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Graham Harrell first developed a stutter around the age of 5. His mother, Steffani Harrell, searched tirelessly for a speech therapist who could truly empathize with Graham’s challenges. Eventually she found a therapist who battled a lifelong stutter herself. This shared experience created an immediate bond between Graham and his therapist, laying the foundation for his journey toward confidence and self-advocacy.
Despite his resilience, Graham faced difficult moments at school, often being teased and mocked for his stutter. Instead of letting others bring him down, Graham decided to turn it into a teachable moment. When he asked his mom why his classmates bullied him, he concluded they simply didn’t understand stuttering. Determined to educate them, Graham proposed doing a classroom presentation on the subject. To make it memorable, he even came up with the idea for a superhero-themed photo shoot to accompany his PowerPoint.
“His therapist taught him to self-advocate and he took that to heart,” Steffani says. “She taught him about all the famous people with a stutter, like Joe Biden and Michael Pittman Jr. from the Colts. He wanted kids to understand why he stutters, and he did so in such a brave way. He decided to make it his superpower instead of a shortcoming. He did all the research himself and created a PowerPoint for his peers.”
Pittman Jr. became a role model for Graham, not just for his skills on the football field, but also for his advocacy for the National Stuttering Association, which provides support, resources and programming for people who stutter. Pittman wears special cleats to raise money for the organization. As an aspiring football player himself, Graham was thrilled to learn he shared more than a love of the sport with Pittman.
“Stuttering affects so many kids and adults around the world, so it’s important for people to know that we’re no different from anyone else,” says Pittman Jr., Colts wide receiver and team captain. “I’m very proud of Graham for sharing his own story about living with a stutter because more understanding and awareness about our challenge is definitely a great thing.”
Now 10 years old, Graham speaks with remarkable clarity most of the time, though he occasionally encounters bumps in the road. Through therapy, he’s learned strategies to manage those moments and continues building his confidence. His mom says his classroom discussion was a key moment.
“The kids in his class at Oak Trace Elementary were really receptive to the presentation,” Steffani says. “In fact, many approached him to tell him stories about their siblings or friends with similar afflictions. I think it really opened up conversations about people with differences for those kids to have with each other.”
Graham’s determination extends beyond the classroom. He’s a student-athlete who participates in cross-country and football. While he plays as a kicker, not a wide receiver like his role model, he has significantly contributed to his team. From a young boy struggling with his speech to an advocate and athlete, Graham has turned his stutter into his superpower, inspiring those around him with courage and determination.
