Rethinking Stuttering, Disability, and Dignity: Conversation with Andy Fitzenrider

We say we value communication — but do we really? Or do we only value it when it looks, sounds, and feels the way we expect it to? In this episode, I sit down with Andy Fitzenrider, a passionate advocate for people who stutter, to talk about what happens when society decides there’s only one “acceptable” way to speak. Andy shares his lived experience of growing up with a stutter in a world that treated it like a defect to be fixed instead of a reality to be understood. Years of speech therapy focused on correcting him, not asking him how he felt. The message was clear: be fluent, or be silent. And for a long time, silence felt safer — especially on the phone, where misunderstanding and cruelty came just often enough to leave scars. We dig into why speech disorders are still treated as punchlines, why hidden disabilities are so easily dismissed, and why measuring success purely by “fluency” misses the point entirely. What if the real question isn’t “How do we eliminate this?” but “How does this impact someone’s life — and how can we reduce harm?” This conversation is about dignity, independence, and advocacy. It’s about technology that empowers instead of erases. And it’s about standing up for yourself — even when it’s terrifying — because no one else is coming to do it for you. So I’ll ask you this: Are we actually creating inclusive communities, or just demanding conformity? And what would change if we truly listened? Find more info on topics discussed during the episode here: Relay Indiana http://www.relayindiana.com T-mobile Access http://www.tmobileaccess.com The Stuttering Foundation of America https://www.stutteringhelp.org/ Contact Tabitha: [email protected] Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest 00:58 Andy's Background and Advocacy Work 01:58 Understanding Stuttering: Personal Experiences 10:06 The Challenges of Public Speaking and Communication 19:57 The Role of Technology in Empowering Communication 30:01 Advocacy and the Importance of Visibility 40:12 The Impact of Stuttering on Daily Life 49:46 Creating a Culture of Understanding and Acceptance 01:00:11 Your Call to Action