International Stuttering Association

September 2009:

Benny Ravid has resigned his position as Chair of the ISA Board of Directors. He is now a valued member of the ISA Board of Directors. During this transition period, please be aware that the ISA Board of Directors is a working board on the behalf of people who stutter worldwide.

Message from Michael Sugarman: "I am humbled to announce I am Chairperson for ISA board of directors. Please be mindful that I am "open" to Chair the ISA during a critical and challenging time. You can view my short bio (stuttering activities) by reading articles I wrote by going to the online conferences www.stutteringhomepage.com."

On the ISA Business Meeting held on May 6, 2007 (during the 8th congress for People who Stutter in Cavtat, Croatia) A new ISA board was elected by the delegates of ISA member associations.

Name	Country
John Steggles Dr Moussa Dao Joseph Lukong Suzana Jelčić-Jakšić Thomas Krall Benny Ravid Masuhiko Kawasaki Keith Boss Michael Sugerman	- Australia - Burkina Faso - Cameroon - Croatia - Germany - Israel - Japan - UK - USA

Benny Ravid	- ISA Chair
John Steggles	- ISA Vice Chair
Joseph Lukong	- ISA Secretary

For more details please see:
the 8th World Congress for People who Stutter Page

Meeting Call to Order

ISA Chair Mark Irwin called the meeting to order at 10:15 AM and welcomed the delegates and guests.

After some opening comments, Mark suggested that the ISA Member Associations introduce themselves. The following introductions were made:

    Ronald Van             Demosthenes                       Netherlands
    Per Knudsen           Danish Stuttering Assoc.       Denmark
    John Steggles           Speak Easy Assoc.               Australia
    Mario Mevden         Udruga Hinko Freund           Croatia
    Masuhiko Kawasaki   Japan Stuttering Project          Japan
    Moussa Dao             ABC Acion Conre                Burkina Faso
    Joseph Lukong         Speak Clear Assoc.                Cameroon
    Benny Ravid            Israel Stuttering Assoc.          Israel
    Thomas Krall           German Stuttering Assoc.      Germany
    Markus Preinfalk      OSIS                                    Austria
    Judith Eckardt          NSA                                    USA

Mark reminded the whole group that one vote is obtained from each ISA Member Association that is present.

Mark introduced ISA Advisory Board Members: Shinji Ito, Japan; Mel Hoffman, USA; Anita Blom, Sweden; Keith Boss, UK; Moussa Dao, Africa; Thomas Krall, Germany; Marlene Green, Canada.

            Ousmane Issa Bourkou Sainta                Chad
            Joseph Nsubuga                                   Uganda
            Prem Kumar                                         India
            Zong-Shan Li                                       China
            Indra Shrestha                                      Nepal
            Dritan Kici                                           Albania

Mark gave a special THANK YOU to the hosting Organizing Committee for the Congress and the Congress Chair, Suzana Jelcic Jaksic.

Approval of Minutes of the ISA Meeting on February 4, 2004 in Perth, Australia. Motion Passed.

Update of Special Friends Membership Group Status. Keith Boss, UK, Member of the Outreach Committee, presented a world map that showed areas of the world that have made contact with ISA. No Special Friends are recommended at this time.

All reports were done prior to the meeting and had been sent via email to ISA Board Members, ISA Advisory Board Members, and ISA Member Associations.

Indra Shrestha                                              Nepal Stuttering Association*
Demosthenes (Netherlands)                         Ronald Van Drunen
Indian Stammering Association *                 Prem Kumar
Israel Stuttering Association                         Benny Ravid
Speak Easy (Australia)                                  John Steggles

MEMORIAL: Thomas Krall from Germany asked that 30 seconds of silence be taken for Konrad Schaefers who died about 6 months ago. Konrad who was from Germany was one of the founders of ELSA and ISA.

Both Zong-Shan Li and Prem Kumar were questioned about their country’s ability to host the 2010 ISA Congress. Questions involved location, number of local associations, financial support, translation capabilities, and experience. A vote from the Member Associations was taken and Beijing, China will be the location of the ISA 2010 Congress. The Host group will be the China Stuttering Association (CSA).

