Facilitated
communication training (FCT) is a strategy for teaching individuals
with
severe communication impairments to use communication aids with their
hands. In
FCT a communication partner (facilitator) helps the communication aid
user
overcome physical problems and develop functional movement patterns.
The
immediate aim in FCT is to allow the aid user to make choices and to
communicate in a way that has been impossible previously. Practice
using a
communication aid such as a picture board, speech synthesizer, or
keyboard in a
functional manner is encouraged, to increase the userís physical skills
and
self-confidence and reduce dependency. As the studentís skills and
confidence
increase the amount of facilitation is reduced. The ultimate goal is
for
students to be able to use the communication aid(s) of their choice
independently.
Facilitated communication
training was developed at DEAL Communication
Centre
in
This bibliography does not
cover material on autism, hyperlexia, or movement disorders unless they
involve
FCT.
The quotations selected for
inclusion (and given in inset type) are not necessarily those covering
the core
message of the piece; they are, rather, passages that cover points not
made
elsewhere in the basic texts.
I have not myself sighted
some references, and these are given in Bold Italics.
(by
author)
I
would very much appreciate any suggestions for additions to this
bibliography.
I can be reached by e-mail at cborthwick@vichealth.vic.gov.au.
Koppenhofer, J., Gilmer,
D., & McElroy, M., 1993, Facilitated Communication; An
Annotated
Bibliography, Orono, Center for Community Inclusion
75 citations. Available
from Center for Community Inclusion (see Address
List).
Includes citations of some relevant articles about autism and AAC not
involving
FCT. (23 pp)
MacPherson-Court, L.,
Rutherford, G., & McDonald, L., 1993, Facilitated
Communication; An
Annotated Bibliography, Severe Disabilities Program, Department of
Educational Psychology,
76 citations. Available
from L. MacPherson-Court at
Selected Readings
Related to
Facilitated Communication - Facilitated Communication Institute
Bibliography of journal
articles
regarding facilitated communication - Facilitated Communication
Institute
LITERATURE REVIEW:
Mental
Retardation, 32 (4) - Exchange of Opinion on the Risks and Benefits
of
Facilitated Communication
Barker, B, Leary, M.,
Repa, S., & Whissel, P., 1993, Getting In Touch; A Workbook on
Becoming
a Facilitator, DRI Press, Madison
Worksheets and useful short
chapters on facilitation practices and techniques. Illustrative
diagrams
unfortunately show poor facilitation practice, with pressure applied
under the
index finger. (44 pp)
Biermann,
A., 1999, Gest¸tze Kommunikation im Widerstreit, Speiss, Berlin
Untranslated.
Berger, C., 1992, Facilitated
Communication Guide, New Breakthroughs,
Berger discovered FCT
techniques independently of Crossley and Biklen in 1987 when working in
special
education classes in
We
now need to begin the task of restructuring our own view of people with
autism
and other developmental disorders, as well as the low-track education
system
into which they have been placed. A complete paradigm shift is underway.
Berger, C. &
Kilpatrick, K., 1992, Facilitated Communication Guide and Materials,
New
Breakthroughs,
An expanded version of vol.
1 of Berger,1992, Facilitated Communication Guide, with added
classroom
teaching materials.
Berger, C. , 1994, Facilitated
Communication Technology Guide , New Breakthroughs,
"An
extensive list of computer programs and devices used successfully with
Facilitated
Communication in the
Biklen,
D., 1993 , Communication Unbound, Teachers College Press,
A basic text. The first
book to deal with the general technique of facilitated communication
training,
this book covers the development of the technique in
One
of the most personally disappointing aspects of our using facilitated
communication or of seeing it used by other people is that for many
professionals it is merely
a new teaching or communication technique. This perspective...
implies that... many people who were previously thought to be dumb are
now
redefined as smart and must therefore be treated differently. It is a
perspective that does not question the validity of treating people
differently
on the basis of perceived intelligence.
(221 pp.)
D Biklen, D Cardinal
(eds). Contested
Words, Contested Science, Teachers College Press,
A collection of studies
(controlled, quantitative ones as well as qualitative investigations)
of
facilitation, focusing mainly on the authorship question: who is doing
the
typing, facilitator or the person with the communication impairment.
The book
includes a chapter by Marcus and Shevin in which Marcus, an FC user,
replicates
a classic facilitated communication authorship test.
