About the CSA


CSA Mission Statement

The Canadian Stuttering Association is a national, volunteer-driven, not-for-profit organization that promotes awareness and understanding of stuttering and provides support and resources for people who stutter, their families and allies, with a view to helping persons who stutter live as effectively as possible with their stutter and to achieve their full personal and professional potential.

CSA Vision Statement

To be seen as a national leader in building a connected network of support and awareness for people who stutter throughout Canada.

Background

The Canadian Stuttering Association is run entirely by the passion, energy and commitment of volunteers, most of whom are people who stutter. Please join today! People who stutter, parents, speech language pathologists as well as support groups and treatment centres can be members.

Strategic Plan

In April of 2019 David Stones, former CSA Board Member, current Advisory Board Member and seasoned Strategic Planner, with the help of his business associate Gail Tolley, led the CSA Board Directors in an all day strategic planning session with the purpose of developing a Strategic Plan for the CSA. Together we analyzed the meaning and value of our existence as an association, reviewed some of the hopes and dreams that we had suggested for the CSA over the next 5 years, and determined how we could possibly turn those into actual results. You can download the document here.

Our Purpose

  1. To help people who stutter and their families find reliable information and support.
  2. To help people across Canada connect and share knowledge and experiences of stuttering.
  3. To promote awareness and understanding of stuttering through public education and outreach

The Canadian Stuttering Association is a registered charity and a federal not-for-profit corporation.

CRA charity number: 830606943RC0001 Corporation number: 429745-8

Canadian Stuttering Association Conduct Statement (Conferences, Meetings and Events)

The purpose of the Canadian Stuttering Association’s Conferences, Meetings and Events is to provide a safe place for people who stutter to share experiences, learn, help each other cope with the daily challenges of stuttering, be motivated, communicate, network, socialize and be entertained.

It is imperative to ensure that all participants in our conferences, meetings and events can freely and openly share ideas in a friendly, safe, and welcoming environment that encourages and inspires mutual respect and collaboration. The Canadian Stuttering Association Conference, Meeting and Events Conduct Statement states our shared ideals with respect to conduct. It is a way to communicate our existing values to the entire community.

We respect all points of view regarding stuttering and personal choices.

Be welcoming.

One of the greatest strengths of the CSA community is our inclusiveness. Making all attendees feel welcome and included is everyone’s job, including volunteers, presenters, exhibitors and sponsors. Be considerate.

CSA conferences, meetings and events attract diverse people from a wide variety of ethnic, cultural, and religious backgrounds. We acknowledge that cross-cultural communication can often be complicated and encourage everyone to consider both the impact of their actions on those with different backgrounds and experiences. All participants should be sensitive to the possibility of misunderstandings based on differing experiences and backgrounds.

Be respectful.

Sponsors, volunteers, speakers, attendees, and other participants should strive to treat all people with dignity and respect, regardless of their culture, religion, physical appearance, disability, race, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation.

Be collaborative and consult others when you disagree.

People are encouraged to take responsibility for their words and actions and listen to constructivelypresented criticism with an open mind, courtesy, and respect. If and when misunderstandings occur, we encourage individuals to first try to resolve conflicts between themselves in a constructive manner, asking for help when needed. This approach gives people more control over the outcome of their dispute.

When we need it, we ask for help.

If people are unable to work out issues between themselves, they are encouraged to seek the advice of a mutually trusted third party or a person on the contact list to help mediate.

We do not tolerate harassment of conference participants in any form. If you feel threatened or violated as a result of intimidating, harassing, abusive, discriminatory, derogatory or demeaning conduct, please immediately notify a person on the contact list. Likewise, please immediately notify a person on the contact list if you notice that someone else is being subjected to such behavior. If the matter is especially urgent, please call 911. The CSA Board of Directors wants everyone to feel safe for the duration of the conference, meeting or event.

The CSA Board of Directors and/or Volunteers can be identified by their name badges, and will help participants contact local law enforcement, or otherwise assist those experiencing harassment to feel safe for the duration of the conference.

We expect participants to follow these guidelines at all conference, meeting or event venues and related social events.

Procedures

  • Any participant experiencing harassment will first try to resolve conflicts between themselves in a constructive manner, asking for help when needed.
  • Any participant seeking help will report the incident to anyone on the contact list or a third party
  • The contact will assist the complainant. If necessary, CSA Board of Directors are empowered to take appropriate actions that may include, but are not limited to, private warnings and referrals to venue security or local law enforcement.
  • It is the responsibility of the complainant to work directly with facility security or law enforcement to initiate security or legal enforcement.
  • The CSA Chair along with the involved Board Directors or contact list person will follow up with complainant to inform them of any course of action taken.
We’re all in this together!

Thanks for making our conferences, meetings and events awesome for everyone! The Canadian Stuttering Association Conference, Meetings and Events Conduct Statement is adapted from the draft DrupalCon Code of Conduct, licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) and is available for others to use and adapt for their own events.

Contact List

General

911
Venue security

Conferences, Events

CSA National Coordinator and Chair Eeva Stierwalt: cell 519-636-776

CSA Conference Events Coordinator Dan Leca: cell 647-801-7338

CSA Conference Program Coordinator Casey Kennedy: cell 647-865-7703

Support Group Meetings

Support Group Leader:

Regional Support Group Coordinator Lauren Linkie: cell 604-910-4336

CSA National Coordinator and Chair Eeva Stierwalt: cell 519-636-7767

Become a Member!

Support the Canadian Stuttering Association by becoming a member. Get updates and receive our upcoming monthly newsletter.

Fill out the Membership Form today!

Note: We will issue a tax receipt for donations of $20.00 CAD and above. Thank you for your support.