SAY helps give stutterers a voice

This new film, created by BBDO New York and directed by Alex Gorosh through Hungry Man, brings awareness to stuttering, a common yet still stigmatised speech disorder. 

Despite being common, young people are often taught that stuttering is something they should be ashamed of, or fix. In the Spotlight changes the narrative around young people who stutter by featuring real members of the SAY community in public speaking scenarios. But, instead of giving a presentation or belting into song, they deliver speech from everyday interactions such as asking for a job application, or ordering food at a restaurant. 

This helps viewers understand what ordinary conversations can feel like for youth who stutter, where finishing one sentence can sometimes take as much courage as public speaking. It also tells them to give young people who stutter time to share their voices, as every voice deserves to be heard and respected.

"Too often we hear people speak about stuttering in a negative light,” says Noah Cornman, Executive Director of SAY. “There’s a common misconception that people stutter because they are nervous when, in reality, they might be nervous out of fear for how the public will react to their stutter. We are thrilled to work with BBDO on this impactful PSA and hope to start shifting the conversation and the way we interact with people who stutter.”