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The NSA has a new and exciting program that is all about you and your family. Right now, there are several NSAKids chapters in the United States. These kids and parents and even speech teachers meet to share ideas and learn more about stuttering and how to deal with it.
Letter from an NSAKids Group mother
The following email was received by the NSA Office in February 2004:
My eleven-year-old son, Dominic, and I have been attending the NSAKids group in Rancho Cucamonga for about one year now. It has been an excellent experience for both of us. Until we joined the group, Dominic had never met any other people who stutter. And I had not had the opportunity to meet with parents of children who stutter. It has given us a place to share our frustrations, challenges and successes in regard to stuttering, with those who can appreciate them. At our NSAKids meetings, we are reminded that there are others who deal with stuttering, and each child is a unique individual who is not defined by his or her speech.
The atmosphere is always positive and encouraging. There are opportunities to speak before the group (such as during ice-breaker activities) and the children seem to enjoy speaking without having to be concerned about what others will think of their speech. During a large portion of the meeting, the children interact with each other in a fun group activities, designed to help them express their thoughts and experiences with stuttering. Whether doing a craft, game or brainstorming session, they seem to enjoy the time they spend together. While the children meet, the parents have a chance to discuss issues regarding stuttering. It is helpful to get different perspectives and gain insight from what others have experienced. A speech pathologist is also present to contribute to these discussions.
I can't say enough about our group facilitator, Debbie Nicolai. A mother of a child who stutters, Debbie is an enthusiastic supporter of each NSAKids member. Her "can-do" attitude and sincere desire to encourage others is infectious. I am so thankful to her for starting this NSAKids group, which I hope will be the first of many. I really can't understand why support groups for children who stutter, and their parents, are apparently few and far between. The time commitment is small (just once a month) but the benefits are great. Although we've not been to any of the national conferences for people who stutter, we have heard a lot about how beneficial they are. I believe that a NSAKids group provides that same kind of life-changing affirmation, just spread out in smaller doses throughout the year.
Sincerely,
Kathy J.
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