About the presenter: Willie Botterill, MscPsychological Counselling, Reg MRCSLT, Reg UKCP (PCT). Consultant speech and language therapist and clinical manager of the Michael Palin Centre for children, a nationally and interntionally recognised centre of excellence in the assessment and treatment of stammering childen. Involved in research, conferences and post graduate teaching programmes both nationally and internationally. Author and co author of a number of books and peer reviewed journals.
About the presenter: Edwin J Farr MBE is a Chartered Environmental Civil Engineer, born in Manchester, UK, and graduated from Birmingham University. Running parallel with his professional career, his work in stuttering self help and advocacy started in the early 1980's. He has been a member the British Stammering Association for 25 years and Board member for 12 years. He co-founded the European League of Stuttering Associations (ELSA) in 1990 after three years of preparation working with the national stuttering associations of Europe. Since 1990 Edwin has helped organise, with funding from various European bodies, 17 stuttering awareness meetings, conferences and youth meetings and participated in many more. In 2002 Edwin was awarded "Member of the British Empire" (MBE) in the Queen's Jubilee Birthday Honours, for his services to the Stuttering Community.
About the presenter: Mark Irwin, is the managing partner of a large cosmetic dental practice in Adelaide, South Australia. Dr. Irwin has served on the Board since '98 and from 2001 has been Board Chair. His previous experience in stuttering self-help groups included the roles of National President of the Australian Speak Easy Association ('95 -'96), and president of his state branch ('94).

You can post Questions/comments about the following paper to the author before October 22, 2006.


The Team: Who They Are, What They Do, and How To Join

by Willie Botterill, Mark Irwin, and Edwin Farr
from England and Australia

There are many individuals, local, and national organizations around the world that have found important and creative ways to support people who stutter and the concept of International Stuttering Awareness Day (ISAD) since it began in 1998. Those interested can read some of the ways individuals and organizations have supported this concept by checking through the announcement pages from previous conferences.

1998 Announcements 1999 Announcements
2000 Announcements 2001 Announcements
2002 Announcements 2003 Announcements
2004 Announcements 2005 Announcements

Similar announcements for ISAD 2006 can be posted on this year's threaded discussion at

2006 Announcements

But there are three organizations that were instrumental in originally designating October 22nd as International Stuttering Awareness Day (ISAD) - International Fluency Association (IFA), the International Stuttering Association (ISA) and the European League of Stuttering Associations (ELSA). The following short descriptions of these organizations provides information about their purpose and how to join them. The threaded discussion attached to this paper is intended to gather ideas and suggestions on how these organizations can reach out more effectively to encourage constituents to join. Please share your ideas!

International Fluency Association (IFA)

What is the IFA?

The International Fluency Association was founded in 1991 and has members members from all over of the world. The aim of the IFA is to bring together people from all around the world who are interested in understanding stuttering and fluency; and to work towards improving the quality of life of people with fluency problems; and to recognize the mutual contribution and the expertise, of those who study fluency from a wide range of perspectives and of those who stutter.

Why become a member?

The IFA aims to bring together clinicians, researchers, people who stutter and others who are interested in disorders of fluency. It provides a variety of forums through which members can share theoretical, empirical, clinical and cultural approaches to stuttering. The association has sponsored fluency workshops in North America and Europe providing opportunities for clinicians to update their knowledge of current theoretical and treatment approaches.

Members also receive the Journal of Fluency Disorders four times a year. This is the official journal of the International Fluency Association and the only publication devoted specifically to fluency. It provides comprehensive coverage of clinical, experimental, and theoretical aspects of stuttering, as well as the latest remediation techniques. The Journal features full length research and clinical reports ; methodological theoretical and phiosophical articles; reviews ; and short communications. The gradual rise in the JFD¹s stature over the years has been the result of the careful stewardship of the publishers, Elsevier, and the scholarly direction of the editors, currently Ed Conture, and his dedicated group of editorial staff and consultants.

