Mumbai One Day Conference Report

We organised a One Day Conference in Mumbai on Sunday, June 1, 2025. The objective of the conference was as follows.

Objective:

Create new or deepen friendships
Approach fears/anxieties of stammering, new people, talking, giving presentations, etc.
Introspect how to shift towards happiness
Learn about stammering

SCHEDULE:

9:30 – 10 am: Welcome on the lawn

2 mins: Hold hands, in silence. Appreciate each other. Thank each other for coming.
5 mins: Mindful walking
- Explore space with no eye contact.
- Pause. Close your eyes and welcome yourself
- Listen to natural sounds — what do you hear?
- Eye contact & smile
10 mins: Change game 1-1— Name, Location, Fun Fact
2 mins: TISA Ground Rules in Circle
- Okay to stammer. The more someone stammers the better.
- Voluntary stammering on the color of our shirt, left neighbors shirt color, right neighbors shirt color.
- No advice, unless asked for
- No guessing/interrupting. Let the person complete the word.
10 mins: Name Game — must stammer on at least one. Get an award for stammering more.
1 min: Listen Natural Sounds / Tongue Drum / Deep Breathing 4-4-6
Relaxing music playing (Instrumental)
- To feel comfort in space: feel relaxed in space, walk around – slow, medium, fast

10-10:15 am

Ground rules: Stammering okay (challenging stammering mindset, so the more stammering the better), no advice, no interrupting, speak from the I. And you can call other people out.
Site Orientation: Bathrooms, Water
Conference Orientation: Stammering until 1:30, Beyond Stammering until 4:30
Conference Aims: Meet Friends, Approach Fears/Anxiety, Introspect
What is Stammering & 2 General Reactions Pyar Se (Stammerphilic) & Dar Se (Stammerphobic). See this presentation for all the slides used: Canva Presentation for ODC

10:15-10:30 am

Journaling: How do you react to your stammering? If you don’t stammer, think of a recent time when you were afraid to speak, how did you react? (3 minutes)

After journaling, walk around the room slowly, don’t make eye contact, explore the space, release energy. Stop. Take a deep breathe. 4-4-6. Feel inside your body. Find someone nearby to sit with. Pick someone to be the sun & moon. Moon goes first.

Listening Circles

How to be a good listener? Listen carefully without interrupting or giving advice; watch your own reactions as you listen. Listen to accept fully. Sharing: 6 minutes uninterrupted. Open your heart out.

10:30-10:45 am: Sharing personal stories (challenges/inspiration). 5 minutes + 1-2 min Q&A (Prachi, Vidya’s video & Bhupendra)

10:45-11 am: Presentation Continued: Acceptance, Questioning Fluency, Value in Stammering

11-11:15 am:

Journaling: What value does my stammering give me? If you don’t stammer, do you gain anything by being vulnerable? (3 minutes)

After journaling: Walk around the room slowly, don’t make eye contact, explore the space. Stop. Two deep breathes, and slow exhale. How do you feel? Find someone nearby to sit with. Pick someone to be Air & Water.

Listening Circles: How to be a good listener? Listen carefully without interrupting or giving advice; watch your own reactions as you listen. Listen to accept fully. Sharing: 6 minutes uninterrupted. Open your heart out.

11:15-11:20 am: Break: Bathroom & Water

11:20-11:35 am: Sharing personal stories (challenges/inspiration) / 5 minutes + 1-2 min Q&A (Siddhi, Vishal)

11:50-12:20 pm: Open Mic: Share reactions to stammering and/or what value stammering brings you? Maximum 3 mins each. With Voluntary Stammering. Encouraging children first.

12:30-1 pm: Lunch

1:10-1:40 pm: Listener Reaction Bingo (Harshada)

People shared their listener reactions (most real & some exaggerated & fun)
People make their own grid and add 9 reactions to it
Number the reactions and pick from chits with numbers

1:40-3 pm: Energizer (Dance!), LOVE Acronym

We discussed patterns of overthinking and how we can view ourselves as limitless (growth mindset) vs. limited (fixed mindset).

3-3:30 pm: Fishbowl Roundtable on How Embracing Stammering Helps (Avoiding Doesn’t) for Allies

Facilitator: Harshada. Kids with Prachi doing Origami in partitioned big hall space

This was planned, but since the children & parents were unable to join we did not go ahead with it.

3:30-4:00 pm: Relaxation / Acceptance / Affirmations Facilitator: Prerna Barve, Hindi

4-4:30 pm: Next steps, Takeaways

Mentors?
Structure: Everyone shares one grateful + takeaway
Writing each takeaway on board
Continued engagement: SHG
Content:
- Don’t interrupt. Allow person to complete their point/sentence. Increase patience.
- If you notice yourself avoiding, consciously do something to approach.

