A Letter of Gratitude to Mitch from Survivor – From a Pediatric SLP

Hi Mitch,

While we’ve never met, and I’m not sure you’ll ever read this, I felt compelled to write you a letter. As both a pediatric speech-language pathologist and a Survivor fan, I wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude for the impact you’ve had, not only on the game but on a community that’s often overlooked. When I first saw you on Season 48, I immediately knew you’d make a difference for children and adults who stutter. As I have had time to reflect on this-- here are some specific ways I want to say thanks.

Representation Matters

First and foremost, thank you for representing the 3 million people who stutter in the U.S. and the 70 million people worldwide who share this experience. Despite fluency disorders affecting about 1% of the population, it’s rare to see someone who stutters featured on a mainstream platform like Survivor. By simply showing up and participating in the game—while excelling, might I add—you’ve given visibility to an entire community. For children across the country who have never seen anyone speak like they do, your presence on screen has made a powerful statement. You’re showing young viewers that they can chase their dreams, be taken seriously, and succeed, regardless of how they speak.

As a speech-language pathologist, I think of the many children I’ve worked with over the years, and I wish I could have shown them your participation on Survivor. You’ve demonstrated that disfluency is not something that holds anyone back from achieving greatness.

Advocacy for People Who Stutter

When you had the opportunity to speak to Jeff, and by extension, to the millions of viewers watching, you took that moment to advocate for yourself and for others who stutter. I want to thank you for doing that so gracefully. By using such a global platform to encourage people to allow those who stutter to finish their thoughts and sentences, you’ve taught a lesson that most people may never have had the chance to learn.

The way you approached this—acknowledging that most people have good intentions—was not only respectful but incredibly impactful. I have no doubt that you and Jeff helped to shift perspectives in a way that will have lasting effects. This type of advocacy is crucial, and you’ve done it in a way that encourages understanding and empathy.

More Than Just a "Survivor Contestant Who Stutters"

Thank you, too, for showing us that you are so much more than just "Mitch from Survivor who happens to stutter". Your multifaceted personality has given young people who stutter a broader perspective on who they can be. You've showcased your intelligence, resilience, and determination—qualities that have nothing to do with how you speak. This is a vital message for young people who may sometimes feel defined by their disfluency. You've shown them that there’s so much more to their identity than the way they communicate.

A Final SLP Thank You To Mitch from Survivor

If there’s one underlying theme of this letter, it’s simple: Thank you. Thank you for being a catalyst for so many important conversations. Thank you for being a role model and for showing the world that people who stutter can excel in any arena, including Survivor. I look forward to watching the rest of your journey and cheering you on as the season progresses.

Sage Bell M.S. SLP-CCC