NEW ORLEANS — Vice President Joseph Biden has overcome many hurdles in life — including stuttering. In recognition of his perseverance, he will receive the Annie Glenn Award at this year’s American Speech-Language-
Biden is one of many leaders from all backgrounds and political parties who have dealt effectively with stuttering. Others include Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson Jr., British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, U.S. Congressman Frank Wolf, former Alaska Gov. Bill Sheffield, Prince Albert of Monaco, and even King George VI.
Nowadays Biden is known as a loquacious orator. But that wasn’t always the case. As a child, Biden stuttered and was teased by his classmates and even by some of his teachers. But that didn’t stop him. Using techniques like those outlined in Self-Therapy for the Stutterer, he practiced reading aloud in front of a mirror and worked hard to overcome this distressing disorder.
“Joe Biden’s success is helping to dispel the myths that still surround stuttering,”
Biden is included on the Stuttering Foundation’s 18 Famous People Who Stutter poster.
The Stuttering Foundation is the nation’s leading nonprofit organization helping those who stutter and their families. Web sites, www.stutteringhelp.org and www.tartamudez.org, offer free resources and streaming videos. Call 800-992-9392 for more information.
Editor: Stuttering Foundation President Jane Fraser is available for interviews, jfraser@stutteringhelp.org. Additional media resources are available at our online press room.
