ACR 184: Stuttering Awareness and Acceptance Week.

WHEREAS, Stuttering is a speech dysfluency characterized by repetition of sounds, syllables, or words, prolongation of sounds, and interruptions in speech; and

WHEREAS, It is estimated that about 1 percent of the world’s population stutters and roughly 3,000,000 Americans stutter; and

WHEREAS, Organizations dedicated to bringing hope and empowerment to children and adults who stutter through support, education, and advocacy have locations throughout California; and

WHEREAS, Paul Castellano and Barbara Hubbard Koval organized the drive to win Congressional recognition for people who stutter, and in 1988 President Ronald Reagan signed a proclamation establishing the second week in May 1988 as National Stuttering Awareness Week; and

WHEREAS, Many stutterers feel frustration and embarrassment that can lead to harmful emotional stress; and

WHEREAS, Stuttering is a form of verbal diversity and should be recognized as simply a different way of speaking; and

WHEREAS, While raising awareness of stuttering is an important first step, advocates increasingly emphasize the importance of acceptance, which fosters inclusion, reduces stigma, and affirms stuttering as a natural part of human diversity; and

WHEREAS, When stuttering continues into adulthood, a person may have difficulty communicating with other people and stuttering may affect a person’s quality of life, interpersonal relationships, job opportunities, and professional growth; and

WHEREAS, During National Stuttering Awareness Week, many seek to raise awareness about communication disorders and the many ways that people with the daily challenges of stuttering can be supported; and

WHEREAS, By recognizing these challenges, we can draw attention to the needs of persons who stutter, shine a light on these often invisible disabilities, and help avoid the negative consequences of misunderstanding stuttering; and

WHEREAS, Many years of public advocacy campaigns, personal experiences, and individuals or groups acting as informal ambassadors have raised the awareness of both speech disabilities and stuttering; and

WHEREAS, Raising awareness of speech disabilities and stuttering involves awareness not only of individuals but also unique individual needs and contributions; and

WHEREAS, As stuttering awareness campaigns have become more common, so too has public awareness and acceptance; and

WHEREAS, Progress towards awareness and acceptance is to be both celebrated and built upon; and

WHEREAS, The opportunity for inclusiveness is the next logical step in the progress California must make to not only fully support and welcome the voices of people who stutter, but to also show their voices are needed; and

WHEREAS, A growing number of families in California have a family member with a stutter and know that inclusion is a crucial element for their loved ones’ future success; and

WHEREAS, This proclamation will increase and encourage public participation at the local and state government level; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby proclaims the week of May 10, 2026, to May 16, 2026, inclusive, as 2026 Stuttering Awareness and Acceptance Week and encourages all Californians to support the stuttering community; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.