ELSA welcomes a new member association

Stuttering Children's Association in Finland

ÄLY is a network for families who have stuttering children. Chairman Ilka Laurila introduces ELSA's latest member association.

Stuttering Children's Association in Finland (ÄLY after the Finnish name Änkyttävien Lasten Yhdistys) was founded in 1999. The ÄLY is a nation-wide association with a mission to support stuttering children and adolescents, their families, and professionals who work with stuttering children and adolescents.

ÄLY fulfills the need of a network for families who have stuttering children. The Association regularly organises get-togethers and therapy courses for children and their families. The family link is very characteristic of the work of the Association.

One of the objects of ÄLY is to improve positive attitudes towards stuttering. Information on stuttering is distributed especially to professionals who work with children and adolescents, such as school and kindergarten teachers and nurses. ÄLY organizes education and information events for families and professionals, produces and distributes information material on stuttering. Moreover, the Association follows the scientific discussion on stuttering and re-distributes the knowledge. At the end of 2000, ÄLY had 350 members in 125 families.

ÄLY is eager to get in touch especially with other associations that are focusing on stuttering children and adolescents and their families. Or, is it the first organisation of its kind?