Chmela Communication Center

12/26/2025

We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and are enjoying themselves this holiday season! We are looking forward to making 2026 a special year! Best wishes from all of us at the Chmela Communication Center!

12/24/2025

Happy Holidays from Team CCC!

12/19/2025

HAPPY HANUKKAH to all the members of the Chmela Communication Center community who celebrate!

We are thankful for your support, especially during this busy holiday season.

Wishing everyone the very best!

12/12/2025

REMINDER FOR THIS SUNDAY!

Our next Camp Shout Out Community Connection virtual gathering will be next Sunday 12/14 at 5PM CST. 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 look forward to discussing communication during the holiday season, 'grows and glows' from 2025, communication goals for 2026, and much more!

Here is the schedule:
- 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

12/12/2025

We are proud to spread the word about a new Family Chapter of The National Stuttering Association in Rockford, IL!

On January 3rd, 2026 there will be a big family meet-up with a variety of activities for the entire family!

For more information, you can scan the QR code or email jesssteinberg@hotmail.com

We want to thank Jessica and Trace Steinberg for creating a new fun & welcoming space for members of the stuttering community.

12/05/2025

Our next Camp Shout Out Community Connection virtual gathering will be next Sunday 12/14 at 5PM CST. 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 look forward to discussing communication during the holiday season, 'grows and glows' from 2025, communication goals for 2026, and much more!

Here is the schedule:
- 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

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!