Mark introduced Willie Boterill from the UK. She is President Elect of the IFA (International Fluency Association). She announced that the IFA will meet in Brazil in 2009. The possibility of IFA and ISA holding a joint Congress in the future was discussed.

Motion 22 and Stuttering Definitions: Mark Irwin gave a powerpoint presentation and read the public awareness statement. Later following concerns expressed by Marlene Green and Anita Blom, it became clear that the time constraints would prevent full discussion. Accordingly, a decision was made to postpone further discussion on this topic and allow more time for consideration by ISA Member Associations.

The need for an “ISA Office” was discussed. Mark made comments that it is his experience that the ISA workload has developed significantly over the last 3 years. In his opinion, administrative assistance for the ISA Chair will be necessary to ensure further ISA expansion.

The following present ISA Directors remain on the Board: Masuhiko Kawasaki, Japan; John Steggles, Australia; Benny Ravid, Israel; and Joseph Lukong, Cameroon. Michael Sugarman, USA, was absent and was in the vote.

Mark Irwin accepted self-nominations for ISA Director and names were written on the board/flip chart. Mark told the group that we presently had 9 Directors but that the ISA Constitution permitted up to 11. No one contested this statement at the time. Eleven names were self-nominated and Michael’s name was added to the list. There was a paper vote taken resulting in the elimination of one person and at the close of the meeting, 11 ISA Directors were elected. It was later realized that the ISA Constitution calls for a maximum of 9 Directors and that situation is now under consideration by the ISA Board.

The following people are the New ISA Directors: Dritan Kici, Albania; Keith Boss, UK; Thomas Krall, Germany; Suzana Jelcic Jaksic, Croatia; Moussa Dao, Burkina Faso; and Prem Kumar, India.

The following people attended the ISA Business Meeting and signed the check-in sheet:

Judith Eckardt                          USA
Mel Hoffman                            USA
Thomas Krall                            Germany
Moussa Dao                             Burkina Faso
Masuhiko Kawasaki                  Japan
Yukichi Akamatsu                     Japan
Yosimasa Sakata                        Japan
Zung-Shan Li                            China
Thomas Grevelhoerster              Germany
Mark Irwin                                Australia
Per Knudsen                            Denmark
Henrik Jensen                           Denmark
Mariette Von Eekelen               Netherlands
Maria (Maartje) Borghuis           Netherlands
Richard Bourgondien                Netherlands
Ronald Van Drunen                  Netherlands
Sybren Bouwsma                      Netherlands
Benny Ravid                             Israel
Keith Boss                               UK
Manfred Fitzner                        Germany
Prem Kumar                             India
Indra Lal Shrestha                     Napal
John Steggles                            Australia
Markus Preinfalk                       Austria
Katrina Zvonarich                      Austria
Blank Koffer                             Germany
Jiri Palica                                  Czech Rep
Jiri Mazoch                               Czech Rep.
Herman Christmann                  Denmark
OusmaneIssa BourkouSainta      Chad
Joseph Lukong                         Cameroon
Shinji Ito                                   Japan
Kazue Shinji                              Japan
Dritan Kici                                Albania
Marlene Green                          Canada
Mario Gotovac                         Croatia
Joseph Nsubuga                       Uganda
Gansou Gregoire                      Benin
Konstantin Belov                      Russia
Dina Lilian                                South Africa
Matthias Losert                        Germany

At 1:10 PM Mark Irwin, Retired ISA Chair, opened a meeting of the new ISA Board (10 present) to elect Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer.

At 11:40 AM, Benny Ravid, ISA Chair, opened a meeting to discuss formation of a Press Release for the 8^th ISA World Congress.

At 6:40 PM, Benny Ravid, ISA Chair, open a meeting to discuss VISIONS & TARGETS for ISA. Each ISA Board Member and Advisory Board Member was asked to present.

The following is a NON OFFICIAL issue of the "Public Awareness Message".
This issue was approved by ISA board for wider consideration by ISA member associations.

