I am the only kid in my school who stutters. I like coming to Friends because I get to meet other kids who stutter. These meetings make me happy, excited, and feel like I belong.

My daughter started getting concerned about her stuttering in 4th grade when someone pointed it out at school. She became anxious about speaking and felt like she was the only person who stutters.

Attending the Friends groups has been very helpful for her, as she no longer feels alone. In the group, stuttering is embraced and kids support each other.

My daughter has grown a lot more confident and now advocates for people who stutter at her school, creating presentations for classmates and staff. This would never have been possible without Friends.

Friends empowered my son to find his voice and use his voice.

Friends is a place where I can truly be myself without being judged. A second home. I’ve heard inspiring stories and met courageous people who just started their journey with stuttering or are decades in. I really don’t know where I would be without the Friends conventions. They’ve made me see stuttering not as something to be embarrassed about but something that makes me unique.

It’s been life-changing. I went for my daughter, but it turns out it was also the experience I needed as a parent.

The best part is just to be around “people who get it.” There is something innately helpful in knowing that there are many people thinking through the same questions you are.

This past year I brought my son along with my daughter who stutters. He does not have a stutter so I wasn’t sure how this was going to go. He made friends right away and still talks about them. It opened his eyes as to what his sister copes with. It also made Friends more than just a daughter and mom experience – it helped pull our family together.