The Stuttering Foundation Provides Support for Stutterers

The Stuttering Foundation of America is the world's first and largest non-profit organization working toward the prevention and improved treatment of stuttering, an often misunderstood disability that affects more than 3 million Americans. Based in Memphis, Tennessee, the Stuttering Foundation was founded in 1947 by Malcolm Fraser, who decided to change career paths at the age of 44 so he could help people who stutter. Understanding the disability from personal, often painful experience, Fraser met with Dr. Charles Van Riper, a renowned speech therapist and fellow stutterer, to discuss the idea of a charity dedicated to helping those who stutter.


The Stuttering Foundation's goal is to provide the best and latest tools available to prevent stuttering in young children and treat the disability in teens and adults. The Stuttering Foundation offers free online resources, services, and support to individuals who stutter and their families; delivers training programs on stuttering for professionals; and supports research into the causes of stuttering.

Reaching millions of people each year, the Stuttering Foundation of America manages an extensive public awareness campaign to dispel misconceptions about stuttering and inform people that help is available. The charity's press releases have led to thousands of print stories and broadcast segments in media outlets such as The Today Show, CBS This Morning, NPR, CNN, and AP. The Stuttering Foundation also produces public service announcements and advertisements featuring nationally recognized spokespersons.

In addition, the charity has published 29 books, 27 brochures, and 35 DVDs for people concerned about stuttering, including parents, employers, and professionals. Written by leading experts in the field, these publications have been translated into other languages and many are used in speech pathology departments in universities worldwide.

Malcolm Fraser and the Stuttering Foundation were honored with the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's Distinguished Service Award for “dedication and effective contributions to the field of speech pathology.”