Bundschuh, K, &
Basler-Eggen, 1997, ëFacilitated Communicationîbei Menschen mit
schweren
Kommunikationzztorrungen, I Zwischenbericht,
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat
Munchen
Centre for Community
Inclusion, 1993, What Frontline
Didnít Tell You, Centre for Community Inclusion,
A reponse to attack on FCT
in American TV program Frontline. Contains contributions from Biklen, D.,
Cardinal, D., Haskew, P., Kochmeister, S., Schawlow, A., and others.
Available
from Centre for Community Inclusion (see Address
List).
Lists inaccuracies in program, provides examples of evidence
disregarded,
uncovers program bias.
Collins, A.J., (ed),
1992, Facilitated Communication; A reference book, Annandale,
Va., National
Association of Private Residential Resources
Crossley, R., 1994, Facilitated
Communication Training, Teachers College Press,
Basic text on methods of
facilitation. Crossley originated the method in
Facilitated
communication training is a strategy for teaching people how to use
communication aids. It does not cure anything. It is not a particularly
good
method of communication. However, it has allowed many individuals to
communicate verbally for the first time in their lives. Communication
involving
facilitation is certainly imperfect, but, for some people, right now
itís the
best option. Until we can find a better alternative, it is up to us to
make
facilitated communication work as well as possible.
Crossley, R., 1997, Speechless,
E P
Series of case studies
tracing various aspects of using facilitated communication training
with people
who have diagnoses of PVS, autism, Down syndrome, and undifferentiated
mental
retardation. Essential reading
I
tried standing Emma up and holding the Communicator low (if you have a
problem
with low muscle tone it helps not to have to lift your arm against
gravity) and
by the end of the session I had Emma spelling out words with no bodily
contact
at all. Like many of DEAL's clients, she'd liked the human contact
involved in
arm support, and it was a wrench to be weaned so abruptly. This
involved more
tears. The next day at school Emma spontaneously typed without any
support. She
has continued to be able to do so, provided that the Communicator is
positioned
low so that she doesn't have to lift her hand against gravity.
Crossley, R. , 1997, Gest¸tzte
Kommunikation : Ein Trainingsprogramm zur Kommunikationsfarderung f¸r
Menschen
mit Behinderungen, Đbersetzung aus dem Englischen, deutsche
Bearbeitung und Nachwort: Ralf Sch¸tzendorf. Vorwort: Christiane Nagy.
(Edition
Sozial.) 1997. Ca. 200 Seiten. 9 Abbildungen. Broschiert. DM 42,- (ISBN 3-407-55796-5 )
German translation of Facilitated
Communication Training.
Crossley, R. 1998, Il
Metodo Della Comunicazione Facilitata, Savona, Provincia di
Savona/Associazione Bambini Cerebrolesi Liguria
Italian translation of Facilitated
Communication Training.
Crossley, R., &
McDonald, A., 1980, Annie's
Coming Out,
Penguin,
The story of how FCT was
originally devised to establish communication with a young woman with
cerebral
palsy in an institution for people with mental retardation, and the
story of
the struggle she then had to gain control of her own destiny through
the
Australian courts. Essential reading
In
1977 I was taught to communicate by using an alphabet board on which I
point to
letters in order to spell sentences. That is how I wrote my part of
this book.
Dying
was dependent on the way you felt. Jobs in mental hospitals do not
attract the
best doctors, and there was no supervision. The patients could not
complain. If
you wanted to die you had every opportunity. Many short-stay kids took
their
chance. Death never appealed to me; I wanted revenge. Now that does not
seem to
matter. What is important is stopping other kids going through what we
went
through.
Time
was when the strongest emotion I felt was hate, and hate makes you
strong.
Tender emotions were dangerously softening. Implacable hatred of the
whole
world which hunted handicapped children into middens like St Nicholas
twisted
my relationships with people for years.
DEAL Communication
Centre, 1992, Facilitated Communication Training, DCC,
A collection of DEAL pamphlets
on aspects of FCT. DEAL Communication Centre was set up by
DEAL Communication
Centre, 1992, Getting the Message; Aspects of communication without
speech,
DCC, Melbourne
A collection of DEAL
pamphlets on non-vocal communication. (66 pp.)
DEAL Communication
Centre, 1988, Response to Report of Inter-Disciplinary Working Party on
Issues
in Severe Communication Impairment, Author, Melbourne
A correction of the major
errors of the IDWPISCI report (qv Reports).
(64 pages)
Donellan, A., &
Leary, M., 1995, Movement Differences and Diversity in
Autism/Mental
Retardation; Appreciating and Accomodating People with Communication
and
Behaviour Challenges , DRI Press, Madison
A valuable analysis of the
relation between movement disorders and the conceptualisation of
developmental
disorders. Has a postscript on FCT.
