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Teenager Shares How Joe Biden Helped Him Feel More Confident About His Stutter

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What happened13-year-old Brayden Harrington shared how Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden helped him embrace his stutter in a speech on the fourth night of the 2020 Democratic National Convention. Harrington met Biden a few months ago in New Hampshire where the former vice president told Harrington, “We were members of the same club: We stutter.”

I’m just a regular kid, and in a short amount of time Joe Biden made me more confident about something that’s bothered me my whole life. Joe Biden cared. — Brayden Harrington

The Frontlines: Biden, who received the Democratic ticket for the U.S. 2020 Presidential Election last night, has been open about his lifelong experience with having a stutter. In a CNN Town Hall in February, Biden said he “still occasionally, when I find myself really tired,” catches himself stuttering.

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A Mighty Voice: Contributor James Hayden, who stutters, reflected on the impact seeing a presidential nominee like Biden who stutters could have on other children. “I wish I’d had this for my 10-year-old self. Not only would 10-year-old James know he’s not the only person in the world who stutters, but that he can (and will) accomplish incredible things in his life.” You can submit your first-person story, too.

From our community: 

does your anxiety cause you to stutter #Anxiety #SpeechImpediment #Stutter

Add your voice:

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Other things to know: While Biden shared book recommendations and other advice with Harrington for how to have more confidence with his stutter, there are many different activities that people with stutters can do to manage their speech. Here are first-person stories from people who wrote about what worked for them:

Learn moreYou can watch Harrington’s full speech at the Convention below.

Screenshot via Shannon Watts/Twitter

Originally published: August 21, 2020
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