4:30-5 pm: Break, Goodbye Songs (Matti Mein, Hawa) – Elijah

SHORT FORM AGENDA

TISA Mumbai One Day Conference
: Sunday, June 1
: 9 am to 5 pm
: Atma Darshan Centre, Andheri East (https://maps.app.goo.gl/G6Tj6RRHCWW1j9P77)
Registration Form: https://forms.gle/Esu7eqd9RPJrTDoV9

Agenda

9 am: Arrival
9:30 am: Welcome & Intros
10: Conference Orientation
10:30: Stories (Prachi, Bhupendra)
10:45: Journaling & Listening Circle: How do you react to your stammering?
11 am: Break
11:15 am: Stories (Siddhi, Vishal)
11:30: Journaling & Listening Circle: Do you gain anything by stammering?
12: Open Mic
12:30 pm: Lunch
1 pm: Listener Reaction Bingo
1:30 pm: Energizer, LOVE Acryonm
2:30: Fishbowl Roundtable of Allies
3:30 pm: Affirmations & Yoga
4 pm: Takeaways
4:30: Tea Break, Snacks, Songs

कभी अलविदा ना कहना

PHOTOS & VIDEOS: https://photos.app.goo.gl/3xrCDTe8m4C2sP8p9

FACILITATOR REFLECTION

“I felt energized. I turned myself into everyone else who came to the conference; recognizing that we are one. If I’m “helping” them, I’m actually “helping” myself. And we all know that the person who benefits the most from such a meeting are the facilitators. This view — of actually being the one benefits the most and seeing myself in everyone — supercharged my motivation to facilitate the most meaningful/impactful session for those coming.

We had four younger people who stammer and their caregivers who were planning to join the conference. One person, a 16 year old joined, however, the three younger children were unable to attend. Knowing this a day in advance, I pivoted our activities to be focused more on adults who stammer. The conference turned into something like a one-day communication workshop.

My parents, Bua, brother, and niece also joined for sometime. My parents & Bua shared their experiences and overall advised those who had not talked to their parents yet, that it would be a meaningful and freeing experience to have that conversation.

We also had SLPs and a teacher join. Reflecting on the experience, it would have been useful to have separate sessions for SLPs so that this could function as a training group for them too. We had separate sessions for SLPs, Parents, Adults, Teens, and Children at the Friends conference in Mumbai we organised in 2015. Alternatively, having separate events for Adults, Families, and SLPs could also serve this purpose.

Going forward, I’m considering having three events in a month for the stammering community and allies in Mumbai. One for adults who stammer — a primer/welcome for new members, how they can get started on their journey. One for allies — a listening and training group for new allies/students, and how they best support PWS (adults who stammer may help sensitize the allies at this event). One for families (caregivers & children). Or one larger event monthly for all three stakeholders. We will discuss and consult other TISA leaders in Mumbai and nationwide.” — Dhruv

“This was the very first time I was on the facilitating side of a workshop, and I mostly followed Dhruv’s lead. I would just throw in random ideas during our meetings, and Dhruv patiently listened to them all. I must say, he made organizing very easy with his ‘go with the flow’ approach!

Another noteworthy thing I felt was that none of the participants who showed up held themselves back, everyone opened up their hearts, shared their experiences and I was filled with gratitude for having the opportunity of being a part of it.

I went back with lots of insights and a full heart. Hopeful that the learnings from this workshop help in facilitating better the next time!

Going ahead, I would like to reach more children who stammer, in schools and help form a community of kids who stammer — a space where they can talk/relate/share about stammering experiences, but also go beyond that, recognizing that stammering is just one aspect of their big, beautiful life. I believe it will be a really enriching experience I would also like to reach more like-minded SLPs and help build an alliance between TISA and the SLP community, there’s definitely a lot that we can learn from each other! Looking forward to discussing these and making it happen!” — Harshada

PARTICIPANT REFLECTION

“Thank you Dhruv and Harshada for holding the space today! It was wonderful meeting everyone, hope our paths cross soon ” — Esha

“Thank you so much Dhruv and Harshada for organizing such an amazing conference.

Learnt a lot, met new people and got to know the perspective of other PWS and non PWS towards stammering. It was a great Sunday! Hope we will meet soon.” — Shonak

“A big thank you to Dhruv and Harshada for organizing such a meaningful and empowering one-day conference at TISA yesterday. It was a wonderful experience connecting with everyone, learning from each other, and embracing our shared journeys. The warmth, openness, and support in the room truly reflected the spirit of TISA. Grateful to be part of this community. Looking forward to more such inspiring events! ” — Noshin