To
suggest that facilitated communicating 'does not work' because there
may be
influence, or we cannot understand the phenomenon, or we cannot always
make it
predictable, is just bad science.
Eichel, E., 2001, Gest¸tze
Kommunikation bei Menschen mit autischer St–rung, Projekt Verlag,
Untranslated.
Haskew, P., &
Donellan, A., 1993, Emotional Maturity and Well-Being;
Psychological Lessons
of Facilitated Communication, DRI Press,
A psychiatric view of the
use of FCT. (45 pp.)
We
want to report the degree to which FC reveals aspects of normal
psychological
development among people with profound communication impairments, and
deviations from normalcy in that population that may originate from the
customary
care provided for people with communication difficulties.
Hill, D., & Leary,
M., 1993, Movement Disturbance, A Clue to Hidden Competencies in
Autism and
Related Disorders, DRI Press,
Exhaustive examination of
the literature dealing with features of movement disorders and a use of
these
to offer an alternative explanation of behaviours observed in people
with
autism. Goes on to suggest applications in clinical treatment
situations.
Valuable text. (33 pp)
Inter-Disciplinary
Working Party on Issues in Severe Communication Impairment, 1988, D.E.A.L.
Communication Centre Operation; A Statement of Concern, Author,
A collection of anonymous
anecdotal reports from an ad hoc group of Victorian psychologists and
therapists opposed to the operations of DEAL
Communication Centre. Unreliable. (85 pp.)
Iverson worked with Soma Mukhopadhyay
(Tito's mother) to apply Soma's methods (which closely track FCT,
though developed independently) with her own son. Understandably, Ms
Iverson wishes to mention FCT as little as possible.
A manual from an inclusive
preschool on techniques and strategies for FCT work with children.
Valuable
text. Available from
McNabb, W., (ed), 1992, The
Handbook of Facilitated Communication, Northwest Centre for
Information
Resources,
Reprints a number of
pamphlets from DEAL Communication Centre and
adds
other brief instructional material.
Nusbeck, Susanne, 2000, Gest¸tzste
Kommunikation: Ein Ausdrucksmittel f¸r Menschen mit geistiger
Behinderung? Hogrefe-Verlag,
Untranslated.
Reed, D., 1996, Paid
for the Privilege: Hearing the Voices of Autism, DRI Press,
A detailed account of the
development of FC use at an autism day centre in
Being
recognized as individuals with capabilities, rather than persons stuck
with
disabilities, became possible at MTS with the help of FC. This
communication
has enabled them to tell us about themselves. We listen, and with
accomodations, try to lay the foundation for more productive and happy
lives.
(162 pp)
Savarese, Ralph, 2007, Reasonable
People: a memoir of autism and adoption, Other Press, New York
Ralph Savarese's memoir of his experiences establishing and engaging in
communication with his adopted son DJ.
Neither a
typical saga of autism nor simply a challenge to expert opinion,
Reasonable People illuminates rthe belated emergence of a self in
language. And it does so using DJ's own words, expressed through the
once discredited but now resurgent technique of facilitated
communication (FC)
Olsen, L., Gurry, S.,
Larkin, A., & McSheehan, M., 1992, A Training Guide to
Facilitated
Communication Use; implications for use with adults in community
settings,
A basic working guide to
FCT or caregivers, including discussion of such topics as "what should
I
do if a client is becoming too attached to me? How can I use
facilitated
communication on a daily basis? What are the possible implications of
facilitated communication for staff? Valuable short text. (32 pp.)
Richard, J.,
Three case studies; one
written by a boy with autism using FCT, one by a facilitator, and one
by two
parents. Many valuable insights. (55 pp.)
Shane, H. (ed), 1994, Facilitated
Communication; The clinical and social phenomenon, Singular
Publishing
Group,
Basic anti-FCT text,
including chapters by Shane, Green, and others.
Sharing to Learn, 1993, Facilitated
Communication; A guide to resource materials, Author, Thornhill (
A reprint of articles
having appeared in Communicating Together. See address list.
Sharing to Learn, 1993, Facilitated
Communication; A set of readings, Author, Thornhill (
Reprints articles by (inter
alia) Calculator, Crossley, Hudson, McDonald, Shane, and Vicker from Communicating
Together, 9; 2, 10; 4, 11; 2 and 11; 4.
Sharing to Learn, 1994, Facilitated
Communication; A set of readings (2nd edition) Author, Thornhill (
A revised and in some cases
expanded reprint of articles on FCT having appeared in Communicating
Together.
