Our Story

Co-Leader Dr. Barry Guitar has been hosting an adult stuttering support group at UVM for over two decades. Based on interest from Burlington families to build a wider support network, we officially connected with the National Stuttering Association (NSA) in the summer of 2014. We are excited to be able to offer free support groups to connect the 6,000 Vermonters who stutter and their families as a newly formed NSA Chapter! To reach folks who live outside of the Burlington area, we can even arrange videoconferencing during the group so that everyone can get the help they need. We have seen the power of support groups first hand—you’re definitely not alone!

The Chapter Co-Leaders

Barry Guitar is a person who stutters and a speech-language pathologist. He is a stuttering expert and professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders at UVM. For decades, Barry has taught graduate courses on stuttering, led the adult support group, and supervised graduate students as they work with people who stutter. Barry frequently presents research about stuttering around the world, and he has written several textbooks about stuttering. Although Barry recently retired, we are lucky to have his guidance as we continue to grow our National Stuttering Association Chapter!

Danra Kazenski is an SLP who has enjoyed working with people who stutter of all ages since graduating from UVM in 2006. After working in Montreal for several years, Danra came home to Vermont and is currently on faculty in the UVM Communication Sciences and Disorders department. She wrapped up her dissertation project in 2015, which measured the brain activity of adults who stutter when they talk. Danra also supervises students, trains other SLPs how to help people who stutter and loves co-leading the NSA support groups– she was honored with NSA Chapter Leader of the Year in 2018! Go, Team Stuttering!

We have stellar UVM student volunteers who think of creative ways for our groups to reach out with fun activities for people who stutter of all ages! Here’s a feature on two of our student volunteers and some of the fun at our Ben & Jerry’s Stuttering Flash Mob. Our leaders are excited to meet you at one of our groups!