I know a woman who doesn't stutter, but has some pretty severe social anxiety. Among other problems.

She began playing a game much like D&D but uses cards for various actions (my parents knew the game creators so we always played that with their game groups instead of D&D)

Super shy and quiet when she started coming to the games, and she didn't know anyone there. She just saw the sign for the group and decided to stop in (the sign basically says "welcome in, ask questions, stay for a game or two" ) and stuck around. We figure she mostly stayed for the free food.

Once we started playing this not-D&D game, she decided to join during session 2 after observing sessions 0/coordinating/creating and session 1. Had a full character with cards ready to go, even though she hadn't approached any of us about how to make a character or play, she was not only spot on from the start, she (in a good way) absolutely would not shut up while playing.

Her character is (I think) everything she wants to be. She's popular, she's outgoing, as quick with her dagger as she is with her tongue. Basically a rogue/bard wombo combo of charisma and extroversion.

At first nothing changed. The moment the game ends, she shuts down and goes back in her shell.

Then slowly as we wrapped up game sessions, she would begin chatting with her seat neighbors.

Then she started showing up early to sessions when it's just a bunch of socializing.

Then after awhile, she basically just stayed in character after the games, showed up to sessions already in-character.

After about 6 months she stopped us as we were breaking things down, and had an entire prepared speech where she thanked the group for giving her something to live for.

Apparently she was not only homeless when she first came in, she was suicidal. She just wanted a place to sit and not be judged. Then she noticed we had food. Of course everyone always greets people when they come in and offer any snacks they want. She came back for the snacks. Then she came back for the vibes. Then the game.

She could barely speak to people before she started playing. Panic attacks when she tried. Her character is confident, and when playing with us she feels like she's confident too.

Now she pretends like she's her character in her daily life. She got a job at the library we played in every few weeks. She got an apartment, got a bicycle to get around quicker. Made friends outside of work and the games group.

I can't remember her name, this was almost 20 years ago now, but I will ask my parents about her, I'm curious how her life turned out. I was a teenager and barely cared about some so story that wasn't my own (cue emo music and it's not a phase mom) but I'm sure they remember her.

I continued to see her every so often around town when she stopped coming to the games after moving, but she didn't go back to the library any of the times I was there.

You never know how small a gesture might completely change someone's life, whether it's a huge lifestyle change or just someone being a bit more outgoing in certain situations.

Wonderful story!
For those wanting to read more about how singing relates to stuttering this research paper can be of interest:

Moreover, some patients who cannot speak fluently, are still fluent while singing: this surprising effect has long been known for individuals who stutter.
It is often reported as a curiosity in the press when, during a song contest, a severely stuttering young artist who struggles with every word, is suddenly beautifully singing without any interruption of the song.
There are also many cases of famous singers and actors who stutter.
Ed Sheeran stuttered as a child and he attributes rapping and singing as instrumental to his recovery.
Marilyn Monroe also stuttered as a child and on the advice of a speech therapist, took up singing to help mitigate the effects.
She eventually developed a distinctive and highly stylized manner of speech that was song-like, breathing from the diaphragm, with exaggerated emotional expression, stretched vowels, and slowed articulation rate.
This adopted style of speech seems to have served her well, but it is not clear how exactly the fluency-enhancing effects of singing are to be explained.
Different hypotheses suggest that these effects may be attributable to enhanced motor control emerging through

1. altered articulation patterns in singing, especially altered prosody and rhythmic-temporal structure, and
2. socio-emotional and cognitive factors, which, in addition create positive feelings, social connectedness and ease the burden of communication.

The present contribution will examine these hypotheses, with particular emphasis on the role of rhythm and discuss how singing could be integrated in therapeutic intervention.

• https://www.researchgate.net/publication/341514855_Singing_and_Stuttering

D&D and other table roleplaying games have always been a great forum for developing social skills and comfort with other people. They provide a structure that encourages people to interact. They also take the focus off the interaction itself by providing common goals that make the interactions a means to an end. Even minimal or awkward interactions are rewarded, leading to improvement.

I can't think of any other form of entertainment that provides similar benefits.

Everybody's saying that the Scatman stutters
But doesn't ever stutter when he sings
But what you don't know, I'm gonna tell you right now
That the stutter and the scat is the same thing, yo
I'm the Scatman

This is such a sweet story. I was deeply touched by it and I'll remember it for a long time to come.

The acceptance demonstrated here is very inspiring. It would also be neat to learn more about this awesome group of gamers. Keep on rocking, and have a great day - you certainly made mine.

Oh god that's so sweet

This is the way

That's so awesome!

Is the screenshot from Facebook?