Shubert,
Annagret, 1992, Facilitated Communication Resource Guide,
(240 pp)
Spitz, H., 1997, Nonconscious
Movements - From Mystical Messages to Facilitated Communication,
Erlbaum
(202 pp)
Spitz has previously
published a book on why you can't raise the intelligence of people with
mental
retardation, and takes FCT as the latest in that line. Assuming its
falsity
(with some few possible exceptions) he then relates it to other
phenomena such
as Clever Hansing and Ouija boards.
Useful spiral-bound set of
words, phrases and spelling boards for use with facilitated
communication.
Customisable.
Strandt-Conroy, K.,
& Sabin, L., 1993, Making Connections: Facilitating Communicating
in an
Inclusive Classroom, DRI Press,
Journal and case studies
dealing with the introduction of FCT into a mainstream sixth grade
class
setting, including valuable tips on behavioural cuing, and general
strategies
for introducing FCT to the classroom, adapting lessons, adapting
testing, and
modifying IEP's. (43 pp).
Twatchman-cullen, D.,
1997, A Passion to Believe: Autism and the Facilitated
Communication
Phenomenon,
Twatchman's book has
various errors of fact that could have been checked, but its serious
flaws are
more basic. Her viewpoint comes out most clearly in the section where
she
points out that people using facilitated communication often produce
output
inconsistent with their previous assessments. How do FCT people account
for
that? she asks, and seems to think she has made a point. The answer is,
of
course, that assessments made without being able to communicate with a
person
would be expected to differ from assessments made with a person who
could
communicate, and the fact that she cannot see this elementary point
points to
her basic mind-set. She believes that psychological assessments are
infallible,
however they are done. She believes that what has been done in the past
is
infallible, that we already know all we need about (say) autism, and
that no
new concepts are conceivable or permissible. Writing from this
standpoint it is
hardly surprising that she misinterprets almost everything about the
cases she
purports to record. The book is illogical, biased, and an example of
'scientism' rather than scientific thinking. Anybody who can't pick ten
internal contradictions in the first chapter has no business calling
themselves
a sceptic. (208 pp).
Vexiau,
Anne-Marguerite, Je
Choisis Ta Main Pour Parler
Books & Monographs - Chapters
Attwood,
T., &
Remington-Gurney, J., 1992, Assessment of literacy skill using
facilitated
communication, in Van Kraayenoord, C., (Ed), A survey of adult
literacy
provision for people with intellectual disabilities, Schonell
Special
Education Research Centre,
Preliminary
report on
"This study
identified a sample
of twenty adults who had been assessed on standardised tests of
intelligence
and communication as profoundly disabled. ... During assessment for
literacy
skills, the responses of 17 students were recorded as level 4 <open
conversation>.
...the responses of nine students had at least one example of...
content
validity. "
Biklen,
D., 1992, Communication unbound; autism and praxis, in Hehir, T. &
Latus,
T. (eds) Special Education at the Century's End, Harvard
Review, Harvard
A
reprint of the Biklen (1990) article in Harvard Educational Review
(see
Journals)
(p. 321-349)
Brodin,
J., & Bj–rk-‰kesson
(eds), 1994, Methodological Issues in Research in Augmentative and
Alternative Communication, Proceedings from the Third ISAAC Research
Symposium
in Augmentative and Alternative Communication, Kelkgrade,
Reprints
papers on FCT by
Remington-Gurney and von Tetzchner; see Conference Papers.
Hudson,
A. ,1995, Facilitated Communication; A critique. in T. Ollendick &
R. Prinz
(Eds.), Advances in Clinical Child Psychology (vol. 17). Plenum
Press,
A
somewhat biased review of the validation literature.
Jacobson,
J., Eberlin, M., Mulick, J., Schwartz, A., Szempruch, J., &
Wheeler, D.,
1993, Autism, Facilitated Communication, and Future Directions, in
Matson, J.,
(ed),1993, Autism; Etiology, Assessment, and Intervention,
Sycamore
Press, Sycamore, IL
Presents
accounts of validation studies by Working Party on Severe Communication
Impairment, 1988 (see Monographs), Intellectual Disability Review
Panel, 1989,
(see Reports), Hudson et al, Moore et al, & Szempruch &
Jacobson (see
Journals). Also provides summary of paper by Eberlin et al, 1992 (see
Conference
Papers). Criticizes Calculator & Singer for poor procedural
controls.
Criticizes Biklen's use of qualitative analysis of client's work for
validation. Criticizes FCT for its inconsistency with previous
conclusions
about people with autism.
(pp. 93-132)
Klewe,
L., 1991, Kommunikation ved hjaelp af staveplader. En
eksperimental-psykologisk
undersŻgelse [Communication via spelling-boards. An
experimental-psychological
examination].
