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From: Steve Hood
Date: 10/7/03
Time: 1:06:48 PM
Remote Name: 199.33.133.50
Hello Gert--
You asked a good question and Walt Manning has provided a terrific reply. I would like to agree with Walt and take things a step further. (I do not know enough about what is happening internationally to be inclusive, so my comments will need to be related to things closer to home here in the USA.)
Yes !!! In the early days there were some "us-against-them" attitudes. This was between the SLP's and the self-help groups, as well as mild and generall fluent PWS not being accepted by those whose stuttering remained severe.
At the last three NSA Conventions, there have been workshops devoted to "covert stuttering:" e.g., those who have interiorized their stuttering through avoidance. Many coverts do not feel accepted or understood by overts.
About 20 years ago, the Vice President of ASHA for Clinical Affairs was Hugh Morris. Hugh was both an SLP and a PWS. He asked me to work up a task force to explore ways to do more to unify the SLP and PWS communities. I was distressed by how much distrust and dislike was held by PWS against the SLP community.
Gradually over the years, much improvement has occurred, and as Walt wrote, many more SLP's not attend meetings of groups like NSA (and Friends) than in the past. There were a number of international PWS at the Ahaheim convention in 2002, they from what they reported, this is also true with BSA, CAPS, and support groups on the European continent.
Although I am distressed that the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association has not taken a more proactive stance in terms of supporting stronger educational and clinical requirements for persons who want to work with PWS, at least we now have the Specialty Interest Division, and we are increasing the number of Board Recognized Fluency Specialists. This is a step in the right direction. Last year, the ASHA Distinguished Service Award recognized the contributions of the National Stuttering Association.
I would like to see the day when unified efforts are made collectively, rather than individually, betweeen ASHA, The National Stuttering Association and the Stuttering Foundation of America in this country, and possibly with overlap including the International Stuttering Association as well.
Thanks, Gert-- Thanks for posing your question.
Steve Hood