not how you speak, it's what you say that is important. This is a great organization that does amazing work with kids, teens, and adults who stutter. The NSA also encourages Speech Language Pathologists, parents, siblings, and friends to be part of the support process for people who stutter.
I highly recommend this organization if you are a person who stutters, parent of a child who stutters,or a professional interested in stuttering. It is a wonderful self help organization that has support groups, publishes newsletters and has an annula conference. Please go to www.westutter.org to join and read more about it.
This is an outstanding group, well-organized, and providing help for hundreds of people. After involvement in the NSA I started a local chapter because I felt so strongly about what it did to inform, unite, and help people who stutter. As a speech pathologist who stutters, NSA plays many roles for me, and I for it. It provides support for clients I treat; I provide educational programs and advice for people who stutter who write in to the NSA website. The organization is run by very dedicated people.. NSA is a truly OUTSTANDING nonprofit!!!
I've travelled around the world, visiting stuttering associations, meeting people who stutter and learning from experts, but when I came to the NSA the first time, I came home. These people know what they are doing, but most of all, have a heart that is big enough for the whole world to fit in. I gladly use my whole family holiday budget to go back again and meet the people who changed my life and my whole way of thinking. I owe them for turning me into... me!
ive been a member of the NSA for several years. i have seen many people benefit from its workshops and meerings. i am especially fond of their programs aimed at the childre and help end the stigma.
I think this association is doing great at what they do. They helped me educate those that are in my son's life who didn't know what stuttering was. They helped me establish a support group for kids who stutter - they helped me become a better mom and for that I am forever grateful. If you know someone who stutters I would highly suggest this organization.
The NSA is a place where people who stutter can go to for support and to meet other people who stutter. I have attended local support group meetings for over ten years, have attended workshops and annual conferences. The people I have meet who are members of the NSA are all giving people and being involved has changed my life for the better! The NSA offers so many opportunities to meet and interact with other people who stutter and it is so uplifting to see people grow, do the things they want to do and support each other dispite their speech. They have great kids programs too and it has been so inspiring watching kids grow into confident adults. I wish I knew about this organization when I was a kid... but I do know and if you stutter, it will change your life! Because of the NSA, I realize I am not alone with my stuttering and the NSA and it's members all feel like family to me!