Account
of validation exercise with 17 clients from Danish group described in
Johnson,
1988, and Johnson, 1989. See Klewe, 1993, for an account of the
exercise in
English.
Morley,
B., 1996, The Apparently
Intellectually Handicapped, in Burrows, G., (ed.), Fifth
Greek/Australian
International Legal and Medical Conference,
Transcript
of adderess by
neurologist. Describes thirteen clients who have established nexpected
communication - five with head injuries, two with cerebral palsy, two
with
encephalitis, two with Down syndrome, and two with autism. All at some
stage
used facilitation. Seven of the 13 provided confirmation by recovering
speech
or writing skills.
The
irrefutable fact is that seven
of the thirteen patients whom I have examined ... . have eventually
become
independent of their facilitator.
Remington-Gurney,
J., 1994,
Facilitated Communication and AAC: a Dichotomy? in Brodin, J., &
Bj–rck-‰kesson, E. (eds), Methodological Issues in Research in
Augmentative
and Alternative Communication,
Reprint of
ISAAC paper on the
relation of FCT to AAC.
Facilitated
Communication is here to
stay. What we must now do as AAC specialists is to ascertain clearly
the
parameters in which it is used, and how we measure and test for the
authenticity of both the FC users and their facilitators.
Schawlow,
A. & Schawlow, A., 1985, The endless search for help, in Brady, M.,
&
Gunther, P. (eds), Integrating moderately and severely handicapped
learners;
Strategies that work, Springfield, Ill., Charles C. Thomas (pp.
5-15)
Account
by a Nobel prizewinner of an independent discovery of the principles of
FCT
with an autistic boy. Emphasises the use of typed communication, but
does not
stress the facilitation aspect.
<He>
still needed a parent's
hand on his to guide him. Sometimes, he would do nearly all the guiding
by
himself, but he would rarely do it alone. Later, we wrote another
program that
displayed and printed larger characters... This was an improvement, but
he
still wanted a hand on his.
Snow, P.,
1991, Fringe Therapies
in the Management of Brain Damage, in Caliuy, J., (ed) Occamís
Razor 3,
Transcript
of radio talk. An attack on FCT (called 'assisted communication') for
claiming
to establish communication with people in 'persistent vegetative state'.
The
pathophysiology of such damage
precludes the sparing of cognitive abilities against a background of
severe
physical impairment.
As
she concedes that a small number of people assessed as having
'persistent
vegetative state' have subsequently recovered, this global denial is is
patently untrue and casts some doubt on the author's other comments.
Stehli,
A. (ed), 1995, Dancing
in the Rain; Stories of Exceptional Progress by Parents of Children
with
Special Needs, The Georgiana Organisation,
A
compilation of case histories
writen by parents of children with disabilities. The main intervention
discussed is Auditory Integration Training (AIT), but two of the 22
cases also
use FCT. There is a short piece by Sharisa Kochmeister. All the studies
are
interesting. (303 pp)
FC gave me a
way to communicate that
cerebral palsy had denied me. It opened the door to other treatment,
such as
nutritional and vitamin therapies, occupational theray to reduce
sensitivity
and improve motor planning, speech therapy to overcome oral apraxia in
eating
and speaking, vision training to help me learn to use my eyes more
effectively,
and AIT to overcome hypersensitive hearing and improve processing.
von
Tetzchner, S., 1994, Research
Issues in Facilitated Communication, in Brodin, J., &
Bj–rck-‰kesson, E.
(eds), Methodological Issues in Research in Augmentative and
Alternative
Communication, J–nk–ping University Press, J–nk–ping
Copy of
conference paper at ISAAC
conference, 1994.
The research
issues discussed are
how to distinguish between automatic and facilitated communication,
characteristics of facilitated communicators, processes of facilitated
and
automatic communication, and historical processes underlying
intervention
development.
Baron-Cohen,
S., &
Brief mention
of FCT as a
fringe therapy (p.74).
Facilitated
Communication has
recently had a considerable impact on teaching children with autism in
Beukelman,
D., &
Mirenda, P., 1992, Augmentative and Alternative Communication;
Management of
Severe Communication Disorders in Children and Adults, Baltimore,
Paul H.
Brookes
Extended
presentation of
FCT as a recent development in communication impairment.
Beusst-Smith,
B., &
Keeney, C., 1992, Parentsí Guide to Facilitated Communication,
River
Bend Co.,
Basic
techniques with a
discussion of integration and parentsí perspectives. Includes accounts
of use
with authorís children. Underestimates the need for literacy teaching
and
illustrates some undesirable handholding postures. Available from River
Bend
Company (see Address List)
(26 pp.)