It will be discussed on the ISA membership meeting in Croatia on May 6, 2007.

Stuttering, (also known as stammering) is a disorder involving the production of free flowing speech. While the term has commonly been associated with involuntary syllable repetition, it also includes the word and phrase repetition, prolongation of sounds and the abnormal hesitation or pausing before and/or during speech in which the individual is unable to produce words or sounds to varying degrees, referred to as speech blocking.

The ISA wishes to highlight that a complete understanding of stuttering needs to incorporate more than the listeners perspective but also account for the speakers experience. Consequently the ISA board promotes the terms Stuttered Speech Syndrome (negative feelings, attitude and behaviour) and covert stuttering (word avoidance, substitution and circumlocution) to clarify discussions about stuttering and its effects.

Cause

The cause of stuttering is unknown although a hereditary factor has been identified as it tends to run in families.

Stuttering is generally not a problem with the physical production of speech sounds or putting thoughts into words. Despite popular perceptions to the contrary, stuttering does not affect and has no bearing on intelligence. Apart from their speech impairment, people who stutter are generally normal in every other way. Anxiety, low self-confidence, nervousness, and stress therefore do not cause stuttering, although they are very often the result of living with a highly stigmatized disability.

Variable Effects

It is clear that this disorder affects different people in different ways. Some experience it as frequent word repetitions or prolongations especially during periods of heightened anxiety and describe it in terms of being just a minor inconvenience in the free flow of speech. Others experience it as a complete blockage or cessation of the ability to speech. Speech block stuttering is generally accompanied by habitual struggle behaviour associated with efforts to release the speech block. Individuals afflicted in this way can experience the disorder as a major disability in not only their efforts to speak to other individuals but also as something that can affect their whole experience of life itself.

While stuttering is said to affect about 1% of the population some individuals are able to hide their speech blocks through word and situation avoidance and circumlocution. This form of stuttering has been referred to as “covert stuttering” due to its deliberately hidden nature. The covert stutterer’s greatest fear is how others may judge them if they happen to lose control while speaking and experience a speech block. Many are reluctant to admit to anyone that they have any stuttering behaviour.

The emotional reaction of any individual to the stuttering often constitutes the most significant aspect of the disorder. It is important that family, friends, relatives, work colleagues and the public in general understand that much of what constitutes stuttering and more particularly “speech blocking" goes much deeper than the dysfluent speech that the listener hears. This includes such things as sound and word fears, situational fears, fears associated with negative judgment by others. Stuttering can lead to what some are calling “Stuttered Speech Syndrome”. Symptoms of this include increased dysfluency, a feeling of loss of control of speech, associated high anxiety or panic, depression, low self-esteem, social phobia and confusion over issues of personal identity.

Variable Severity

The severity of stuttering can vary greatly for any particular individual and can be specific to certain words and situations e.g. talking on the telephone, ordering in a restaurant, speaking to an authority figure. Many individuals have a problem in saying their name when they have to introduce themselves. There are a small percentage of people who have severe blocking on almost every word, in almost every situation. These people are generally less anxious about their stuttering than those who block infrequently as the latter group are uncertain when stuttering might appear. This phenomenon highlights the need to regard the severity of stuttering as independent of the severity of Stuttered Speech Syndrome. A person with apparent infrequent stuttering may be severely affected by Stuttered Speech Syndrome while the converse can also apply.

Therapy

There are many treatments, devices and speech therapy techniques available that, to varying degrees, can help some people who stutter to control or reduce both the problem of dysfluency itself (stuttering) and of negative reactions to it (Stuttered Speech Syndrome). The ISA highlights the value of self-help and support groups in this process.

Stuttering as a Disability –the controversy.
By Mark Irwin - ISA Board Chair *

“Dr. Mark Irwin is the Board Chair of the International Stuttering Association, the umbrella organization for national stuttering self-help and support groups from throughout the world. He has also previously served as President of the Australian Speak Easy Association and continues as a member of its national council. He is a dentist in private practice in Adelaide, Australia.”

