Another story about a Famous Person Who Overcame Stuttering . . . . .

There was a post on Face book earlier in the week from the Stuttering Foundation suggesting that readers click on a link to learn more about celebrities that have overcome stuttering. Now, I have no problem with the Stuttering Foundation. They are a non-profit that does great work raising awareness about stuttering. And they provide many free resources for professionals and consumers alike.

What I do sort of have a problem with is the frequent accolades given to celebrities who say they overcame stuttering. Every time I hear this, I wonder: “What does this really mean?” What do children and teens think when they read or hear in the media of a famous person who overcame the affliction of stuttering? To me, the message seems clear: that stuttering is bad and overcoming it is a good thing.

I did click over to see the article.  Actress Emily Blunt is featured. She is quoted as saying: “One of my teachers at school had a brilliant idea and said, ‘Why don’t you speak in an accent in our school play?’  I distanced myself from me through this character, and it was so freeing that my stuttering stopped when I was onstage. It was really a miracle.” A miracle? Should kids who stutter think the same may happen for them?

I am not sure how I feel about someone who says she “distanced myself from me” regarding her stuttering. It seems like “the me who stutters” is bad. And so many people, including myself, have spent a life time hiding from stuttering and feeling it is something bad, that needs to be fixed, that deserves shame.

I would much rather hear celebrities tell us that stuttering is OK, that it wasn’t so bad that needed to be overcome. In another click on the Stuttering Foundations site, we read about Blues great B.B. King, who talks about his stuttering, which has received little attention over the years. (As a matter of fact, I never knew he stuttered until reading it here on the SFA site). King acknowledges the impact stuttering has had on his life. He says, “I struggle with words. Never could express myself the way I wanted. My mind fights my mouth, and thoughts get stuck in my throat. Sometimes they stay stuck for seconds or even minutes. . . .  I’m still not real fluent.”

I love the way he says this. He does not talk about overcoming stuttering. He just talks very matter-of-factly of the impact it has had on his life. And he shares how family members also stuttered, and the profound influence that had on his life as well.

I wish there were more articles about celebrities who have managed successful lives while stuttering. And who talk positively about stuttering and differences. And the fact that every single one of us, no matter how we communicate, makes a significant contribution to this world.

As a matter of fact, I really wish there were posters portraying ordinary people who stutter leading ordinary lives. We are teachers and doctors and lawyers and engineers and artists and parents and students and so much more. Most of us are ordinary people leading extraordinary lives. Not all of us are going to overcome stuttering. Not all of us need to. Right?

Would kids learn more about accepting stuttering by having more famous role models or just plain ordinary, not famous folks who stutter? What do you think?