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"There
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Who We Are | Activities | Meetings | Outreach | Benefits | Joining | Officers | NSA | Stuttering |
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The National Stuttering Association is a non-profit organization formed in the San Francisco Bay area in 1977 to meet the needs of people who stutter. The NSA has over 2700 members nationwide and operates a network of over 80 local support groups. The Houston Chapter is one of these groups. The Houston Chapter was organized in early 1985. We have about 50 active members and over 250 people who stutter have participated in our activities in the Houston area. Our monthly meetings are attended by 8 to 20 people. We are a support group geared toward attracting new people. While many chapter members are undergoing or have completed formal speech therapy programs, the NSA is not a therapy group and talking at meetings is voluntary. [Top] |
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Meetings begin with an "icebreaker" consisting of optional introductions and sharing. At this time, we can talk about challenges we're facing, successes we've had, and insights we've come to. We then break for refreshments before the program begins. The program is led by a volunteer facilitator who selects an activity or topic for discussion. This can range from a video on stuttering or stuttering therapy, to a round robin discussion of a challenge stutterers share (for example, how to rise to the challenge of a job interview), to short spontaneous speeches on selected subjects, to a debate on a hot topic in the news. All participation is voluntary. We encourage each other to stutter openly, work on fluency techniques, or try out new speaking behaviors. Some meetings feature visits from local speech-language pathologists or others who have insights on stuttering. [Top] |
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The Houston Chapter meets from 7:00 to 8:30 PM on the first Wednesday of each month at Westminster United Methodist Church, 5801 San Felipe, Houston, Texas 77056. You don't have to be invited. Just show up! Or call Paul Cunningham at 281-847-6048 (W) or Doug Scott at (713) 479-3213 for more information. [Top] |
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The Houston Chapter holds an annual workshop on stuttering and organizes social activities such as a weekend beach house outing, our annual Christmas party, or just getting together at a restaurant. We're interested in extending our outreach activities to people who stutter and their friends and families throughout the Houston metropolitan area. Part of this outreach is accomplished through the publication of a monthly chapter newsletter. Members also participate in local activities relevant to stuttering, such as the annual Texas Speech-Language-Hearing Association (TSHA) convention. Participation in outreach activities at local elementary and secondary schools and colleges is always welcomed by our members. The Houston Chapter was proud to host the NSA's national convention in 1988. This year's convention is June 21st - 23rd in Boston, Massachusetts. [Top] |
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The NSA can complement a therapy program, serve as a social outlet, provide a place to work on new speech behaviors, learn how to lead meetings, practice leadership skills, or just be a safe place to share feelings about the unique challenges a person who stutters faces in a world where fluency is taken for granted. In short, membership in the NSA can do whatever you want it to. Many of our members find that regular attendance at NSA meetings is one of their most important learning and growth experiences. What do we learn? To accept ourselves and each other. To have courage and keep trying. To challenge ourselves when growth opportunities present themselves. To be patient with ourselves and be kind to ourselves. But the most important lesson we learn is that we are not alone in facing the challenges of coping with stuttering. [Top] |
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Come and attend one or more meetings. If you decide that the experience is worthwhile for you, and you want to join the local chapter, your name and address is sent to the National Stuttering Association main office in California. They will contact you directly, sending a packet that includes a copy of Letting Go, the national newsletter, additional information on the national organization, and an application form. You can also visit the NSA Web Site and fill out the mail or FAX-in membership form. You will also be sent information on the NSA publications and the annual NSA convention, both of which offer unparalleled access to information on stuttering. The convention is attended by over 500 people, including people who stutter, their friends and families, and speech-language professionals. It features inspiring and educational workshops, informative speeches and presentations, and a variety of social activities. Annual dues in the national organization are only $35 and include the monthly newsletter, special rates on NSA publications, and entry into a very special organization. Voluntary annual dues for membership in the local chapter are $10. People who attend our meetings and workshops receive a copy of the monthly newsletter, which reviews chapter activities and includes letters and comments on stuttering contributed by members. [Top] |
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Visit the NSA Web Site at http://www.nsastutter.org for detailed information about the NSA's support and advocacy activities. Or, you can contact the NSA directly by calling their hotline, 1-800-364-1677, by writing them at 4071 E. La Palma Ave., Suite A, Anaheim Hills, CA 92807, or by email at nsastutter@aol.com. For information about other chapters in Texas, just go to the NSA Chapter Page. |
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More misconceptions exist about stuttering than perhaps any other human
problem.
Luckily, this information shortfall is rapidly being overcome, and the Internet is playing
an important part in this transformation. Check out the
Stuttering Home Page
at Mankato State University. There you'll find a wealth of up-to-date information on
therapy programs, support groups and research, profiles of people who stutter, and links
to other information sources on the World Wide Web, together with addresses for newsgroups
and listservs.
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Questions or Comments? |