Stuttering is a legally defined disability in many countries of the world. Even so to call stuttering a disability can provoke a strong negative reaction in both SLP’s and people who stutter (PWS). Why would this be so?

Objections to describing stuttering as a disability involve one or more of the following arguments:
1. Disability is not the right word.
2. Some people who stutter do not choose/want to see themselves as disabled.
3. The label disability encourages the victim mentality.
The International Stuttering Association, the umbrella organization for national self –help and support groups throughout the world, recently debated this question, confirming its recognition of stuttering as a disability. The rationale for this decision follows:

1. Is disability the right word?
This issue relates to the episodic nature of stuttering, its situational specificity, differences in how its life impact is perceived by sufferers, as well to the fact it can be ameliorated by therapy. Consideration of this leads to the question is there another word that better describes stuttering? Traditionally there have been two other words associated with disability – impairment and handicap. The distinction between them has been described by American SLP’s Scott Yarus and Bob Quesal, among others, in the following manner: Impairment refers to the stuttered speech patterns, disability describes the communication difficulties, and handicap describes the impact the communication difficulties have on achieving life goals.
With stuttering, of course, the extent of the communication difficulty can be more than just the observable speech. The communication difficulty is also affected by the speaker’s anticipation of, and/or reaction to, the stuttering behaviour. So disability can still exist in spite of only a minor observable impairment and minimal handicap. However these distinctions are obviously subtle and confusing. The same issue affects accurate descriptions of many other disorders besides stuttering. In 2001 the World Health Organization responded to this by re-evaluating its previous International Classification of Impairments, Disabilities, and Handicaps, in favour of a new framework known as the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. Without going into a full description of the impact of this change, (see Yarus and Quesal, Journal of Communication Disorders 37, 2004 ) ,one obvious implication as seen by the change in title, is that the words impairment and handicap have been devalued leaving disability as the general descriptor.
In addition to this it is necessary to consider the use of the word disability when applied to what is known as the “disability movement”. This movement is becoming very powerful as previously disadvantaged members of society seek attitudinal and legislative change. There is no question that some pws have been disadvantaged by their stuttering, (e.g. unable to obtain a job because of an inability to speak well under the stress of an interview), and need these matters to be brought to the attention of authorities. Again disability is the right word to describe stuttering if stuttering is to be supported by the disability movement.

2. Some pws do not choose/want to see themselves as disabled.
Canadian SLP Ann Meltzer reported a survey in which she asked pws to comment on this question “Is stuttering a disability.” The majority responded negatively to this statement. As a result she argued that “whether a person is disabled by stuttering or wants to be recognized as having a disability/ being disabled, is an individual choice.”
A response to this statement leads to a debate on the semantics of the previously discussed impairment, disability, handicap definitions. It could also be argued that the same people who are not happy to see themselves as having a disability are also not happy about seeing themselves as people who stutter. In other words there is a lot of shame, embarrassment and denial for pws. Dealing with this is the major role of self help groups, and of course is regarded by many as a foundation stone for successful therapy. As expressed on related matters by popular TV psychologist Dr. Phil McGraw, “you can’t change what you don’t acknowledge.”

3. Labelling stuttering a disability may encourage a victim mentality.
This of course relates to the issue discussed above. But it goes further. That is because pws have a legally defined disability they may be entitled to concessions that encourage them to stay dysfluent. They may also fall into the trap of using their stuttering to receive sympathy and support they feel they would not otherwise get. In other words there is a disincentive for pws to seek therapy or respond positively to it.
Most commentators would agree this is a possibility, but this position also assumes therapy could be effective for everyone who stutters. Clearly this is not the case. Many pws have had years of therapy and still remain relatively dysfluent. Another question raised here is “just how hard should one have to try to become fluent?” An analogy is to expect everyone who joins a golf club to keep on practicing until they can play like Tiger Woods. This is obviously an unrealistic position. Some may have the talent, capability and luck as well as access to the right coach to do very well, but most of these golfers are going to remain players of modest skill.
Indeed this raises another question, : “What expectations should therapists have of their clients?” The ISA has also looked at this question and ratified a Bill of Rights and Responsibilities for People Who Stutter. The general concept is one of individual rights for the person who stutters. In other words some may choose to live with their stuttering while others may work at overcoming it –the path is for each individual to decide. But with either path the word disability remains. Stuttering can be seen as a disability to be lived with, or as a disability to be overcome.

