More News

Celebrity Spotlight: Steve Harvey
While most of Steve Harvey's success stems from his skill at entertaining crowds, as a child his stutter made him terrified of speaking in front of audiences.
A Bright, Shiny Object
Research findings can sometimes serve as a bright, shiny object, distracting our attention from the methods of study.
Journey of the Jaguar
Long-time Stuttering Foundation friend Alan Rabinowitz is CEO of the only organization devoted exclusively to the conservation of the wild cat species.
A Creative Ally
Nino Ilievski is the creative genius behind the Stuttering Foundation's poignant public service ads.
Dr. Mother Goose
Teachers have intuitively known the secret for years: nursery and counting rhymes have an important place in the learning process.
To My Stutter
An open letter to a lifelong friend: For most of my life, you’ve been the friend I didn’t want, but couldn’t see my life without.
The Stanley Cup & Stuttering
Hockey player Bryan Rust has been a champion for stuttering, openly discussing his struggles with several media outlets.
Singing & Stuttering
Did you know that many famous singers who stutter began singing to overcome their stutter?
A Home Run for Stuttering
World Series MVP George Springer speaks out on his speech epiphany
Teen Shares Experience with Stuttering Therapy
"Fluency Program? Why is she looking at that? Where is this going? Did she find a technique?"

Pages

CELEBRITY FOCUS

Alan Rabinowitz

Alan Rabinowitz, Ph.D., who passed away in 2018, was an explorer, wildlife conservationist, and author. He established the Hukawng Valley Tiger Reserve in northern Myanmar, which is about the size of the state of Vermont.

His love for animals began when he was very young.

Ken Venturi

As much of the nation watches the U.S. Open Golf Championship, it is impossible not to think about our late friend Ken Venturi. Ken overcame many challenges to win the Open at Congressional in 1964 and go on to become the voice of golf for more than three decades.

However, Ken faced no bigger obstacle than stuttering. Ken Venturi was a champion to those who stutter, going out of his way to share his personal experience when consulted by a colleague, friend, or child who stutters.

James Earl Jones

Actor James Earl Jones, a Broadway, television and movie star, was well-known for his voice as Darth Vader in Star Wars and his book Voices and Silences. Jones spoke some of the most memorable lines in the history of American film, but the man known for his voice was once afflicted with a severe stutter.

Bill Walton

From BillWalton.com

Thank you for your interest in my life long problem with my speech and communication skills. I was a very shy and reserved young man who could not speak at all without severely stuttering until I was 28 years old. Always a success in the classroom and on the basketball court, I took refuge in the things that I did well as a youngster. A straight A student, my athletic abilities covered the deficiencies that limited my overall growth and development. The game of basketball was my religion, the gym my church. It was a convenient way of avoiding my responsibilities of developing my human relation skills.

When I was 28, a chance encounter at a social event with Hall of Fame broadcaster Marty Glickman completely changed my life in so many ways that things have never been the same since, nor have they ever been better. That day, in a very brief, private conversation (one way, mind you, since I literally could not speak at the time) Marty explained, patiently and concisely, that talking, communicating was a skill not a gift or a birthright and that like any skill, whether it be sports, music, business or whatever, needed to be developed over a lifetime of hard work, discipline, organization and practice. Marty gave me some simple tips that day and then encouraged me to take those keys and apply them to methods of learning that I had received from the special teachers that I had come across in my life, particularly the 6 Hall of Fame basketball coaches that I had played for throughout my career. The beginning of my whole new life was as simple as that. No gimmicks, tricks or shortcuts. Just the realization that with some help, guidance and a lot of hard work that I too could do what seemed so easy, simple and natural to everyone else, yet seemed impossibly out of my reach and comprehension.

Jack Paar

While Jack Paar is among the most prominent of the entertainers on the Stuttering Foundation’s list of Famous People Who Stutter, he deserves special recognition as he was among the first to openly address his stuttering in public. As host of The Tonight Show from 1957-1962, he spoke of his difficulties as a stuttering child and teenager, giving hope to young people.