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From: Jaan Pill
Date: 10/17/01
Time: 2:52:44 PM
Remote Name: 206.47.240.221
Currently, the four associations, IFA, ELSA, ISA, and ASHA collaborate on projects such as ISAD. They work together on projects that involve mutual goals.
At other levels, they work to serve their own particular constituencies.
ELSA, for example, specifically works on behalf of national self-help associations in Europe. ELSA can do things at the European level that other associations (such as IFA, ISA, or ASHA) would not be in a position to do.
ISA represents national self-help associations around the world, including member associations of ELSA. ISA was formed specifically to represent the interests of national self-help associations -- associations that are predominantly run by stutters themselves -- at the international level.
IFA represents speech professionals, researchers, and people who stutter. IFA was originally founded in support of the concept that a single association could at the same time speak on behalf of all of the three categories (speech professionals, researchers, and people who stutter). The people who founded ISA felt that people who stutter also need their own, separate voice, at the international level.
ASHA, meanwhile, is a national association that represents American speech, langage, and hearing professionals. It's a national professional association with an interest in international contacts.
Currently, these associations (and others) collaborate on suitable international projects, while at the same time maintaining their separate identities.