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JOURNALS & PERIODICALS (D-J)

Danforth, S., 1997, On What Basis Hope? Modern Progress and postmodern possibilities, Mental Retardation, 35, 2, 93-106

An examination of the rhetoric used in the debate over facilitated communication. Not particularly concerned with 'facts' - indeed, uses the term 'truth' in inverted commas throughout. Interesting.

A rhetorical analysis of the current controversy over facilitated communication demonstrates the utilisation of the language of modern science for its power effects in special education discourse.

de Jonge, D., 1995, Communication - It's all in the way you move, Australian Communication Quarterly, 15

Brief discussion by worker on Queensland FC project. Discusses impulsivity, initiation, etc.

Derbyshire, P., 1997, Facilitated Communication Training: Comments from a head teacher, European Journal of Disorders of Communication, 32, 1, 83

A response to Crossley, 1997. Adds little.

Until that point I had not heard of facilitated communication (FC).

Dillon, K., 1993, Facilitated Communication, Autism, and Ouija, Skeptical Inquirer, 17, 3, 281-287

Magazine of the American Skeptics organization. A comparison between FCT and the use of Ouija boards.

My sense is that in FC the movement may indeed come from the subject as a conditioned response, but that direction to a particular letter comes unwittingly from the facilitator. ...not only do these powers not hold up under examination, they may lead one down a dead end or even a perilous road.

Dillon, K., Fenlason, J., & Vog., D., Belief in and use of a questionable technique, facilitated communication, for children with autism, Psychological Reports, August 5, n1 p459

A study conducted under a consistent assumption of the falsity of FCT.

23 educators and therapists of children with autism were surveyed about their beliefs and use of Facilitated Communication, a technique previously knownn to have questionable scientific validity. 65.2% or 15 use the procedure often or very often in their work with children. Some factors that appeared related to this choice were beliefs consistent with those of proponents of Facilitated Communication, less education, belief in the notion that individuals with autism were more intelligent than their behavior indicated, and lack of belief in science as source of explanation of human behavior. It was concluded that supervisors need to be more informing about the scientific validity of techniques used by their employees. (Abstract from Internet)

A response to Crossley, 1997. Criticises case study method.

Was anything else that could have contributed to Sarah's improvement happening in her life over this time?

Donellan, A., 1993, Some Implications of Facilitated Communication, Down Syndrome News, May, 48

As long as children and adults labelled 'retarded' are willing to engage in facilitated communication and appear to co-operate and gain from it, they should be encouraged to do so.

Donellan, A., 1995, Murphy's Law Revisited, American Journal of Mental Retardation, 100, 432-435

Severely critical review of Facilitated Communication; The Clinical and Social Phonomenon, Ed. Shane H.

A little humility, a little wonder, scientific curiousity mixed with appropriat scientific skepticism, these would have helped make this book a contribution to the literature rather than an example of a stockade mentaility defendinding a conceptual dead end.

Comment on Spitz's comment (qv) on Donellan, 1995.

Donellan, A., Sabin, L., Majure, L., 1992, Facilitated communication; beyond the quandary to the questions, Topics in Language Disorders, 12, 4, 69-82

Survey of FCT literature, description of some FCT observations. Recommends proceeding with FCT while continuing research.

...facilitated communication, although exciting and surprising, is not without precedent in the literature. Moreover, the previous research can and should be used to help develop meaningful research questions about touch, attunement, and the written word.

Notes discrepancies between results reported from studies relying on naturally occurring facilitated interactions and studies relying on controlled experimental conditions. Relying on a collaborative view of communication the article proposes that both outcomes can be valid, and that FC users are sometimes competent and at other times incompetent, depending on the conditions of the evaluation.

Duchan, J., 1993, My life before and after facilitated communication, The Clinical Connection, 7, 1,1-3

Duchan, J., 1995, The Role of Experimental Research in Validating Facilitated Communication; A Reply, Journal of Speech and Hearing Research, 38, 1, 206-210

Reply to comments on Duchan, 1993. Discusses test qualitative and quantitative test methodology.

Dwyer, J. 1996, Access to Justice for People with Severe Communication Impairment, Australian Journal of Administrative Law, 3, 2, 73-119

Magisterial survey of legal precedents involving FCT up to early 1996.

Eberlin, M., & Ibel, S., in submission, The Source of Messages Produced During Facilitated Communication with a Boy with Autism and Severe Mental Retardation; A Case Assessment

Account of a validation exercise using message passing and picture naming.

Clear, coherent and correct FC output resulted when the facilitator and Jason discussed a common experience, but the quality of typed output decreased and was wholly inaccurate when the facilitator did not know what Jason had experienced. Furthermore, when Jason and his facilitator encountered different stimuli, FC output sometimes reflected what was shown to the facilitator, but never what Jason viewed.

