Who We Are
Baki Berkay Altunkaynak — Founder of Stuttering Freely, person with a stutter, theatre club president and researcher.
Baki leads this initiative from personal experience, combining his roles in academia and the arts to challenge how society views stuttering. His journey from the stage to the research lab informs every part of this platform. As founder, he oversees the project’s direction and ensures its values remain rooted in lived experience.
Veysel Kızılboğa — Professional advisor, pedagogue and specialist speech and language therapist. He focuses on cognitive behavioural therapy for stuttering and guides the platform’s research and educational materials.
Mission & Vision
Stuttering Freely is a non‑profit, independent platform built from lived experience. Our mission is to reframe stuttering as a way of speaking rather than a pathology and to reduce the fear, avoidance and social pressure that restrict lives more than speech itself. The vision is a world where speech diversity is valued and people who stutter lead without apology.
What We Are
We explore stuttering not as a defect but as a difference whose impact is largely shaped by emotional, social and cultural factors.
- Reflection, not instruction – we present stories and ideas without prescribing actions.
- Perspective, not prescriptions – we frame stuttering in a broader cultural and ethical context.
- Language, not solutions – we offer tools to rethink your experience rather than steps to fix it.
What We Are Not
It is important to clarify what visitors should not expect:
- We are not therapy – no treatment or techniques are provided.
- We are not a cure – we do not claim to reduce or eliminate stuttering.
- We make no promises of outcomes or results.
- We complement, but do not replace, personalised care – our resources are grounded in lived experience and research and guided by professional advisors. For medical or psychological advice, please consult a licensed expert.
Impact & Purpose
This initiative is not about building a following; it is about shifting a narrative. Its impact is measured in resonance, not metrics – in the conversations it opens, the perspectives it changes and the new language it introduces into mainstream discussion.
By providing a compelling alternative to “overcoming stuttering,” it aims to become a reference point for educators, speech professionals, parents and people who stutter worldwide.
Our purpose is to reframe stuttering in public consciousness so that young leaders who stutter are seen not in spite of their speech but alongside it.