Purdue to host Indiana’s first National Stuttering Association One‑Day Conference

Purdue University’s Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences will host Indiana’s first-ever National Stuttering Association (NSA) One‑Day Conference on April 11, 2026. The event, held from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in Lyles-Porter Hall, will bring together people who stutter, their families and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) for a day dedicated to learning, connection and empowerment.

The conference is being organized in collaboration with the West Lafayette Chapter of the National Stuttering Association, led by Barbara Brown, chapter leader and speech-language pathologist. Brown has been instrumental in bringing the event to Indiana and advocating for greater community support of people who stutter.

The event will feature workshops tailored for kids and teens who stutter, adults who stutter, parents and family members, and practicing SLPs. Topics will include self‑advocacy, communicating openly about stuttering, cultivating confidence and what current research reveals about the nature of stuttering. Sessions will be led by individuals who stutter, clinicians and researchers who will share personal perspectives and evidence‑based strategies.

As the first event of its kind in the state, the conference highlights Purdue’s commitment to advancing knowledge about stuttering and supporting people who stutter across the lifespan.

Purdue is home to nationally recognized research and clinical initiatives led by experts, such as:

Kwang Kim, assistant professor and director of the SKILL Lab, who conducts innovative research on motor control and sensorimotor learning in stuttering, deepening scientific understanding and informing future interventions.

Christi Masters, clinical associate professor and speech-language pathologist in the M.D. Steer Speech and Language Clinic, who provides evaluation and treatment for children, teens and adults who stutter and trains Purdue’s graduate clinicians in evidence‑based stuttering therapy.

NSA One-Day Conference attendees will have opportunities to connect with people who stutter and hear firsthand how they navigate school, work, relationships and daily communication. These conversations aim to foster understanding, reduce stigma and promote inclusive communication practices within the Purdue community and throughout Indiana.

Registration is now open for the conference, which promises to be a full day of learning, sharing and connecting with those who understand the stuttering experience. More details are available on the NSA One-Day Conference webpage.