Attacks FCT as unscientific; claims no single case of communication established; on this basis discusses ethical issues.

Eberlin, M., McConnachie, G., Ibel, S., & Volpe, L., 1993, 'Facilitated Communication': A failure to replicate the phenomenon, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 23, 3, 507-529

Account of a remarkably poorly planned experiment involving psychologists teaching themselves FCT, attempting the technique with a number of clients, and concluding from their failure to establish communication that the technique and not their use of it is ineffective.

Edelson, S., Rimland, B., Berger, C., & Billings, D., Evaluation of a Mechanical Hand-Support for Facilitated Communication, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 28, 2, 153-157

Account of an unsuccessful attempt to develop a mechanical hand support device that would enable FC users to communicate independently.  Appears to attempt to use the failure of the device to cast doubt on the previously validated communication of the users (see Berger 1994a, 1994b).  Misquotes Oppenheim (1974).

Eliasoph, E., & Donnellan, A., 1995, A Group Therapy Program for Individuals Identified as Autistic Who are Without Speech and Use Facilitated Communication, International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 45, 4, 549-560

Elks, Martin, 1990, Lessons from Annie’s Coming Out, Interaction, 4, 1, 7-17

A discussion of the implications of the book Annie’s Coming Out (Crossley & McDonald, 1984) for the institutional model of professionalism.

Society needs to re-examine its sanction of professionals as self-reviewing autonomous organizations whose opinions are ‘authoratative’ and above dispute by non-professionals and consumers. This implies non-professionals and consumers need to feel empowered to question professional decisions and to see their perspective as valid.

Emerson, A., 1994, Facilitated Communication, Communication Matters, 8, 1, 20-23

A solid account of FCT for English AAC professionals.

It seems particularly important that Facilitated Communication is understood and used by professionals within the field of AAC to ensure its careful and ethical introduction.

Farkus, Paul, 1992, Thoughts About Myself and My Autism, Communicating Together, 10, 4, 15

Communication from an FCT user on the nature of autism.

Felce, D., 1994, Facilitated Communication; Results from a Number of Recently Published Evaluations, British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 22, 4, 122-127

Report of early negative experimental studies.

There is no basis for encouraging more widespread implementation of FC at the moment.

Ferguson, D., & Horner, R., 1994, Negotiating the facilitated communication maze, Mental Retardation, 32, 4, 305-307

Commentary on Levine, Shane & Wharton (1994). Suggests that communication and authorship are complex issues; calls for more data.

Beyond the nature of 'authorship', the FC debate is forcing us to examine with renewed attention the complex process of communication. In a very fundamental way we are forced to recognize that communication always involves an influencing interaction between the communicator and the receiver of communication, as othr such as Bruner and Vygotsky have been concluding in the field of psychology.

Response to Duchan, 1993. Denies that any evidence exists for the validity of FC.

Frook, J., 1995, Be tender with me, Family Circle, 2/21/95, 84-85 & 120

Account of communication breakthrough.

Facilitated communication does that - it polarizes people.

Advocates discarding intelligence testing as an institutionalized tool of oppression. Notes that FCT claims affect the validity of IQ claims.

The field of autism is undergoing a controversial paradigmatic shift away from a belief in the probability of mental retardation in nonverbal individuals with autism to an understanding of the pronbability that nonverbal people with autism have an expressive communication difficulty requiring the use of a technological advance called facilitated communication (Biklen, 1990; Crossley, 1992)

Gamradt, J., Huebner, R., Klund, J., & White, P., 1994, Condensed Final Report from Case Studies on Facilitated Communication, Trace Reprint Series, Trace Center, Madison

Gamradt, J., Huebner, R., Klund, J., & White, P., 1994, Summary and conclusions from Case Studies on Facilitated Communication, Trace Reprint Series, Trace Center, Madison

Partial reprints of larger document. Reports experimental study with six participants. No clear successful communication; one paricipant improved behaviourally. Abuse allegation involved. Recommends that potentially useful practices be extracted from FC for further exploration within other programs.

Gonzales-Crussi, 1994, Ian knows More Than He Says, New York Times Book Review, 4/10/94

Review of Out of Silence (Martin, 1994 - see monographs)

Goode, G., 1994, Defining facilitated communication in and out of existence; the role of science in the facilitated communication controversy, Mental Retardation, 32, 4, 307-311

Commentary on Levine, Shane & Wharton (1994). Opposes Levine's proposed moratorium.

