Yes, acceptance will not change the opinions of others but it will change our opinion of ourselves. Of course the mocking will hurt, but the best we can do is speak up for ourselves and say we have a disability which shuts people up. If we don't acceptance ourselves — that this is the way we are and that this is our version of normal because it's all we've ever known — then what else can we do? Continue to hate ourselves until the day we die? My friend, it's better to accept this is our normal and do the best we can in life because that's all we can do - our best. I am sorry you are hurting. I've been there until I accepted that this is the way I was born at 22 years old. I am 27 now and I haven't let my stutter stop me. If people have a problem with the way I speak -- tough, I don't care. I'm happy with me. I love me, even with all my stops and starts in speech. I hope you, and everyone like us, can one day come to this acceptance.