The IFA organises a World Congress every three years at different locations around the world and publishes the proceedings for the participants. Congresses have been held in Munich (Germany; 1994), San Francisco (U.S.A, 1997), Nyborg (Denmark; 2000). The 4th World Congress will be held in Montreal (Canada; 2003), and Dublin this year.

The IFA has a website (http://www.theifa.org) that includes a newsletter and noticeboard. This has the potential to provide members with regularly updated news and views from around the world.

Who is it for?

It is open to all those from around the world who are interested in prevention, assessment and management of fluency disorders, stuttering/stammering and cluttering. The IFA is committed to encouraging individuals from countries where the costs of membership may be prohibitive by providing a sponsorship scheme. For further information regarding sponsorship, please contact: Steen Fibiger, P.O. Box 149, DK-5100 Odense C, Denmark, 5-63146232 E-mail: fibiger@thi.fyns-amt.dk

How do I become a member ?

There is a fee for regular membership, and a reduced fee for students and couples. For updated information about the IFA membership applications and fees, check the Website at: http://www.theifa.org

Help us expand and plan for the future? The IFA need your input to help us plan for the future. We need to know :

We also need some help with the newsletter which relies on news items from around the world. In order to make this work effectively we need more members who are willing to contribute small items of news about research, therapy, conferences or training programmes that are of intererst to the membership.

We hope you will use this wonderful opportunity to get in touch with us during the online conference.

International Stuttering Association (ISA)

What is the International Stuttering Association

The ISA is the international umbrella association for other international and national associations for people who stutter throughout the world. It has over 40 member associations and through its Outreach program seeks to expand this number. Its vision statement is "A world that understands stuttering". It sees itself as representing the needs of people who stutter and to that end seeks to work closely with speech pathologists, psychologists, psychiatrists and researchers involved in the International Fluency Association.

Achievements/Activities of the ISA

Who Can Join

European League of Stuttering Associations (ELSA)

Formed in 1990, ELSA is a registered umbrella charity and European non-governemental organisation representing the National Stuttering Associations (NSAs) of Europe. ELSA consists of an Executive Board and Committees comprising stutterers from all walks of life, some of whom work in the field of stuttering therapy and stuttering advocacy.

ELSA's main role is to:

Publications Conferences / Seminars With significant funding from the Council of Europe ELSA has also organised 5 European Youth Meetings for young people who stutter to a) develop and encourage them to participate in the workings of their national stuttering association, b) to educate and train them in methods of advocacy c) to empower them to go back to their countries and apply the new advocay knowledge within their peer group and national associations by networking and making new contacts d) to show the young people that being an active member of their national stuttering association can be fun and satisfying and enhance their personal development for the benefit of themselves and people across Europe who stutter.

A funding application has been lodged for the 6th Youth Meeting in July 2007 focusing on the subject of human rights.

ELSA Board Members have participated in numerous significant NGO & professional conferences worldwide. Additionally, ELSA Board members and volunteers have given many speeches and presentations across the world on stuttering self help and stuttering in general.

European Disability Forum (EDF)

ELSA is a founding member of the European Disability Forum (EDF) now 10 years old. The EDF is a European umbrella organisation representing more than 50 million disabled people in Europe. Its mission is to ensure disabled citizens' full access to fundamental and human rights through their active involvement in policy development and implementation in the European Union. ELSA is firmly committed to stuttering as a disability and is a voting member on the Board of the EDF.

ELSA also has representation on the Youth Committee Board of the EDF.

The European Year of People with Disabilities 2003

ELSA was one of only five European Non Governmental Organisations (ENGO's) chosen for the "European Year of People with Disabilities 2003" awareness campaign sponsored by the European Union. Project funding was allocated to ELSA to raise awareness of stuttering in the year 2003.

ELSA produced it's flagship publication International and European Disability Policy during this year.

Website

Please visit our website: http://www.elsa.info

If you want to work with the Board of ELSA to raise awareness of stuttering and make Europe a better place for people who stutter then please contact: elsa.europe@totalise.co.uk

Edwin J Farr MBE October 2006


You can post Questions/comments about the above paper to the author before October 22, 2006.


September 30, 2006
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