Carlton, S., 1993, The
Other Side of Autism, A positive approach, Self Publishing
Association,
Worcester
A general treatment of
autism with a brief and inaccurate reference to FCT (pp. 142-3).
Facilitated
communication was started several years ago in
Goode, D., 1994, A
World Without Words: The Social Construction of Children Born Deaf and
Blind,
Temple University Press, Philadelphia, ISBN 1-56639-215-2
"The result of
studies of two children with congenital deaf-blindness and mental
retardation... discusses the implications of the work for some current
issues
of the disabilities field, such as 'inclusion', 'quality of life', and
'facilitated communication."
Grandin,
T., 1995, Thinking in Pictures,
A page on FCT, taken
largely from Rimland (con) and Berger (pro).
It
is likely that the truth about facilitated communication is somewhere
between
wishful hand-pushing and real communication.
Also some interesting
details of autistic perceptions.
Hart,
C., 1993, A Parent's Guide to Autism, Pocket Books,
Contains chapter on FCT.
Reports critics, but generally positive. Gives extensive instructions.
Maurice, C., Green, G.,
& Luce, S., 1996, Behavioural Intervention for Young Children with
Autism:
A Manual for Parents and Professionals, Pro-ed,
Manual edited by parents.
Recommends Lovaas approach. Contains several chapters by Gina Green
analysing
other approaches, including FCT, negatively.
...others
continue to believe in (and practice) Facilitated Communication.
Clearly, such
service-providers should be avoided.
Oppenheim, R. F., 1974, Effective
teaching methods for autistic children., Charles Thomas ,
First published record of
the use of FCT techniques with significant numbers of people.
Pioneering and
still valuable manual on teaching people with autism to communicate.
Most
of the autistic children whom we have taught have learned to read
without
difficulty, often before they develop speech. Writing, however, is
another
story. Many autistic youngsters have major problems in controlling
pencils,
chalk or crayons. This disability appears to be more pronounced in
nonverbal
children... ...we usually teach writing by manipulating the child's
hand, and
thus feeding in the motor patterns. We believe that the autistic
child's
difficulties stem from a definite apraxia... There seems to be a basic
deficiency in certain areas of his motor expressive behaviour. So, in
teaching
writing, we find that it is usually necessary to continue to guide the
child's
hand for a considerable period of time. Gradually, however, we are able
to fade
this to a mere touch of a finger on the child's writing hand. We're
uncertain
about precisely what purpose this finger-touching serves. What we do
know is
that the quality of the writing deteriorates appreciably without it,
despite
the fact that the finger is in no way guiding the child's writing hand.
"I
can't remember how to write the letters without your finger touching my
skin'
one nonverbal child responded... The problem is not recognition, but
rather
execution, in retaining the mental image of required motor patterning.
Ultimately, however, the finger-touching can be eliminated, and the
child does
write without it, although some children want the touch of a finger on
some
other bodily surface, such as the head, in order to write.
Roopnarine, J., &
Johnson, J., 1992, Approaches to Early Childhood Education, 2nd Ed,
Special education textbook.
Brief account of FCT.
Some
young children for whom speech is absent, delayed or deviant can spell
their
wants and needs on a keyboard with physical support. This method is
called
'facilitated communication'. ... With this method, children have been
able to
spell words and sentences that are apparently at a much higher level
than would
be expected of even a 'normal' child of 3 or 4. Some children have
demonstrated
extraordinary literacy skills and can spell what they cannot speak.
These
children's abilities to read and type has compelled us to revise
totally our
expectations and understanding of their cognitive potential.
Siegel,
B., 1996, The World of the Autistic Child,
Brief unfavourable mention.
By
and large, FC is a hoax that has managed to deceive many parents and
teachers
because it appeals to a longing for a normal child to be 'inside'.
Silverson, F., 1995, Communication
for the Speechless, 403 pp, ISBN 0-13-184870-4
"This text will be
of most use in courses where the primary goal is preparing students for
clinical work with persons who are severely communicatively impaired...
New
approaches and services, such as facilitated communication and
telecommunications relay services are covered."
Sinason, V., 1992, Mental
Handicap and the Human Condition, Free Association Books,
A poetic psychiatric
interpretation of intellectual disability. Contains (ch. 8) an account
of FCT
as used in House M,
The
residents of House M know their staff are catering for both their
highest
functioning and their lowest. No-one is denying their right to be alive
and
feel and think. This means that they are faced with their own internal
enemy.
