ESLA Newsletter - 2024 recap

Happy holidays from ESLA

What a year this has been for ESLA and for us all! You will see from this newsletter how exciting 2024 indeed was. We further consolidated our contact with important authorities that have an influence on our profession: the European Parliament and the WHO Europe Region, to mention just a couple. We also continued providing support to our members to further strengthen our profession in their respective countries. We welcomed new members. Most importantly we continued advocating for the clients and patients we serve through communication with authorities, CPD opportunities for all SLPs and other professionals. 

We are thrilled to be one of the organisations that endorsed the ATLAS Leiden Manifesto Think Language First. This is a very important step to emphasise the importance of early diagnosis of communication difficulties and access to language learning. We thank RCSLT and all the academics who worked on this. 

ESLA continued offering a platform for European SLTs to share knowledge, best practice and support each other in not only helping each other grow, but also to see the profession at large grow in their country. Our various Task Forces continued working through the input of the numerous volunteers. We also launched the Research Network during our 12th Congress in Bruges, Belgium in September. 

The current Board is approaching the end of its mandate and in March 2025 we will have elections for a new Board. I have no words to express my gratitude to the current Board members, all the volunteers involved in the various Task Forces, our member organisations and all of you who are our members at large. I would like to particularly thank two people who work a lot behind the scenes and are instrumental to keep all the work of ESLA going: our two fantastic administrators Theresa Bloder and Gianmatteo Farabolini. We are blessed to have you. 

For most of us Christmas time is a beautiful season. But let us not forget those who are going through difficult times and support each other. I wish you and your loved ones health, love and peace. Best wishes for 2025! 

Norma

ESLA's 2024 Recap

ESLA started the year off strong -  March 2024: SLT Day & General Assembly at the European Parliament

In March, we celebrated SLT Day and held our General Assembly at the European Parliament. The SLT Day event underlined the importance of our profession in improving lives across Europe. Key discussions focused on raising awareness of the importance of Collaborating with other professionals and caregivers.

ESLA Endorsed the ATLAS - Leiden Manifesto Think Language First, produced by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapy (RCSLT) and scholars from the ATLAS Leiden project

A highlight of the year was the endorsement of the ATLAS manifesto Think Language First. This collaborative document is a statement on children’s language rights developed by linguists and speech therapists from a number of European countries. More information can be found here.

September 2024: 12th ESLA Congress in Bruges – Innovation and Inspiration

The picturesque city of Bruges hosted our triennial congress in September, with the theme "The Power of Communication in the Quality of Life". Over three days, participants engaged in lively discussions, witnessed insightful presentations, and forged meaningful connections that will drive the future of SLT forward. Thank you to all who attended and made this event a resounding success.

Expanding Knowledge Through Webinars

This year, our webinar series continued to thrive, offering accessible, high-quality learning opportunities to professionals across Europe. Topics ranged from innovative therapeutic techniques to addressing workforce challenges, ensuring there was something valuable for everyone.

• Endoscopic biofeedback in the treatment of voice and swallowing disorders; Prof. Kristine E. Galek, PhD, CCC-SLP
• Early intervention for deaf children - Prevention of language deprivation; Prof. Rosalind Herman, PhD, MRCSLT FHEA
• The role of executive functions in speech, language, and reading disorders; Luigi Marotta

Celebrating Excellence: Awards and Recognition

First Edition of Best PhD Thesis in SLT: This year marked the inauguration of the Best PhD Thesis in SLT award. The award celebrates groundbreaking academic work that advances the profession. Congratulations to our winner Aurora Ninfa from Italy, whose work highlighted the psychosocial implications of chronic oropharyngeal dysphagia beyond swallowing impairment. 

COTEC-ESLA Award: In partnership with the Council of Occupational Therapists for the European Countries (COTEC), we celebrated joint achievements in advancing rehabilitation and care for patients across disciplines. The award went to the project “Talking Mat Version of Children’s Occupational Self-Assessment” by Nikki Low (OT) and Jessica Lane (SLT)  from Glasgow, Scotland.

ESLA-IALP Collaboration on Workforce Retention

Our collaboration with the International Association of Communication Sciences and Disorders (IALP) focused on the critical issue of workforce retention. Together, we have laid the groundwork to address the shortage of SLT professionals, with the long-term goal of sustainable growth and support for the profession. The project was presented at the ESLA Congress in Bruges.

Welcoming New ESLA Members

This year, we proudly welcomed three new members: the Serbian Logopedics Association, the Latvian Association of Clinical Speech and Language Therapists (ESLA’s second member association from Latvia), and the Polish Logopedic Society. Their addition broadens our reach and enriches our collective expertise. We look forward to collaborating closely with our long-standing and new members in 2025 and beyond.

ESLA’s 2025 Outlook

March 2025: General Assembly & New Board Elections

We kick off the new year with our General Assembly in March 2025, which will include elections for a new ESLA Board. This is a pivotal moment as we shape the future leadership of our association.

SLT Day 2025: Enrich the Environment to Enrich Communication

March will also bring the celebration of SLT Day 2025 in Paris. Stay tuned for details about our SLT Day celebrations, we promise to continue inspiring and highlighting the impact of SLTs across Europe.

August 2025: IALP Congress in Malta

In August, ESLA will proudly participate at the IALP Congress in Malta. We will host an exhibition booth and deliver a presentation showcasing the advancements and contributions of European SLTs. This is an excellent opportunity to connect with professionals from around the world and strengthen global partnerships.

Important Announcement: ESLA’s SLT Day & Webinars Task Force is recruiting 2-3 new members. Want to become a member of their amazing group? Send an email to esla@eslaeurope.eu to receive more information. 

Last but not least: Our 2027 Congress bidding process is now open. Make sure to stay tuned for more updates about the location and dates. 

As we move into 2025, we remain steadfast in our mission to empower SLTs, advocate for our profession, and improve the lives of those we serve. Thank you to all our members, collaborators, and supporters for making 2024 a truly transformative year. Together, we are stronger.