Chmela Communication Center

11/27/2025

From everyone at the Chmela Communication Center, we want to wish everyone a warm, happy, and relaxing Thanksgiving!

We couldn't be more grateful for our wonderful CCC family!

11/20/2025

Exciting news!

CCC Director, Kristin Chmela is launching a new venture!

Introducing Evolve - Stuttering Therapy Skills

Great speech language pathologists keep evolving by staying curious and strengthening their critical thinking skills so they can better support children who stutter.

She is committed to creating accessible learning opportunities to help SLPs continue to grow and move their impact forward.

Stay tuned!!!

11/10/2025

According to the fNEUR (feedforward-feedback neural control) model, stuttering is believed to stem from an imbalance between the feedforward (anticipatory) and feedback (corrective) systems that guide speech motor control.

During the third edition of ICOS, Soo-Eun Chang presented pioneering longitudinal research using advanced neuroimaging to uncover the neurobiological foundations of stuttering.

Her work revealed early and persistent differences in the connectivity of brain regions involved in motor planning and auditory monitoring. Children with persistent stuttering showed reduced gray-matter thickness in the left ventral premotor and motor areas compared with both recovered and fluent peers.
Chang also discovered a strong correlation between these structural differences and the expression of stuttering-related genes (GNPTG, NAGPA), suggesting a link between genetic vulnerability and brain development.

Together, these findings indicate that stuttering could have identifiable neurobiological and genetic markers as early as preschool age, opening new opportunities for early and targeted intervention.

11/07/2025

Next weekend, November 14th-16th, The Chmela's are hosting a holiday benefit sale to support Camp Shout Out for Youth Who Stutter!

They will have creative holiday items, vintage/new/repurposed items and home decor.

If you're in the Chicagoland area and want to support CSO, please give The Chmela's a visit!

10/31/2025

REMINDER FOR THIS SUNDAY!!!

It is with great excitement we announce the dates for the 2025-2026 Camp Shout Out Community Connection virtual gatherings. These community gatherings last approximately 60 minutes and will be led by returning hosts Nicholas Caruso M.S., CCC-SLP, and Kyle Pelkey M.S., CCC-SLP, clinicians at the Chmela Communication Center, Facilitators at Camp Shout Out, and people who stutter.

During these virtual gatherings, past & current campers, adults within the Camp Shout Out community, and children & teens who stutter from the Chmela Communication Center, have the opportunity to connect periodically throughout the year in a safe, fun, and interactive environment.

We can't wait to see as many of you as possible!

Here is the schedule:
- Sunday November 2, 2025 @ 5PM Central Time
- Sunday December 14, 2025 @ 5PM Central Time
- Sunday January 18, 2025 @ 5PM Central Time
- Sunday March 8, 2025 @ 5PM Central Time
- Sunday April 12, 2025 @ 5PM Central Time
- Sunday May 3, 2025 @ 5PM Central Time

ZOOM LINK: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86299318681?pwd=Z1FHV1hFQVByNks4L0FVcHdvTjhIdz09

10/23/2025

In honor of National Stuttering Awareness Day, CCC Director and Board-Certified Stuttering, Cluttering, & other Fluency Disorder Specialist, Kristin Chmela, presented for the Department of Pediatrics at Michigan State University.

Kristin presented to a collection of physicians, aiming to provide education about stuttering and insight into the therapeutic processes.

We want to thank MSU for this opportunity!

10/22/2025

It is with great excitement we announce the dates for the 2025-2026 Camp Shout Out Community Connection virtual gatherings. These community gatherings last approximately 60 minutes and will be led by returning hosts Nicholas Caruso M.S., CCC-SLP, and Kyle Pelkey M.S., CCC-SLP, clinicians at the Chmela Communication Center, Facilitators at Camp Shout Out, and people who stutter.

During these virtual gatherings, past & current campers, adults within the Camp Shout Out community, and children & teens who stutter from the Chmela Communication Center, have the opportunity to connect periodically throughout the year in a safe, fun, and interactive environment.

We can't wait to see as many of you as possible!

Here is the schedule:
- Sunday November 2, 2025 @ 5PM Central Time
- Sunday December 14, 2025 @ 5PM Central Time
- Sunday January 18, 2025 @ 5PM Central Time
- Sunday March 8, 2025 @ 5PM Central Time
- Sunday April 12, 2025 @ 5PM Central Time
- Sunday May 3, 2025 @ 5PM Central Time

ZOOM LINK: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86299318681?pwd=Z1FHV1hFQVByNks4L0FVcHdvTjhIdz09

10/22/2025

From all of us at the Chmela Communication Center, HAPPY INTERNATIONAL STUTTERING AWARENESS DAY!

Telling one person about stuttering today is enough!

Let's continue to help the world learn!

10/13/2025

This weekend, Kristin Chmela, M.A., CCC-SLP, BCS-SCF presented at SpeechCare in Lisbon, Portugal!

"Working with children and adolescents who stutter requires a close eye to challenges, but also to their abilities and potentials. This course has been designed to support speech therapists to apply practical strategies, based on scientific evidence, that put the person at the centre of care"

We thank Kristin for her dedication to the stuttering community at the International Level!

10/08/2025

This past weekend, the National Stuttering Association hosted a One-Day Event at Rush University in Chicago, IL.

CCC Director Kristin Chmela, and clinicians Kyle Pelkey and Nick Caruso were presenters.

Kristin presented to SLPs & graduate students, while Kyle and Nick led workshops for friends & family of people who stutter and kids & teens who stutter.

A big thank you to the NSA for hosting this event!

10/03/2025

REMINDER

REMINDER:

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 5th, our team will be at the one-day National Stuttering Association Event at RUSH University in Chicago!
Kristin Chmela, M.A., CCC-SLP, BCS-SCF will be leading a workshop for SLPs and Kyle Pelkey, M.S., CCC-SLP, & Nick Caruso, M.S., CCC-SLP, will be leading workshops for kids & teens who stutter, and family & friends of people who stutter!
Tom Chmela, M.A., Ed. will also be leading various team-building exercises to build connections throughout the event!

We are thankful for this opportunity for growth and connection!

You can register at https://www.westutter.org/our-events

09/24/2025

REMINDER:

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 5th, our team will be at the one-day National Stuttering Association Event at RUSH University in Chicago!
Kristin Chmela, M.A., CCC-SLP, BCS-SCF will be leading a workshop for SLPs and Kyle Pelkey, M.S., CCC-SLP, & Nick Caruso, M.S., CCC-SLP, will be leading workshops for kids & teens who stutter, and family & friends of people who stutter!
Tom Chmela, M.A., Ed. will also be leading various team-building exercises to build connections throughout the event!

We are thankful for this opportunity for growth and connection!

You can register at https://www.westutter.org/our-events