Nietzsche understands this interplay well. 'Under conditions of peace
the
warlike man attacks himself.'
Sobsey, D., 1994,
Violence and Abuse in the Lives of People with Disabilities, Paul H.
Brookes,
Contains a balanced
discussion of FCT in the section on Law and Law Enforcement.
Even
if it is valid in 99% of cases, it may not be valid in the case of the
particular witness in question. If it is invalid in 99% of cases, but
it is
legitiumate for the witness at hand, he or she should be allowed to use
it.
Williams, D., 1996, Like
Color to the Blind: Soul Searching and Soul Finding, Bantam,
Records Williams'
discussions with a person with autism given the name Alex.
Alex's
writing was typed via a method called facilitated communication, in
which he
received physical assistance in order to type. His writing was almost
overwhelmingly deep, sweepingly poetic, and shatteringly real - the
words of a
teenager and a genius trapped in the straitjacket of autism.
Zaretsky, H., Eisenberg,
M., & Glueckauf, R., 1993, Medical Aspects of Disability, a
handbook for
the rehabilitation professional, Springer,
Brief favourable mention,
based on Biklen's early articles. Regrettably, Biklen is spelt Bicklin
throughout.
Ball, Marshall Stewart,
1999, Kiss of God, The Wisdom of a Silent Child, Deerfield
Beach, Health
Communications Ltd
A popular book of religious
poems by a boy who communicates by pointing to letters with arm
support.
Crossley, R. &
McDonald, A., 1980, Annie's Coming Out. Penguin Books,
The account of how
Crossley, R. &
McDonald, A., 1990, Annie ó Licht Hinter Mauern, Piper, Munchen
The German translation of Annie's
Coming Out.
Davey,
R., 1982, Annie's Coming Out,
A play for schools based on
Crossley & McDonald, 1980. The actors play the children in the
ward,
talking directly to the audience. The published monograph includes the
text of
the play and documentation on the project.
Eastham,
D., 1985, Understand; Fifty memowriter poems, Oliver Pate,
Ottawa
Poems by David Eastham,
produced with FCT (see Eastham, 1992).
HELL
IS WHERE YOU'RE IGNORED
THIS IS TRUE I SAY
HOPE
YOU UNDERSTAND
YOUR YOUTH HAS GONE AWAY
Eastham,
D., 1992, Silent Words; A Biography, Oliver Pate,
Account of an independent
discovery of the techniques of FCT by a Canadian mother and her son
with autism
in the late 70's. David Eastham's privately published book of poetry (Forever
Friends) is also reprinted.
Eckardt,
Bettina & Kristina, 2001, Ein Offenes Tagebuch, Band 1,
Untranslated.
Gauger, J., (Ed.). ,
1999, Give Me My Voice, A Book Of Poems expressed through
Facilitated
Communication,
The Institutes Press,
"The poems contained
in this book were written by brain-injured children on the Intensive
Treatment
Program of the Institutes for Human PotentialÖ They use facilitated
communication toanswer questions, initiate conversations, write
letters, and
explain with great understanding the challenges they face in life. Once
they
become adept at this mode of communication, their most poignant means
of
expression is found in the poetry they choose to write."
Graham, G., 1996, A
Long Season in Hell: The
An account of the treatment
of a head-injured young man, by his mother. Includes material on
discovery of
his communication through FC.
Being
a facilitator... is not as simple as it looks. The head-injured person
who is
fortunate enough to have a degree of upper body control and good head
control
can use this method virtually unaided. But even this person will need
someone
who knows how to correctly fit and position the headpointer, and who
will take
the time and trouble to make sure the alphabet board is properly
mounted so
that it can be used easily, comfortably and effectively. And, of
course, the
facilitator must have the patience to stand there and wait during the
slow,
tedious business of spelling things out.
Lapos,
M. (ed), 1996, A Foot in Both Worlds, Facilitation Supports,
"A collection of
personal accounts from speakers, their families, friends and
facilitators".
Lehr, S., 1992, If
You Look In Their Eyes... You Know; parents' perspective on facilitated
communication,
Facilitated Communication Institute, Syracuse
Basic procedures of FCT in
the form of answers to commonly asked questions. Sound instructional
text with
examples and short case studies. (44 pp)
Martin,
R., 1994, Out of Silence, Henry Holt,
Moving in-depth account of
life of an autistic boy, eventually communicating through FCT. Very
interesting
discussion of processes of language acquisition and their influence on
behaviour. (300 pp)
...a
modest sort of account of the way in which facilitated communication
actually
might succeed depends less on synonyms for mystery than on words that work on
describing movement.
