Rep. Anderson, Sen. Johnson Introduce Legislation Requiring Speech Therapy Coverage

MADISON, Wis. – Today, Representative Anderson was joined by Senator LaTonya Johnson in introducing legislation aimed at supporting people who stutter (LRB-1301). The bill would require insurance policies to cover certain habilitative and rehabilitative speech therapies, ensuring those with stutters are afforded proper coverage and care.

Stuttering-related stigma continues to harm social and emotional well-being, according to the American Psychological Association. Access to speech therapy is one of the most effective tools for helping people manage stutters while also reducing the stigma often associated with speech differences.

A key champion in this field is Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, a former NBA player dedicated to showing that a stutter does not define a person, but rather is something that can be overcome. Through his advocacy, Kidd-Gilchrist has successfully pushed bipartisan legislation similar to this in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Nevada. He has been key in working with Representative Anderson in seeing similar action in Wisconsin.

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