Valuable Lessons Played Out in Empowering Short Story “Speechless”

Ninth-grade student Elena, who stutters, took an English assignment opportunity and used her creative talents to present a short story about a group of classmates learning to face their fears, stand up for themselves and others, and discovering that being different is really the same for everyone.

In her story, Speechless, Heather knew her classmate Cory was being bullied by others. Hunter, Landon and Haydon all picked on Cory because he stuttered. Even the school’s music teacher mimicked Cory’s stutter one time in class. Heather wanted to stand up for Cory and make a difference, but that was a little harder than she expected.

Busy author Elena, who also sings in the school choir and is a cheerleader, shares some important self-discovery and growth as this group transitions from middle school to high school. Read her powerful and poignant story of observation, inspiration, and action.

Download "Speechless"

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CELEBRITY FOCUS

Mel Tillis

Mel Tillis, born Lonnie Melvin Tillis, was an influential figure in country music, both as a songwriter and a performer. His journey to fame was marked by overcoming personal challenges, including a stutter that he turned into a defining part of his public persona.

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.

John Stossel

John Stossel is one of the most recognized and articulate reporters today. However, he once considered giving up his broadcasting career because of his stuttering.

“Fear of stuttering can easily become worse than the stuttering itself,” observed Stossel. “The idea that I’m on television and making speeches is still a shock to me sometimes.”

Lewis Carroll

The recent Disney version of Lewis Carroll’s classic, Alice in Wonderland, garnered a great deal of media hype. Even though the mainstream media has not made mention that Carroll was a person who stuttered, his family history gives credence to the discovery of the genetic link to stuttering. Carroll was born to parents who were first cousins; almost all of their eleven children, three girls and seven boys, struggled with stuttering past childhood.

Dave Taylor

Dave Taylor has been on the Stuttering Foundation's list of Famous People Who Stutter for many years, but probably few people know all of the unique accomplishments of this former hockey great who was born on December 4, 1955, in Levack, Ontario.