MKG To Visit Lehman College, Share Stories On Stuttering Struggles

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (“MKG”) will be at Lehman College on Monday, October 3 at 6 p.m.

Photos: Wikimedia Commons
Bronx, NY—Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (“MKG”) will be at Lehman College on Monday, October 3 at 6 p.m. in the Studio Theatre to present his personal experiences, as a person who stutters, to students and faculty of the Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences Program.

Kidd-Gilchrist believes in connecting with future speech-language pathologists (SLPs) to emphasize the life-changing nature of their work with people who stutter.

In 2020, when spending time in the NBA ‘bubble’ during the COVID-19 pandemic, Kidd-Gilchrist began reflecting on his own stutter while learning more about all the barriers the stuttering community faces. He considered how he could turn his own knowledge and experience into effective advocacy and education, to raise awareness about stuttering. In 2021, Kidd-Gilchrist founded his non-profit organization, Change & Impact, Inc. with a mission to improve access to healthcare and expand services and resources for those who stutter.

“I’m excited to meet the future SLPs studying at Lehman College and to share my story with them,” said Kidd-Gilchrist. “At first, I didn’t want anyone to know about my stutter. When I entered speech therapy, I told my therapist that I didn’t want anyone to know,” he said. “Today, I want to share my story. I see my stutter as a gift that I have embraced because now I can help others, including those who are getting into the field of speech-language pathology.”

Kidd-Gilchrist will meet faculty and tour Lehman’s Speech and Hearing Center before giving a formal presentation and talk at Lehman’s Studio Theatre.

“Michael Kidd-Gilchrist’s presence on the Lehman College campus sends a strong message of hope to those who stutter and offers new insight to those who don’t,” said Peggy Conner, chair of Lehman’s Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences department. “He is an icon in the basketball world but also in the stuttering community because he speaks openly about a topic that has been deeply stigmatized. His leadership, advocacy work, and personal story will inspire our students in speech-language pathology to provide and champion better care and services for children and adults who stutter.”

The 6 p.m. presentation and talk is open to the public but registration is required on Eventbrite. Please note that all visitors must show proof of vaccination to enter the Lehman campus.
For more information about Lehman College, visit: www.lehman.edu
To learn more about Change & Impact, Inc., visit www.changeandimpactinc.org

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