AFRICAN CONFERENCE and
INTERNATIONAL SPEECH PROJECT
Report by Mark Irwin (ISA Board Chair) October 27, 2005

History:
In February 2004 at the World Congress of PWS held in Perth Australia, David Shapiro and Peggy Wahlhaus discussed with me their idea of collaboration with the ISA to develop a program for bringing stuttering therapy to the developing world. A model for this initiative was the internationally recognized “Medicines Sans Frontieres” (Doctors Without Borders). Stefan Hoffman as ISA Outreach Committee chair was later involved in these discussions and it was decided to pursue this idea further.

There was a meeting in Perth and later group email discussions where it was decided to name the program –International Speech Project –Stuttering (ISP-S). The rationale was if funding was to be secured and recognition achieved then the project had to have a broader appeal than simply stuttering therapy. It was decided it would be more likely to be favourably received by potential donors if the program related to provision of general speech therapy services.

Once this decision was made other issues were its structure and where and how to launch the project. Stefan Hoffman, Moussa Dao, Joseph Lukong and I collaborated to initiate an inaugural African Stuttering Conference in Douala Cameroon from 6th-8th October 2005, thinking that this conference would provide an opportunity to gain insights into needs and fund raising possibilities. This background information would enable effective future planning and make Douala the obvious place to launch ISP –S.

Attendees
From inside Africa there were delegates from 14 different African countries. Of course the main group came from Cameroon.
From outside Africa the conference was supported by speech pathologists Anne-Marie Simon from France, experienced in work in Africa, two of her colleagues Sylvie Brignone and Cecile Couvignou, as well as David Shapiro (USA) and Suzanna Rosenberger (Germany). In addition psychologist Peter Howell (England), geneticist Radha Upphala (India) and teacher Isobel Quick (Australia) also made conference presentations.

Promotion
Anne Marie Simon was a key person in promotion of the event throughout Africa. She had many contacts as a result of previous work there. In addition others heard of it through her interviews on Radio France Internationale. Joseph Lukong liaised with me to produce a conference brochure and later worked tirelessly communicating via email with potential delegates from all over Africa, as well as creating media awareness in Cameroon.

Finance
The ISA took up the challenge to financially manage the event. It sought funds from recognized aid agencies, embassies and churches without success but was successful in obtaining private donations directly and through affiliated member associations. Originally it was hoped that fund raising could be arranged to fully support travel, accommodation and meals for one delegate from each African country. In the end budgetary constraints meant we could only offer 50% air fare while fully supporting accommodation and meals. Delegates from 21 African countries were involved in discussions about attendance. Of these, delegates from 14 countries attended. Distribution of scholarship money raised by the ISA was managed in Douala by myself, Joseph Lukong and Moussa Dao, after telephone and email links to ISA treasurer Hermann Christmann of Denmark.

Aims of Conference
• Give information about stuttering.
• Give stuttering therapy.
• Give information about development of self-help groups
• Gain information about situation for PWS in Africa
• Gain information about situation for therapists in Africa
• Gain information for fund raising possibilities
• Launch International Speech Project -Stuttering

Information Given
• Information was given to delegates via conference presentations by all the speech pathologists and by psychologist Peter Howell, geneticist Radha Upphala and teacher Isobel Quick. The general public was informed through numerous radio and television interviews. Credit must go to Joseph Lukong for publicizing the event so widely in Douala and ensuring such widespread media coverage.
(Anytime I was interviewed, including a segment on the 7.00 TV news, my message was for the general public to understand stuttering is a disability that can be managed to varying levels depending on age, severity and support. The message for pws was to come out, not to be anxious, embarrassed or ashamed of their stuttering and join a support group as a means of helping themselves.
• Stuttering therapy was provided to the delegates in preconference work shops conducted by Anne Marie Simon and David Shapiro
• I gave a presentation on stuttering self-help groups –how to make them work to ensure they remain dynamic and open.

