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HISTORY OF THE SPECIALTY BOARD ON FLUENCY DISORDERS
Many individuals contributed to the establishment of the Specialty Board on Fluency disorders. This history is dedicated to those individuals whose farsightedness, tenacity, perseverance, dedication and caring enabled the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's Special Interest Division 4 on Fluency and Fluency Disorders to champion the cause of educating and recognizing fluency specialists. Some of the key persons involved included Eugene and Crystal Cooper, Hugo and Carolyn Gregory, Oliver Bloodstein, Glyndon and Jeanna Riley, and Dean Williams.
Fortunately, the Division on Fluency Disorders was aided in its efforts by an equally persevering and caring community of people who stutter, their families, their friends and the support organizations that serve them. Special thanks go to the National Stuttering Association's Leaders who, for years, have been educating the professional community about the need for fluency specialists. Much gratitude must be expressed to the Stuttering Foundation of America for its pioneering efforts in stimulating interest both within the field of speech language pathology and the community at large in developing a cadre of fluency specialists and for its early and continuing support of the Division for Fluency and Fluency Disorders Annual Leadership Conferences that were instrumental in the division's drive for specialty recognition.
The SBFD will continue to relate to these and other key organizations all devoted to assuring high quality services for persons who stutter and their families. It is hoped that by working together our efforts can be multiplied. With mutual interest and communication the Board trusts that the specialty recognition program in fluency disorders will evolve and change for the better, reflecting significant growth in our profession's ability to serve those with fluency disorders.
The Mission Objectives of the Specialty Board on Fluency Disorders
• To promote among speech-language pathologists the highest standards for training and service delivery to impact positively the communication skills and thereby the lives of those who stutter.
• To verify the knowledge of fluency disorders, mastery of skills of professionals who seek and maintain recognition as a Board Recognized Fluency Specialist, and commitment to treating those who stutter.
• To publicize the benefits of working with specialists in fluency disorders and provide an up-to-date listing of individuals who maintain Board Recognized Fluency Specialist Status.
Board Responsibilities
The SBFD shall meet regularly and maintain communication in order to fulfill its responsibilities. The Board shall determine and apply procedures for relating to Board Recognized Fluency Specialists, keep records and provide materials to assist Specialists. The Board shall recruit and assist Candidates for Specialty Recognition in Fluency Disorders and their mentors. The Board shall maintain, refine and revise as necessary the standards and mechanism for fluency specialty recognition and fluency specialist mentor recognition.
Board Organization
The minimum five-member Specialty Board on Fluency Disorders is organized, in keeping with its Bylaws, to include four officers; Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer. The Board's Bylaws address such issues as election to the Board, terms-of-office, officer responsibilities, and other critical organizational information.
Relationship to the American Speech-Language Hearing Association
The Specialty Board on Fluency Disorders, SBFD, is an independent Board with not for profit status. Professionals in Speech Language Pathology are certified by the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association with an entry-level Certificate of Clinical Competence, the (CCC). At the urging of many professionals in the field of stuttering and other special interest groups and consumers, the legislative council of ASHA approved the concept of Specialty Recognition for two compelling reasons. First, there was a clear need for consumers to determine the special skills of professionals in the field. Second, professionals who had developed specialized knowledge and skills beyond the entry level CCC and wished to go through a voluntary program of peer review should have a vehicle for doing so.
The Specialty Recognition Program in Fluency Disorders was developed by professionals in the Fluency and Fluency Disorders Special Interest Division of ASHA. The Council on Clinical Specialty Recognition, CCSR, approved the program as being consistent with the overall objectives of ASHA approved Specialty Recognition Programs. The Board relates to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association through CCSR. The council serves as both as a resource for the Board and an oversight function to assure that the standards set by the SBFD are being maintained and that as changes to the program are made the consumer is being fully considered. The SBFD submits an annual report for review by CCSR.
The SBFD is closely affiliated with the Special Interest Division 4: Fluency and Fluency Disorders of ASHA. Other ways that SBFD relates to ASHA are in communication and educational arenas such as the ASHA Leader publication and ASHA convention programming. Further, ASHA supports the work of all Specialty Boards through providing space for meetings, encouraging joint projects, and including the Boards in outreach initiatives.
Most importantly, ASHA is the professional organization that is recognized by government agencies as the certifying body for speech language pathologists. Therefore, their approval of a Specialty Recognition Program in Fluency Disorders has great significance.