My name is Braeden Aussant, and I am a person who stutters.
I’ve stuttered for as long as I can remember, and growing up, it definitely came with challenges — especially socially. That’s one of the reasons I wanted to start this mentorship program. I know what it feels like to be the only kid who talks differently, and I want to help other kids who stutter know they’re not alone.
When I was younger, I didn’t know anyone else who stuttered. That changed when I went to an event hosted by the Stuttering Association for the Young (SAY) in Houston, Texas. For the first time, I met other kids who spoke like me and understood what I was going through. It made a huge difference — I felt accepted, and I started to gain more confidence in myself. I also got to meet George Springer, a Major League Baseball player and spokesperson for SAY. I’ve played baseball my whole life, and seeing someone I looked up to embrace his stutter really inspired me.
That experience helped me see my stutter as just a part of who I am, not something to be ashamed of. Since then, I’ve tried to use my experiences to help others. I’ve shared my story with graduate students studying speech-language pathology at Boston University and Worcester State College, hoping they can better understand what it’s like to live with a stutter.
I also started mentoring a fifth-grader named Jack through a local speech therapist. Talking with him and watching him grow more confident reminded me a lot of myself when I was younger. It showed me how powerful it can be to have someone to talk to who truly gets it.
Now, I want to help connect more kids who stutter with older mentors who’ve been through similar experiences. I’m working with local speech therapists to pair students together — someone to talk to, share experiences with, and look up to. Whether you’re a kid who stutters or an older student who wants to be a mentor, this program is about building friendships and reminding each other that we’re not alone.
Stutter Buddies 