Testimonials

The NSA Austin Chapter is an invaluable resource for those in the community affected by stuttering. In many cases, our chapter has helped to fill a void in available speech therapy services in Austin. Below you'll find statements on the benefits of the NSA from a range of people, including adults and youth who stutter, parents, professionals and students.

"While I have wonderful support from friends and family, the NSA gives me an opportunity to share my experiences with people who truly understand because they live with stuttering. It also gives me the opportunity to support others who stutter and educate those interested in learning more. There is no other place in the world where I can speak without the concern of a negative reaction. I can walk into an NSA meeting and introduce myself knowing with 100% certainty that everyone in the room understands."
-- Oscar, an adult who stutters

"I heard about the NSA through my son's speech pathologist. I am really happy that the NSA has a youth group in Austin now. My son looks forward to coming to the meetings to meet with other children his age who stutter. He seems at ease when we attend the meeting and enjoys the activities that are planned at the meetings. I am grateful to the NSA for the support and the opportunity to meet and talk with other parents who have children who stutter. It is comforting to have a venue to share experiences with others who understand."
-- Cyndi, parent of a child who stutters

"As a working mom of two soon to be three boys, on the tenure track, trying every day to make sure my family understands they are my priority while at the same time meeting the demand of my job, I sometimes struggle with leaving my boys for our NSA meetings. However, every single meeting, it never fails, I walk away so grateful for that precious time that I had with my NSA family. Each discussion we have undoubtedly helps me to grow in my clinical perspective, my research aspirations, and even more importantly, I strongly believe that my interactions with my NSA family helps me to be a better person. For this reason, I know that though I may lose time with my family, when I get home from the meeting and see my sons looking out the window waiting for me walk in the door, I can take comfort in knowing that time was not lost as I will have so much to share with them that will help them to lead their best life as well."
-- Dr. Courtney Byrd, assistant profesor at UT and director of the Austin Center for Stuttering Intervention and Research

"The NSA means to me a place where I can stutter without thinking about the looks or sighs of impatience on people's faces. The NSA means to me a place where I need not ask for patience with my speech; it is freely given, by people who have wanted the same thing when they have spoken. The NSA means to me a place where I can be myself, can communicate in my own way, without being judged, or having my speech corrected or criticized. The NSA to me means the freedom of unconditional acceptance."
-- Armaan, a UT graduate student who stutters

"The NSA is a place, where as a speech-language pathology student, I can learn first-hand about fluency disorders. Learning about stuttering characteristics and treatment approaches in class is entirely different from learning about stuttering and cluttering from people who live with these disorders. I have learned to consider the person when planning therapy and to address the emotional impact that stuttering may have on a person. NSA members have taught me that treating the emotional side of stuttering is just as, if not more, important as treating the stuttering behaviors. I have enjoyed participating in NSA meetings and continually learning about fluency disorders from those who are experts on the subject."
-- Megann Vallely, a UT student studying speech-language pathology

"I have found the NSA meetings to be an invaluable resource in learning about stuttering. To be able to listen as individuals with stuttering describe their experiences has been helpful in honing the therapy strategies I use with my clients. The best part, however, is getting to know some really great people!"
-- Jamie Putnam, a clinician and director of Capital Area Speech in Austin

"The NSA has a wealth of information for not only for people who stutter and their families, but also for professionals like myself. Being able to attend NSA meetings has helped me gain knowledge, perspective, and confidence in providing speech therapy to my students who stutter."
-- Stefanie Beaumont, speech-language pathologist for the Austin Independent School District

"Although I have only been to a handful of NSA meetings, I enjoy the fact that we can find others to empathize with. Whether it concerns classes, job interviews, or other situations--sharing day-to-day issues which affect stutterers, and talking about their solutions, is interesting and gratifying. Additionally, the speech pathology faculty who attend our meetings are very passionate about the subject, and through them I've had the chance to participate in academic research which I hope will further finding an ultimate cause and cure for stuttering."
-- Chris, a recent college graduate who stutters

"The NSA to me means a place where I can be myself without fear of having to pay attention to how I say what I want to say. It means that I can feel comfortable knowing there are other people with a stutter than just me, that I'm not alone. To me that's the most important thing, to have the feeling that I'm not alone in this world."
-- Alex, a high school student in Austin who stutters

"The NSA to me is an organization that helps people feel better and a part of society. Because one person who stutters may feel that they have a disability, but the NSA helps them see that it's not a disability. It shows them that they can still do whatever they dream."
- Bertha, parent of a teenager who stutters

"I joined the National Stuttering Association (formerly the National Stuttering Project ) when I was a teenager living in Dallas, Texas many years ago. It was both interesting and insightful to meet other people who experience the same anger, frustration and shame that I lived with since I began to speak. I also came to realize that most of these people were happy and well adjusted and inspirational. I look forward to participating in the NSA Austin Chapter and making new friends this year."
-- Matt, an adult who stutters