The National Stuttering Association

Chelsea Alt and Teresa Mrnik

History:

• In 1976 Michael Sugarman, an aide for the University of California Capitol Hill, approached a Senator’s aide about the idea of forming an organization for people who stutter called the “California Stuttering Association”
• He was referred to Bob Goldman, who was trying to start a national organization called the “National Stuttering Project”
• Goldman and Sugarman founded the National Stuttering Association in California in 1977
• It began as a non-profit organization dedicated to creating community awareness about stuttering through PSA’s and newspaper articles
• A huge outpouring of public support allowed the organization to expand and grow
• Founded local support groups for people who stutter to share their experiences
• By the end of 1978, there was a bi-annual newsletter in place, and the first NSA convention (The Stuttering Child: A Workshop for Parents) was held.
• In May 1988, a group of NSA members along with local congressional representatives brought an initiative before the President to be signed that declared the second week in May to be National Stuttering Awareness week.
• In 1990 NSA expanded to include board members from across the country
• NSA board resolved to make 1996 The year of the child who stutters and organized national symposiums throughout the country with funding by way of grants from ASHA
• In 2002, NSA won the Distinguished Service Award from ASHA
• NSA members are on the Fluency-related committees for ASHA
• NSA is a member of the International Stuttering Association, and collaborates with the International Fluency Association and the European League of Stuttering Associations
• NSA is currently the largest self-help organization for people who stutter in the U.S. with over 80 different self-help groups nationwide

Mission Statement: The National Stuttering Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing hope, dignity, support, education, and empowerment to children and adults who stutter and their families.

Goals for implementing values:

1. Providing adequate resources.
2. Providing outreach and support locally and nationally for people who stutter.
3. Providing outreach online.
4. Increasing public awareness and understanding of stuttering.
5. Improving availability and quality of assistance for those who stutter.
6. Strengthening alliances and related organizations.
7. Encouraging and facilitating future research.

Programs:

• Local support group chapters
  • Family/child
  • Adult

• Newsletters/publications
  • Letting Go
  • Our Voices (insert)
  • Stutter Buddies
  • Connections Advocacy Resources Empowerment

• Annual conference
  • June 28-July 1, 2006 in Long Beach, California

• Workshops
• Continuing education
• Research

Outreach:

• People who stutter
  • Children
  • Teens
  • Adults
  • Job applicants

• Family members
• Educators
• SLP’s/clinicians
• Physicians
• Employers
• Media
• Researchers

Consumer advocacy:

• Informs consumers that stuttering meets ADA criteria to qualify as a disability; it can also be classified as a handicap, and as such it is protected under state anti-discrimination laws;
• Provides consumers with facts and statistics about fluency-enhancing devices;