ADVOCACY
Amplifying voices within the stuttering community.
Our Stories, Our Voices: Advocating for Change
Our Founder & CEO Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, is no stranger to victory. As a University of Kentucky Men’s Basketball Champion and NBA star, he built his career on determination, perseverance, and resilience. Now, he’s applying those same qualities in his new chapter as a leading advocate and champion for the stuttering community. In 2024, Michael secured two groundbreaking bipartisan legislative wins in two states very close to his heart — his second home, the State of Kentucky, and where he was born, the State of Pennsylvania.
Kentucky Senate & House Hearings
Kentucky SB 111 Signing
Pennsylvania HB 2268
CHANGE & IMPACT CELEBRATESAND SUPPORTS OUR FOUNDER
Change & Impact applauds our Founder, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist for sharing his voice and personal experiences as a person who stutters to achieve these landmark victories. With Michael personally driving bipartisan efforts on the state and federal level, the stuttering community has a powerful voice fighting for progress — and this is just the beginning.
Why Advocacy Matters
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 despite the positive outcomes data of speech therapy for stuttering.
THE KIDD’S STUTTERING ACT
Change & Impact is proud of our Founder’s personal leadership in legislative advocacy to uplift individuals who stutter and expand access to the support and services they need to thrive. In 2025, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist built strong bipartisan momentum for the introduction of the Kidd’s Stuttering Act in the U.S. House of Representatives, marking an exciting step forward in advancing meaningful, lasting change.
Barriers to Care
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.
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
Increased social communication participation
What We Know
Early speech therapy intervention with a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) who specializes in stuttering leads to a higher rate of recovery.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Change & Impact is meeting with both federal and state legislators 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.