Mukhopadhyay, Rajarshi
(Tito), 2000, WHEN SILENCE SPEAKS - The Way My Mother Taught Me,
National Autistic Society,
A book by a person with
autism who learned to communicate through a method very similar
to FCT (though arrived at independently).
'Let
me hold your shoulder like I used to when you started pointing and
communicating', she said, trying to find a way. This time it was easy
for the
boy to
write, as he could feel the presence of the hand, his own hand linked
to his
body,
at the shoulder point, where his mother was holding him. The boy could
relate
his
thoughts to words and express them by pointing or writing only when
somebody
held his shoulder.
Tito and his remarkable
achievements were featured in a TV documentary, 'Inside Story - Titoís
Story' broadcast in the UK by the BBC on Sunday 21st May 2000.1.8
million
viewers watched Inside Story on Sunday 21st May. This represents a
12.4%
audience share.
Mukhopadhyay, Rajarshi
(Tito), 2003, The
Mind Tree: A miraculous child breaks the silence of autism,
National Autistic Society (Arcade Publishing),
A book by a person with
autism who
learned to communicate through a method very similar to FCT
(though
arrived at independently). The introduction by Lorna Wing
establishes a distinction without a difference between this
method and FCT:
She used the
technique, familiar to parents and teachers of children with autism, of
moving his limbs through the notions neeeded for each task, including
pointing, until he felt the feel of the muscle movement. This seems to
support the proponents of facilitated communication, who believe that
all children with autistic disorders, however severely learning
disabled they appear to be, are potentially capable of understanding
and expressing complex ideas if helped by appropriate physical
guidance. It is important to emphasise that Tito showed, very early on,
clear signs of good cognitive ability in his recognition of and ability
to match numbers, letters and shapes..... Children who do not
exhibit any signs of good cognitive ability are very unlikely indeed to
develop skills through any method of teaching, including facilitated
communication.
Lorna Wing, p. xii
Mukhopadhyay, Rajarshi
(Tito), 2008, How
Can I Talk if my Lips Don't Move: Inside my autistic mind, Arcade
Publishing,
Tito's second book, giving more information about his
life and his communication.
"People need
to believe you" she told me every now and again.
Sunday 21st May 2000.1.8 million viewers watched Inside Story on Sunday 21st May. This represents a 12.4% audience share.
Mukhopadhyay, Rajarshi
(Tito), 2005, The
Gold of the Sunbeams and other stories, Arcade Publishing,
A rare example of a person with
autism using assisted communication to write a book that is about
neither autism nor assisted communication, these excellent short
stories are about Indian life.
Nolan
, C., 1987. Under
the Eye of the Clock, Weidenfeld and Nicolson,
Christopher Nolan, who has
cerebral palsy, uses a headpointer, with support, to access a keyboard.
The
book is both a literary masterpiece and a fine account of life with
severe
communication impairment.
Page , Thomas S., 2003. Caught
Between Two Worlds, Words of Understanding,
A book of recollections by a person with
autism.
"At age 36 Tom leaned Facilitated Communication (FC) and began
learning to express his desires, interests, and thoughts..."
Rocha, A., & Jorde,
K., 1995, A Child of Eternity; an extraordinary young girl's
message from
the world beyond. Ballantine Books,
An autistic girl spelling
out through FC that she is the reincarnation of John the Baptist. The
messages
are total nonsense: there is no reason to believe, however, that the
communication is not accurate.
Rohde, Katja, 1999,
Ich Igelkind, Botschaften au seiner autistchen Welt, Lebenswege,
Munchen
Untranslated
Sellin, B., 1993 , Ich
will kein inmich mehr sein, botschaften aus einem autistichen kerker,
Kiepenheuer & Witsch,
An account by a German
youth with autism who uses facilitated communication.
Sellin, B., (1995) , I
Don't Want To Be Inside Me Anymore,
A translation of Ich
will kein inmich mehr sein, botschaften aus einem autistichen kerker.
Sellin, B., (1995) , tr.
Anthea Bell, In Dark Hours I Find My Way,
Another translation of Ich
will kein inmich mehr sein, botschaften aus einem autistichen kerker.
I do
not know why two different translations were commissioned.
Sellin, B., 1995, Ich
Deserteur einer artigen autistenrasse, Kiepenheuer & Witsch,
Z–ller,
D., 1992 , Ich gebe nicht auf, Scherz Verlag, M¸nchen
An account by a German
youth with autism who uses facilitated communication
JOURNALS & PERIODICALS
Adams, C., 1997, Facilitated Communication Training: an evaluation, European Journal of Disorde