Leadership Team

A community health consultant working with the voluntary sector since 1993. Pioneered the self-help movement by spearheading the foundation of TISA. He has authored several books including the self-help bible of TISA- “Apna Haath Jagannath”. (More) (Interview) (linkedin)

Amit left India for the USA at age 27 – with a stutter and many dreams. He trained as an SLP and became an educator. As an Associate Professor in Communication Sciences and Disorders at Emerson College in Boston, he teaches graduate students how to work with people who stutter. In 2021 he decided to connect with his roots in India and began to volunteer in TISA as a friend, sounding board, and technical advisor. (More)

A Software Engineer by profession, from multi-national corporate to co-founding a startup at present, being a TISA volunteer is always dear to heart. Been with TISA since 2009, with roles like co-editor, Asst. National Coordinator and National Coordinator in the past. (More) (Interview)

The Core Group

Program Coordination (Offline)

The Program Coordination Team (Offline), led by Vikas Ranga at The Indian Stammering Association (TISA), manages a range of activities focused on offline SHGs and related initiatives. Their responsibilities include documenting and updating SHG information on stammer.in for accessibility, conducting confidential annual reviews of SHGs, supporting the formation and promotion of new SHGs, and mentoring during initial stages. They streamline processes for starting new SHGs, organize workshops nationwide led by authorized facilitators, and oversee proposals for national conferences, ensuring adherence to TISA guidelines and transparency. The team also handles publicity through social media and PR channels to promote TISA activities effectively.

Program Coordination (Online)

The Program Coordination Team (Online), headed by Rohil Zalke at The Indian Stammering Association (TISA), is tasked with several key responsibilities. They streamline the onboarding process for online activities and notifications, ensuring new members are assigned mentors for initial support. The team organizes a variety of activities such as mock interviews, debates, and talent shows, announced through platforms like Telegram or WhatsApp. They establish and manage a volunteer pool to facilitate smooth event execution and maintain discipline by identifying and addressing any misconduct among members. Additionally, the team handles publicity efforts across social media, PR materials, and announcements to promote TISA’s initiatives effectively.

Training & Education

The Training & Education Team, led by Dhruv Gupta at The Indian Stammering Association (TISA), focuses on empowering people who stammer (PWS) and their allies. Their programs include structured courses like TOPG and Live My Best Self, aimed at reducing stammering mindset and improving communication skills. They also facilitate OpenMOOC for self-paced learning. For specific groups like college students and women, TISA offers targeted support through workshops and practical guidance. Additionally, the team organizes in-person training at Herbertpur and promotes involvement in Toastmasters Clubs for ongoing skill development and community integration.

Outreach

Communications

Harish Usgaonker leads the Communications Team at The Indian Stammering Association (TISA) as President and Communication Coordinator. The team’s responsibilities include maintaining a membership roster, coordinating participation in international events, fostering collaborations with other stammering associations, and facilitating engagement with universities and PhD researchers. They ensure effective communication and collaboration across TISA’s self-managed teams, conducting regular check-ins to motivate volunteers and core members. Additionally, Harish oversees fundraising, accounting, and grievance redressal processes, ensuring transparency and efficiency in financial management and resolving member concerns promptly through dedicated channels.

Member of Core Team, Former National Coordinator

Nikhil is a Banker in a private sector bank by profession and a music lover, blogger, YouTuber by passion. He is ably leading Mumbai SHG as the SHG coordinator and contributing enormously to TISA national events notably the virtual national conferences of 2020 & 2021. He is also spearheading various online voluntary initiatives with TISA and has taken leadership roles like Asst. National Coordinator within the core team in the past. (More) (YouTube Channel) (Blog)

Member of Core Team, Women Representation, Gender Equality

Vidya Lalgudi Jaishankar is an interdisciplinary artist, visual storyteller, and former academic turned independent researcher in interpersonal communications. A staunch advocate for diversity and accessibility in interpersonal communication, Vidya uses her creative endeavours to initiate dialogues surrounding the cultural and social models of stammering and hearing impairment, promoting self-acceptance. As a published children’s book illustrator, she collaborated with Library For All, an Australian nonprofit, to support local authors from Timor-Leste Island. She initiated TISA podcast series, featuring one-on-one interviews with Women Who Stammer (WWS). In each episode, these incredible women share their unique journeys, offering insights and inspiration to all. (More)

Past Noted Volunteers

From a techie to entrepreneur, a banker and now in Canada, JP as he is fondly known, has made tremendous contribution to the self help movement as the past National Coordinator (2010 – 2015) and initiated the idea of National Conference, now the most awaited annual event. (More, Youtube Interview 2012)

Working as Special Educator in the Education Department (Govt Sector), Amit has been in TISA since 2010. He has written a e-book ‘Sweekaryata’ based on his life experiments with Acceptance with stammering besides participating in numerous TISA events. (Special Blog, New skills under the lockdown)

A Technology Enthusiast, a IT start-up founder and a favourite tech-expert and speaker at institutes like Symbiosis, Abhinav has given presentations from Big Data and analytics in institutes to stammering and self help in Barcamp. He is also a big supporter of the open source software movement. He is a co-founder of Cloudxlab, founder DejaView.ai. (more)

The young lad with a never say die attitude. Bhupendra has pushed himself out of his conform zone and went on the path of acceptance and self help. He initiated a lot of ideas and drives regular Hangout sessions to help the PWS. He is passionate about textile and fashion industry. (Interview)

A social scientist, a teacher and a dear friend: He will always be missed by us. (Condolences from Harish, Condolences from Manish K Rami)

Thank you

Many gratuitous events and kind people have helped us in last two decades – too many to be recounted, but still we have tried our best below.