Celebrations and News

Long Lots Elementary Students Share Their Voices in International Publication

Westport, Conn. — Two Long Lots Elementary School students were recently recognized by The Stuttering Foundation of America (SFA) for their heartfelt contributions to its Kids Who Stutter magazine, a national publication that features letters from children across the globe who share their experiences with stuttering.

Eight-year-olds Donovan and Jack, both students at Long Lots Elementary, were among more than 100 children selected from the United States and abroad. Donovan wrote about confidence-building techniques, sharing, My favorite strategy is cancellation. Jack described his persistence and enthusiasm for problem-solving, noting, I love Rubik’s Cubes. The strategy I use is light contact.

Speech and Language Pathologist Deb Meade explained how this national feature became a meaningful learning experience for Westport students: Although about 1 percent of the population stutters — around 3 million people in the U.S. — many people do not know another person who stutters, and that can feel isolating. I showed the Stuttering Foundation kid letter submissions with students from all over the country who stutter to our Westport students to remind them that they are not the only ones who stutter, and they were excited about creating their own submissions to help other kids feel less alone.

The Stuttering Foundation of America publishes hundreds of children’s letters each year to foster understanding, reduce stigma, and build community among children who stutter. The current issue includes submissions from 20 U.S. states and several countries, demonstrating how the power of shared stories can connect students worldwide.

We are incredibly proud of Donovan and Jack for sharing their voices with such courage, said Vicki Fielosh, Assistant Principal at Long Lots Elementary School. Their reflections show classmates near and far that every voice matters — and that with the right strategies and support, students can communicate with confidence.

Westport Public Schools provides comprehensive speech and language services at every grade level, helping students build communication skills, self-advocacy, and confidence. The district celebrates Donovan and Jack for representing Westport with compassion and pride on the national stage.

Westport student, Donovan (pictured here) and Jack, worked with Speech and Language Pathologist Deb Meade, and were recently featured in the Stuttering Foundation of America’s Kids Who Stutter magazine for their reflections on speech and confidence.