European Parliament declaration on stammering
By Leys Geddes, BSA Trustee

The BSA belongs to the European League of Stuttering Associations (ELSA) who recently arranged for national stammering associations to brief Members of the European Parliament about their work, the importance of recognising International Stuttering Awareness Day (ISAD) and to formally receive their endorsement of the European Parliament declaration on stuttering.

The reception was held in the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 25th October 2005, as close as possible to ISAD on October 22nd. The declaration was designed to raise public awareness of stuttering, to reduce negative stereotypes and discrimination and to recognise that stuttering can be a disability.

The Chair of ELSA is Edwin Farr, MBE, a member of the BSA; the Chair of the European Disability Forum is a British MEP, Richard Howitt; as is the Secretary to the Disability Intergroup & Officer of the European Disability Forum, Sophie Beaumont.

It is worth noting that the Spanish stuttering association, TTM, has enlisted the services of the former Mayor of Seville, Mr Alejandro Rojas Marcos. Through his efforts, stammering has now achieved a much higher profile in Spain; for example, the European Parliament statement on stuttering was featured in the Spanish national TV news.

For the full text of the declaration go to the ELSA website.

From the Spring 2006 edition of Speaking Out, page 13