NSA - Buffalo Chapter

THE BUFFALO CHAPTER
OF THE NATIONAL STUTTERING ASSOCIATION

If you stutter, you're not alone in Buffalo!

Who We Are...
What We Do...
Meeting Times and Dates...
Local and National Outreach Activities...
About Us...
What NSA Participation Can Do For You...
How You Can Join...
Stuttering Information On The Web...
Speaking Circles...
Buffalo Chapter Photo Album

Who We Are...

The National Stuttering Association is a non-profit organization for people who stutter. The NSA has over 4000 members nationwide and operates a network of 75 local support groups. The Buffalo Chapter is one of those groups. The Buffalo Chapter was formed in 1994 and has about 30 active members.

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What We Do...

NSA meetings are an excellent place to take risks; to try out new communications behaviors, share feelings, and be open about our speech and our lives as people who stutter.
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. After a short business meeting, a volunteer facilitator will chose a topic of discussion. The topic can range from a speech or coping related issue to a hot topic in the news. All participation is voluntary.

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Meeting Times and Dates...

The Buffalo Chapter meets from 7:00 to 9:00 PM every other Wednesday at 187 Park Hall on the University at Buffalo Amherst Campus. You do not have to be invited. Just show up! Or call Bonnie Weiss (838-3999) for information.

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Local and National Outreach Activities...

The Buffalo Chapter holds annual workshops on stuttering in the Fall and in the Spring each year and organizes social activities such as our annual anniversary party, chapter picnic, and Christmas party. We're interested in extending our outreach activities to people who stutter and their friends and families throughout the Western New York area. Part of this outreach is accomplished through the publication of our monthly chapter newsletter, "Let's Talk".

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About Us...

Chapter member profiles are here! Several members of the Buffalo NSA chapter have created individual pages to share their thoughts, feelings, ideas, or personal information with all of you. Just click on any of the following names.

Dave McCarthy

Bonnie Weiss

Bonnie's Photo Album

Jim Steinman

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What NSA Participation Can Do For You...

The NSA can compliment a therapy program, serve as a social outlet, provide a place to work on new speech behaviors, learn how to lead meetings, practice public speaking skills, or just be a safe place to share your 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.

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How You Can Join...

Come and attend one of our meetings. If you decide that the experience is worthwhile for you, and you want to join the Buffalo Chapter, your name and address is sent to the NSA main office in New York. They will contact you directly, sending a packet that includes a copy of Letting go, the national newsletter, additional information, and an application form.

You can also visit the NSA Home Page and fill out the mail-in or fax-in membership form. Or, you can contact the NSA directly by calling their hotline, 1-800-364-1677, by writing them at 119 West 40th St., 14th Floor, New York, NY 10018, or by email at NSAstutter@aol.com

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, which will be held in Baltimore in 2004, is attended by over 500 people, including people who stutter, their friends and families, and speech-language professionals. Featuring inspiring and educational workshops, informative speeches and presentations, and a variety of social activities, it is a lot of fun!

Annual dues in the NSA are $35 and include the monthly newsletter, special rates on NSA publications, and entry into a very special organization. People who attend our meetings and workshops receive a copy of our monthly chapter newsletter, which reviews chapter activities and news.

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Stuttering Information on the Web...

The NSA Home Page: http://www.nsastutter.org

The Stuttering Home Page: http://www.mankato.msus.edu/dept/comdis/kuster/stutter.html

CAPS - Canadian Association for People who Stutter: http://caps.webcon.net

The University at Buffalo Speech and Hearing Clinic: http://wings.buffalo.edu/soc-sci/cds/clinic.html

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Questions, comments, ideas? email to: pdm@iinc.com for home page information or blweiss@acsu.buffalo.edu for chapter information.

You are visitor number to the Buffalo Chapter of the NSA home page since February 27, 1997.

Last updated on 11/26/03