I love that we get to provide speech therapy to students from so many different cultures and backgrounds.
In addition, they come to us with a wide variety of speech and language needs.
Today I’d like to help your students feel represented by sharing about a group of diverse and inspiring figures I selected to feature in Learning about Celebrities with Speech & Language Differences.
When I created this resource, I sought for my students to see a bit of themselves reflected back in a variety of different ways:
- Race and ethnicity
- Cultural background
- Communication needs
- Career interests
I realize, with only 10 figures I couldn’t highlight each and every background, but I tried to thoughtfully offer a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives to inspire the young people we serve.
Today, I’m sharing about 5 (of the 10 featured) leaders who are sure to inspire you.
(You can view the full list of all 10 incredible celebrities with speech and language differences HERE).
1. Amanda Gorman (poet)
Gorman is a young and famous poet with a remarkable story. She was raised by her mother Joan Wicks and worked through challenges with both articulation and auditory processing as she conquered some incredible goals!
2. Marc Anthony (singer)
Marc Anthony, the highly-acclaimed award-winning Latin music artist had an exciting career as he worked through challenges with stuttering.
3. Claudia Gordon (attorney)
Gordon was the first deaf, African American female attorney in the United States. She was born in Jamaica with the ability to hear, but became deaf following an illness when she was 8 years of age. When she was 11 years-old, she emigrated with her family to the South Bronx in New York so she could attend the Lexington School for the Deaf. Her full story is unforgettable and extraordinary.
4. Temple Grandin (animal behavior expert)
Temple Grandin is a well-known animal behavior scientist who has shared her valuable neurodivergent perspective in books. Her unique journey as an autistic individual and as a scientist is fascinating.
5. James Earl Jones (actor)
James Earl Jones was born in Mississippi and later raised by his grandparents in Michigan. Did you know that as a child Jones didn’t speak for years due to challenges with stuttering? His high school English teacher did something life-changing that ultimately made Jones one of the most iconic actors in Hollywood.
See the full list of 10 inspiring celebrities with speech and language differences!
The materials we use to highlight different skills can be impactful on so many levels.
With this resource, I aspired to:
- elevate how I target a wide range of language skills with nonfiction texts and vocabulary activities
- offer representation in a variety of different ways
- help our students feel motivated and hopeful
Most of all, I hope these texts will inspire your students to pursue their own big dreams!
