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5 Famous People You Probably Didn't Know Stutter

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Proinsias De Rossa is a Prominent Politician in Ireland

Proinsias De Rossa may not be known to the world at large but he is one of the prominent politicians in Ireland in the last half century. His political career started in 1956 at age 16 when he joined the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and became politically active with the Sinn Fein party. He served seven months in prison at Mountjoy Prison in Dublin for his activities with the IRA. Afterwards he began a hardworking political career that saw him become the Leader of the Workers Party from 1988 to 1992.

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Stuttering Foundation Celebrates National Stuttering Awareness Week with ‘75 Must-Use Resources’

Memphis, Tenn. (May 13, 2024) — For more than 75 years, the Stuttering Foundation, the first and the largest nonprofit charitable organization in the world working toward the prevention and improved treatment of stuttering, has provided free online resources, services and support to those who stutter and their families, as well as support for research into the causes of stuttering.

The Stuttering Foundation Mourns Passing of Bill Walton

Memphis, Tenn. (May 28, 2024) — The Stuttering Foundation mourns the passing of college basketball and NBA legend, broadcaster, and stuttering advocate Bill Walton.

Featured nearly 30 years ago in The Stuttering Foundation newsletter, Walton spoke about his stuttering through childhood, college, and even in his professional career. Following is excerpted from that article:

Back to School: The Video Every Parent and Teacher Should See

Memphis, Tenn. (June 7, 2024) – As families and teachers prepare for the start of school, stuttering in the classroom, the lunchroom, and the playground remain challenging and problematic for many. Some five percent--one out of every 20 children--may experience stuttering for six months or more.

Palin Parent Child Interaction Therapy for Early Childhood Stuttering

6 Ways Stuttering Foundation Changes Lives Through Global Outreach

International Stuttering Awareness Day 2024

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Greg Wilson
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571-239-7474

Stuttering Foundation Highlights Resources Available on Revamped Website

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Contact:
Greg Wilson
gregwilsonpr@gmail.com
571-239-7474

Scatman John

Check out this website dedicated to Scatman John

John Paul Larkin, better known by his stage name Scatman John, was an American jazz pianist, songwriter and performer known for his unique “scat-rap” style of singing. Like many others, he initially struggled on his way to fame, but Scatman John ultimately achieved success because of, and not in spite of, his stutter.

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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.

Carly Simon

Carly Simon began stuttering severely when she was eight years old.

King George

In November 2010, worldwide movie audiences were presented with a most interesting and unusual movie release with The King’s Speech, starring Colin Firth as King George VI and Helena Bonham Carter as his wife Elizabeth.

Unfortunately, history may have forgotten the courageous and inspiring story of Prince Albert who stuttered badly and never dreamed that he would ever be king when his older brother, King Edward VIII, abruptly abdicated the throne in 1936 to marry Wallis Simpson, an American divorcee.

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.

Byron Pitts

Byron Pitts has brought much attention to stuttering with his memoir, Step Out on Nothing: How Faith and Family Helped Me Conquer Life’s Challenges, released in September, 2009. The book not only details his speech difficulties, but also his illiteracy until age 12 and his unstable family life. Pitts overcame the odds to become the chief national correspondent with ABC News.