Information gained
• Generally the situation in Africa for PWS is poor due to a lack of understanding and use of ineffective and physically harmful treatment techniques. Examples included a report from Salad from Kenya on how he was beaten vigorously on the back with a sheep’s lung as a treatment method. Joseph Nsubuga from Uganda reported incidents where children who stuttered had been killed in the belief they were possessed by evil spirits.
• Belief in witchcraft is still prominent in Africa and the local witchdoctor/ faith healer is used as a therapy source. Western style therapy exists to varying extents. Recognized speech therapy qualifications are available in South Africa and Togo. The Togo training institution has received funding from Handicap International and students receive specialist training in stuttering therapy from Anne Marie Simon. Other people have done what can best be described as auxiliary training either in France or in South Africa. Elsewhere psychologists treat stuttering. Sami Yasin from Sudan reported that speech therapists are unknown in his country.
• There are many international aid organizations, churches and embassies providing assistance in Africa. Unfortunately none of those approached by the ISA or by the Clear Speech Association of Cameroon were able to help.

Launch of International Speech Project –Stuttering
After consideration of input from numerous sources the ISP –S was launched with a general concept of developing self-help groups to liaise with specialist speech pathologists to provide information to PWS and the general public. In addition the specialist SLP’s would provide postgraduate education to African “speech pathologists” and psychologists. Another priority was to lobby African governments to provide training for French and English speaking students in the established facilities in Togo and South Africa respectively. Later perhaps, when enough speech therapists in various African countries had been trained it might be possible to develop local education facilities staffed by people previously trained in Togo or South Africa. A development board will be established to manage practical implementation of these ideas.

Summary
The delegates indicated that they very much valued the opportunity to build networks with other PWS and experts from within their own countries, from Africa, and from other countries in the world. Judging by the number of contact details exchanged this will be only the start of the ongoing development of a supportive network of people with a commitment to improving the situation for PWS in Africa.
Expert information was shared in a two way process and knowledge deepened. From this we can expect the development of more self-help groups in Africa plus the provision of more effective therapy and training services. In addition a foundation has been set for ISP-S so that essential information and effective stuttering therapy might soon be bought to all people of the developing world.
Thanks are due to everyone involved in this historic event. A huge splash was made in the pond of stuttering awareness and understanding. The ripple effect from this splash will further develop the ISA mission of a world that understands stuttering.
Finally as a visitor to Africa I found the hospitality shown by the local delegates to be outstanding, and would encourage others to participate in any future conferences.

Fluency and Beyond: A Holistic Look at Stuttering
Hosted by the Australian Speak Easy Association
Perth, Australia
Peter Dhu, Congress Convenor
February 15-20, 2004

Over 350 delegates attended the 2004 World Congress at the Esplanade Hotel in Fremantle, Western Australia. Of the people who registered there were 100 International delegates from 26 Nations, over 100 from the state of Western Australia, and an additional 100 from the other states of Australia. Many of these delegates were able to attend through scholarships offered by the ASEA and the ISA.

The Congress Programme Committee invited speakers from many nations to represent the wide cross section of treatment philosophies throughout the world. The programme was extremely comprehensive and offered many plenary sessions and workshops. These workshops and sessions were often led by People Who Stutter and were in the theme of a “holistic look at stuttering” In addition, social functions included a welcoming party by the Esplanade Hotel Pool and a closing function over the water at the Fremantle Sailing Club. To acquaint the delegates with Western Australia, tours were offered before and after the Congress.

Two sentiments expressed by delegates, which represented the views of many, were : “I came just looking for fluency but will leave with so much more.” AND “Even though I was in a foreign country I felt at home.”

