Chapter Meetings
Monthly meetings are held every 4th Tuesday of the month from 7 PM - 8:30 PM at the CDRC administration building on the OHSU Marquam Hill Campus. (This is not the same as Doernbecher Children's Hospital). Use the following address:
707 SW Gaines Street
Portland, OR 97239
You can park in either of the lots across the street (for free after 6pm) or in the lot directly in front of the building (also free).
Enter the building through the main sliding glass doors and then turn left down the hallway. We meet in room 3200 on the third floor.
There are two campus maps below that will assist you in the adventure of navigating the hill. Click on the maps to enlarge.
707 SW Gaines Street
Portland, OR 97239
You can park in either of the lots across the street (for free after 6pm) or in the lot directly in front of the building (also free).
Enter the building through the main sliding glass doors and then turn left down the hallway. We meet in room 3200 on the third floor.
There are two campus maps below that will assist you in the adventure of navigating the hill. Click on the maps to enlarge.
About the Portland Chapter
People who stutter provide each other with support at each chapter meeting.
In the Portland chapter, we try to have interesting and fun meetings centered around the various aspects of our stuttering. Speaking at meetings is entirely voluntary. Our activities include friendly conversation, speakers, occasional outings, readings, film viewings, and more.
Our typical meetings begin with reading the NSA "Welcoming Words". Next is a general round of introductions (always optional). At each meeting we have a "topic of the evening" to get us started, but as natural conversation occurs, our discussion may progress and morph into something else. Recently, members participated in a poll to find out topics and activities for meetings of interest. We discuss the topics in an informal, friendly style, and no one is ever forced to speak. We encourage each other in practicing whatever our individual target goals are: stuttering more openly, working on speech therapy techniques, or trying out new speaking behaviors such as eliminating word avoidance or substitution. But at all times, just being there is enough. Some meetings include visits from local speech-language pathologists, students, or others who have insights or interests on stuttering. Our primary goal at our meetings is to encourage everyone to speak without fear, embarrassment, or shame. And we always seem to have fun with whatever we talk about.
Our typical meetings begin with reading the NSA "Welcoming Words". Next is a general round of introductions (always optional). At each meeting we have a "topic of the evening" to get us started, but as natural conversation occurs, our discussion may progress and morph into something else. Recently, members participated in a poll to find out topics and activities for meetings of interest. We discuss the topics in an informal, friendly style, and no one is ever forced to speak. We encourage each other in practicing whatever our individual target goals are: stuttering more openly, working on speech therapy techniques, or trying out new speaking behaviors such as eliminating word avoidance or substitution. But at all times, just being there is enough. Some meetings include visits from local speech-language pathologists, students, or others who have insights or interests on stuttering. Our primary goal at our meetings is to encourage everyone to speak without fear, embarrassment, or shame. And we always seem to have fun with whatever we talk about.
Member Requirements
We always welcome new members, whether you yourself stutter, you know someone who stutters, or would just like to be involved in the stuttering community. The only requirement to join our meetings is either to be a person who stutters or have a special interest in stuttering. There is no need to "sign up" - just show up. The meetings are free, but we encourage everyone to join the National Stuttering Association, a truly wonderful organization for persons who stutter.
If there are any talks, activities, outings, or venues you would like to suggest for future events, please let us know!
Looking for a Kid or Teen Group?
At this time we do not host support group meetings for kids and teens at the same time as our adult meetings, but teens and parents are always welcome to attend.
For kids who stutter, one of the most important aspects of becoming a confident, successful, strong, adult who stutters, is to not grow up feeling alone, and to not feel ashamed for the way they talk. That's why instead, it's important to go out and have fun together. They go see movies, go kayaking, have board game nights, do art projects, etc.
For more information on child and teen groups, visit: www.campmorenw.com/resources
For kids who stutter, one of the most important aspects of becoming a confident, successful, strong, adult who stutters, is to not grow up feeling alone, and to not feel ashamed for the way they talk. That's why instead, it's important to go out and have fun together. They go see movies, go kayaking, have board game nights, do art projects, etc.
For more information on child and teen groups, visit: www.campmorenw.com/resources
About National Stuttering Association Chapters
Members from across the Pacific Northwest came for a NSA 1-Day Conference at Portland State University (October 2018).
National Stuttering Association (NSA) chapters serve primarily as support groups for people who stutter. NSA meetings are an excellent place to stutter openly, take risks, to try out new communication behaviors, share feelings, and be open about our speech and our lives as people who stutter. We do not provide speech therapy and no specific speech techniques are advocated or recommended.
A 2009 survey of NSA members concluded that people who participate actively in local chapters have fewer problems at work or school, are less likely to feel embarrassed when people find out they stutter, and have more successful speech therapy. NSA local chapters are a proven way to build self-confidence, practice speaking in a safe environment, and develop healthy attitudes toward stuttering. For more information on what an NSA support group meeting looks like, visit the NSA support group information page.
A 2009 survey of NSA members concluded that people who participate actively in local chapters have fewer problems at work or school, are less likely to feel embarrassed when people find out they stutter, and have more successful speech therapy. NSA local chapters are a proven way to build self-confidence, practice speaking in a safe environment, and develop healthy attitudes toward stuttering. For more information on what an NSA support group meeting looks like, visit the NSA support group information page.