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From: Jaan Pill
Date: 10/8/01
Time: 2:14:22 PM
Remote Name: 134.29.30.79
Question No. 4 from Joseph Lukong of Cameroon:
From the document you sent to me I saw there that ISA seek to improve the conditions of people whose lives have been affected by stuttering in all countries . How is that vision going to be realise and how can ISA help me and my people here?
Answer from Jaan Pill (who wants to add that answers from other people involved with ISA’s work are also most welcome):
Joseph, you have asked a really good, and tough, question!
I think it’s useful to speak first of all about ISA’s current projects, as described by the chair of the ISA board of directors, Mark Irwin of Australia:
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Current areas of interest for ISA include:
· Outreach to people around the world · Maintenance of a website · Publishing a biannual newsletter · Development of positive relationships with speech professionals · Achievement of recognition from the World Health Organization · Raising funds for scholarships for attendance at World Congresses for People Who Stutter · Supporting the annual International Stuttering Awareness Day (ISAD) held on or about October 22 of each year
Specific plans of the ISA are to:
· Hold an International Year of the Child Who Stutters in 2004 · Assist national associations to develop CD-ROMs with information for children who stutter, their parents, teachers, and fluent classmates · Influence governments and educational institutions to ensure such CD-ROMs are distributed as effectively as possible · Support the Seventh World Congress of People Who Stutter in Perth Australia in 2004
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ISA seeks to realize its vision by taking on these specific projects, and building on them in the future.
With reference to Cameroon, I think a very positive first step has been the contact that you have established with Stefan Hoffmann, vice-chair of the ISA board of directors. I am also pleased to know of your interest in possibly arranging an ISAD event this year. I am hoping as well that there will be an article in the next ISA newsletter about the Speak Clear Association of Cameroon.
I am also very inspired by the idea that we can exchange a wide range of information. People involved with ISA (including people from CAPS, the association I’m connected with at the national level in Canada) expressed strong enthusiasm and delight when they read copies of your recent correspondence with Stefan.
First of all, we can exchange information and experiences, as we are doing. That is a first step in working together to improve the conditions of people who stutter in Cameroon and elsewhere.
Secondly, we can arrange for the association in Cameroon to become a member, sooner or later, of ISA. That is the subject of your fifth question, which I will answer next.
I am very pleased that you are already part of the worldwide network for people who stutter. Your participation in the network adds to the strength of this network, and to the prospects for its future growth.