Colin Firth and Helena Bonham Carter star in "The King's Speech." Photo courtesy of Internet Movie Database.

Has anyone seen “The Kings Speech,” the critically acclaimed movie about British King George VI’s battle to overcome stuttering?

That movie prompted the Naple News in Florida to find out more about the speech disorder, which affects about three million Americans. The newspaper also turned to National Association of Social Workers member Kim Rodgers of Monarch Therapy, who helps clients who stutter.

Rodgers focuses on giving stutterers emotional support. This is especially needed for children who stutter.

“Peers would probably overgeneralize by calling stutterers stupid, dumb, or weird,” said Rodgers, “Their thoughts become internalized, for instance, when they’re taking tests, like the FCAT (Florida Comprehensive Assessement Test), they may think they’re stupid, dumb or weird.”

Click here to read the Naple News full article. And to learn more about how social workers help people with stuttering and other disabilities click here to visit the National Association of Social Workers’ “Help Starts Here” Disabilities section.