I do not think it is necessary or prudent to wait until research scientists resolve whether FC is real in order to offer it as a therapy. ... We are at risk, at this particular juncture in time, of engaging in scientism around the FC debate, which will not be useful to eirther science or to those who can be potentially helped through FC.

An account for an English audience of Facilitated Communication based on the Geneva Centre conference on FC in Toronto in 1992. Also includes reservations based on O. D. Heck study (see Journals, Wheeler et al, 1993). Recommends caution.

Green, G., 1993, Response to "What is the ba;lance of proof for or against facilitated communication? AAMR News & Notes, 6, 3, 5

Green, G., 1994, Facilitated Communication; Mental miracle or sleight of hand? Skeptic, 2, 68-76

Extended attack on FCT as lacking evidence. Writing for a non-refereed publication Green allows herself to be usually inaccurate.

Green, G, & Shane, H., 1993, Facilitated Communication; the claimns versus the evidence, Harvard Mental Health Letter, 10, 4-5

Attempted refutation of Biklen's previous article in HMH Letter.

...what is good about FC is not new, and what is new is not good.

Criticism of Coughlin, 1994.

It is folly to argue that qualitative research alone can reveal either the causes of disorders like autism and mental retardation, or the most effective methods for treating them.

Exhaustive attack on FCT. Probably currently the standard critical review.

If FC's benefits cannot be demonstrated convincingly through sound research that allows plausible alternative explanations to be ruled out, it seems to us that to continue to invest time, emotion, and large amounts of taxpayer's money in FC cannot be justified on any moral, ethical, or practical grounds.

Assumes that all FC is produced by facilitator and analyses facilitator behaviour as an instance of automatic verbal behaviour.

Halle, J.W., 1994, A dispassionate (if that's possible) observer's perspective, Mental Retardation, 32, 4, 311-314

Commentary on Levine, Shane & Wharton (1994).

I submit that even if we cannot agree with one another on what way to view the world (and this is probably healthy) that we must agree on some set of criteria that are invoked under an agreed-on set of conditions to enable our field to make a decision about whether, and when, to use FC currently and in the near future.

Editorial introduction to special issue of JASH.

The primary controversy surrounding FC is whether or not it is a valid and reliable method of communication for people with disabilities.

Gives the text of a letter from Anne McDonald, co-author, with Rosemary Crossley, of Annie's Coming Out (see Monographs), giving an account of her reasons for preferring facilitation to more technological communication solutions.

Yes, I want to be able to type independently, but if I can't get up to 400 words per hour it's not worthwhile setting up the technology. I have so little output for my efforts at the best of times that the thought of diminishing it further simply in order to be independent has no attractions for me.

Literature review. Relies on Green and 'controlled studies'.

Heckler, S.., 1994, Facilitated Communication - A Response by Child Protection, Child Abuse & Neglect, 18, 6, 529-530

qq

Higginbotham, D., Sonnenmeier, R., & Duchan, J., 1993, The Impact of Technology on Facilitated Communication, Technology and Disability, 2, 3, 68-78

Hill, D., 1991, Facilitated Communication; Pilot work generates more questions than answers, Communication Exchange, 2, 1-3 & 9

Hill, D., & Leary, M., 1992, Moving On; A Different Perspective on Behaviour in Autism, Children’s Mental Health, 5, 2, 12

Interpretation of the use of FCT with people with autism based on a movement disorders perspective. Later expanded as Hill & Leary, 1993, Movement Disturbance (see Monographs)

Hitzing, W., 1994, Reply to Levine et al's "Plea to Professionals", Mental Retardation, 32, 4, 314-317

Critical commentary on Levine, Shane & Wharton (1994).

Levine et al.'s use of emotionally charged language and one-sided arguments does not serve to advance the cause of rational debate over the risks versus the benefits of FC. More important, I believe that the risk-benefit analysis ... is fundamentally flawed. ...almost all the risks they described are of concern only if FC does not work.

Commentary on JASH articles by Biklen & Duchan, 1994, & Green & Shane, 1994

The facilitated communication debate is fascinating in part because the descriptions of complex communication fit our wildest dreams and in part because FC calls into question our basic understanding of disability.

Report of two cases of reports through FC of sexual abuse. The cases were not proceeded with. Recommends IDRP earphone tests.

Howlin, P., 1994, Facilitated Communication - A Response by Child Protection, Child Abuse & Neglect, 18, 6, 529-530

qq

Hoyt, R., 1993, In Defence of Howard Shane, Communicating Together, 11, 4, 23

Mr. Hoyt is a person with communication handicap. In response to McDonald, A., 1993, I’ve Only Got One Life and I Don’t Want to Spend It all Proving I Exist, Communicating Together, he gives a testimonial to Shane’s anti-institutional credentials.

