Key Objective #1: Exchange of Information and Experiences

All stuttering associations deal with the same subject, and their aims and objectives are more or less similar. There are, however, differences in the way the national associations work and which areas of self-help work they focus on. For example, some organizations put much emphasis on stuttering in children, others may mainly serve adult stutterers. Learning about the situation in other countries and being introduced to "the way they do it" can be a most beneficial and stimulating experience with a directly helpful impact on the associations' daily work.

ELSA promotes the exchange of information in several ways:

• A newsletter ('Voice of ELSA') is published twice a year, providing news and background articles about recent developments in European countries. Additionally, the ELSA newsletter provides a platform for personal exchange, eg. by publishing letters or requests for pen friendships.
  
• The associations' attitudes towards self-help and their general policies have been collected and compiled in two comprehensive surveys detailed descriptions of their work Methods and Concepts of Stuttering Self-Help, 1993; & Stuttering and Employment, 1994 (see Publications section for details.)
  
• A library collection of material produced and published by the member associations (newsletters, brochures, books, videos etc.) is kept at the ELSA office in Köln serving as a basis for a planned database on stuttering and self-help.

The most powerful tools in ELSA's exchange work are the European seminars which bring together Board members of the national stuttering organizations and other interested delegates and professionals working in the field. Each seminar is devoted to a particular topic; recent ones have been entitled Self-help for Parents of Children Who Stutter ; Stuttering and Employment ; Helping Stuttering Pupils and Stuttering Awareness . ELSA seminars are part funded by the Commission of the European Union.

Another important aspect of exchange is the personal encounter of people who stutter from different countries. As a matter of fact, this is what makes international cooperation become a concrete, enjoyable and inspiring experience.

European seminars are an opportunity for people to meet, however, at this time ELSA cannot organize meetings with a large number of participants due to financial constraints, the member associations are therefore encouraged to open their national meetings/annual conferences for fellow-stutterers from abroad.

Next - Key Objective #2 - Representation of Interests