Former NBA Player Uses Arena to Tackle Stuttering Stigma

For many, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist represents an athlete, a devoted friend, and a caring father. For others, he is the catalyst enabling families to afford crucial speech therapy for their children during formative years. At 31, Kidd-Gilchrist, who has battled a stutter since childhood, is now a national advocate for stuttering awareness. His efforts have facilitated the passage of stuttering-accommodating legislation in four states, with a current focus on California. He reflects on his journey, recalling feelings of isolation despite the support around him. Throughout his NBA career and NCAA championship triumph with Kentucky in 2012, he faced derogatory comments yet transformed those experiences into a commitment to advocacy. Alongside Proud Stutter’s founder, Maya Chupkov, Kidd-Gilchrist aims to make stuttering accommodation accessible for all. Their collective goal includes declaring May 9-15 as Stuttering Acceptance Awareness Week, alongside creating a documentary highlighting the unique challenges faced by stutterers, particularly within the Black community.

Image Credit: (Wikipedia Commons)