A special thanks goes to Peter Dhu and his planning committee for all their work in the past four years to make the 2004 Congress a great success. Also, many thanks to West Australian Speak Easy who was able to raise $25,000 through sausage sizzles, raffles, chocolate drives, Entertainment Book sales, BBQ’s etc. to help with the expenses of the Congress and to supply scholarship money. Finally, many thanks to Dr. Mark Irwin, Chairman of ISA for his work as Chair of the Programme Committee.

We are presenting here an OPEN LETTER obtained from Annie Bradberry - ISA secretary and refined by Mark Irwin - ISA chair on Harry Potter movie.
ISA member associations are kindly requested to alter it as required and send it on their letterhead to as many newspapers in their country as possible. (through their regional groups?)

I wish to draw to your attention negative feedback our association has received from parents and children who have seen the current movie "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone". Accordingly I wish the following letter to be published in your newspaper.

Further information can be obtained from the International Stuttering Association through its spokes person Jaan Pill of Canada (jpill@interlog.com) and web site http:www.stutterisa.org

The Harry Potter books, and now the first Harry Potter movie, are enchanting millions of children. Children who stutter, however, are coming away from the movie hurt, humiliated and angry because of the portrayal of the stuttering Professor Quirrell.

Professor Quirrell is a weak character whose stutter marks him as ineffectual, insecure and harmless. It's the oldest stereotype around and it's completely false. It's particularly disappointing to see an otherwise imaginative work as "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" cut corners with this hackneyed formula.

Stuttering is not an emotional problem or nervous disorder. Current research suggests a connection between stuttering and neurological coordination of the speech mechanism. For children struggling to come to terms with their stuttering, this common misunderstanding -- that stuttering is a symptom of emotional problems or weakness of character -- is a source of daily frustration.

Harry Potter is not the first book or movie to portray people who stutter negatively, of course. Most adults who stutter have developed a thick skin about this kind of prejudice, but children are especially vulnerable. The presence of this hurtful stereotype in a popular movie means that children who stutter will be teased by kids and misunderstood by adults more than ever. The National Stuttering Association began getting calls from parents shortly after the Harry Potter movie was released and we expect many more as the movie runs its course.

I am sure you did not intend to hurt children who stutter when you wrote the book. But wouldn't it have been great if the power of this magical story had been used to promote understanding of kids who are different instead of perpetuating a false stereotype? We hope you will consider using stuttering in a future Harry Potter book to make one of your characters more interesting and realistic.

Signature
Insert Name
(On behalf of (insert your organization's name) and the International Stuttering Association)

We are pleased to inform you that three new ISA member associations have been accepted for membership in ISA:

The contact information of the new members will be published on ISA members page shortly.

Among the articles published on the ISAD online conference on October 1 to 22, 2001 was an article about ISA, its history, web site and more. To read it click Article about ISA . The annual online conference is organized by Judy Kuster on the Stuttering Home Page

For your interest, there is a free translation service on the Internet. To use it click: Translation service

The translation is not perfect. But undoubtedly it is better then nothing. There is a possibility to translate between English and French, English and Spanish, English and German, English and Japanese and more.

I have the great pleasure to inform you that the ISA Board of Directors agreed to add new members to the Special Friends Group, which helps keeping contacts in countries where there is no ISA member Association for Stuttering People.

They all will be close to ISA developments and receive the newsletter OV for free. They have the right to publish articles in OV and ISA web site about their country and have access to the worldwide contact network about stuttering.

It is ISA's hope that they will gradually work to establish Self-Help groups in their areas or continue running them in case they exist. They are of course especially invited to attend the World Congress in 2004 in Perth, Australia.

Of course, among the Special Friends, it might be very fruitful to share experiences, as in most countries we face the same challenges.

Meeting the needs of people who stutter is the mission of the ISA as we work towards a vision of a world that understands stuttering.

The ISA is the umbrella organization for national and international self help groups for people who stutter. It seeks to strengthen the self help movement and to represent all people who stutter.

The ISA message is that stuttering is not shameful and need not be hidden. Many therapies are available which address the issues of negative emotional responses and/or poor speech behaviour.

I am delighted to be working with a talented, committed and experienced board. I believe we will work well with national associations on projects which will make a real difference to lives of people who stutter.