ADVOCACY
Amplifying voices within the stuttering community.
As part of our vision to change the social stigma of stuttering, we are committed to spreading awareness about our cause. Stuttering affects 1% of the U.S. population from rural, suburban and urban communities. That is approximately 3.5 million people. 3.5 million! Yet there are many barriers these 3.5 million people face including:
Limited access to speech therapy due to insurance companies denying speech therapy or restricting sessions with a cap.
High out-of-pocket costs cause families to forego speech therapy.
School systems are faced with a lack of Speech-Language Pathologists (SLP) who specialize in stuttering.
Shortage of curriculum and education in the management of stuttering in healthcare and higher education.
Too many misconceptions and false assumptions in the world about those who stutter.
What We Know
Early speech therapy intervention with a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) who specializes in stuttering leads to a higher rate of recovery.
SPEECH THERAPY BENEFITS
Transformational progress from avoidance to acceptance
Increased self-confidence
Improved positive self-identity
Higher comfort level with stuttering
Less psychological, emotional, social and functional impacts
Decreased anxiety
Increased social communication participation
Our advocacy effort and ask is simple and clear.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Change & Impact is meeting with legislators on Capitol Hill from both sides of the aisle to raise awareness about the gap in our healthcare system for those who stutter. Call or write your Senator and/or Congressman to request stuttering intervention research and improved insurance coverage for speech therapy for those who stutter.
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