Hudson, A., 1992, Assessing the validity of facilitated communication, The Australian Educational and Developmental Psychologist, 9, 2, 24-29

Outlines the methodology used in Hudson et al, 1993, & Moore et al, 1993 (see Journals) and calls for ‘a thorough evaluation of the theory underpinning facilitated communication’.

Hudson, A., 1993, Assessing ‘Carla’, Communicating Together, 11, 4, 13-14

Discusses criticisms of his assessment of FC user ‘Carla’ (reported in Hudson, Melita, & Arnold, 1993) made by Rosemary Crossley (Crossley, R., 1993, Literacy and Facilitated Communication Training). Answered by Crossley in Crossley, 1993, Responding.

Hudson, A., Melita, B., & Arnold, N., 1993, Brief report; a case study assessing the validity of facilitated communication; A case study, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 23, 1, 165

Account of the asessment of the validity of the communication through FC of a person diagnosed as FC (in fact 'Carla', the subject of a guardianship hearing). The assessment involved both subject and facilitator being fitted with earphones and given variant questions.

The results of this case study demonstrate quite clearly that the subject was not able to communicate using the facilitated communication techniques.

Huebner, R., Gamradt, J., & Vanderheiden, G., 1994, Literature Review from Case Studies on Facilitated Communication, Trace Reprint Series, Trace Center, Madison

Literature review associated with Trace Project (see Gamradt, 1994).

Jacobson, J., 1993, Facilitated Communication; Practice to Research, The Forum, Fall, 16-18

Discusses Wheeler et al (1993) and Szempruch & Jacobson (1992); considers but dismisses criticisms of these studies; suggests spread of method due to low level of scientific literacy.

Jacobson, J., Eberlin, M., Mulick, J., Schwartz, A., Szempruch, J., & Wheeler, D, in press, Autism and Facilitated Communication; future directions, in Matson, J., (Ed.), Autism; etiology, diagnosis, and treatment, Sycamore Press, DeKalb

Jacobson, J., & Mulick, J., 1992, Speak for Yourself, or... I Can’t Quite Put My Finger On It!, Psychology in Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, 17, 5-7, 3

Accepts Cummins and Prior's (1992) purported data and comments on it.

Empiricism, science and rationality are repeatedly challenged by periodic widespread enthusiasm for health care fads.

Jacobson, J., Mulick, J., & Schwartz, A., 1995, A History of Facilitated Communication; Science, Pseudoscience, and Antiscience; Science Working Group on Facilitated Comunication, American Psychologist, 50, 9, 750-765

Analysis of FCT suggesting that the move in human services away from institutions staffed by fully qualified professionals has left the field vulnerable to unscientific cults such as FCT.

FC appears to be most vigorously embraced by social theorists and human services advocates who vigorously assert the equality of people with disabilities and their full participation in all areas of society.

Case study of 6-year-old-child learning to use FC. Lannguage with FC was higher level than his speech. Evidence of independent communication was confirmed by the achievement of communicative independence.

These results ... suggest the potential for using FC with children who have some functional oral skills but cannot express themselves fully in the oral modality.

An account of the independent discovery of FCT in House M, a Danish unit for 14 adults diagnosed as having severe mental handicap.

...all 14 residents had revealed, one after the other, that they have a fully-developed written language. They are all able to point out letters on an alphabet board with arm or wrist support. ... The content of their writing in all cases corresponds to their age level, with the limitations which life in an institution has imposed.

Extended account of independent discovery of FCT in House M. Covers philosophy of 'total communication', quotes extensively from residents' writings. An important text.

"Nobody can answer the question, what is it like to be mentally handicapped. Actually the answer is no different from the answer to the question 'What is it like to be a person?'"

Pia

Brief report of FCT for UK audience.

Johnson, I., 1994, The Awakening, Care Weekly, 17 November 1994, p. 12-13

Brief account of discovery of FCT in House M.

Jones, D., 1994, Autism, Facilitated Communication, and Allegations of Child Abuse and Neglect,, Child Abuse & Neglect, 18, 6, 491-493

It is certainly possible that FC or some other communicative aid may enable access to the minority of autistic children with untapped communicative potential. ... So far, however, existing studies on FC have not demonstrated this potential, and have been overwhelmingly disappointing. ...If the child can be shown to be communicating indepnednently... then we have proposed that the next step may well be an assessment of the child's susceptibility. ....If checks do result in increased concern then such concern itself should be the basis for continuing suspicion, not the FC-derived allegation, unless the autistic child's communicative competence can be demontrated. This may seem overly cautious to some, but it seems to this author to be the only reasonable response to the available research evidence.

Article based on Hudson, in press.

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.

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