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JOURNALS & PERIODICALS (K-Z)

Kaiser, A., 1994, The Controversy Surrounding Facilitated Communication; Some Alternative Meanings, JASH, 19, 3, 187-190

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

In this brief response I focus on the meaning of the controversy itself rather than further analysis of the evidence supporting the claims for and against the validity and replicability of facilitated communication.

Introduction to an issue of JASH on this topic including Sabin & Donellan (1993).

Facilitated communication provides one of the most challenging research problems we have faced.

Account of a Japanese experiment where claims of telepathy using (organisationally unrelated) FC typing were checked mechanically, revealing the possibility of physical signalling.  Appears rather like similar case recorded in Speechless, except that there the experimenter did not leap to the conclusion that the existence of influence excluded the possibility of communication.

Klewe, L., 1993, An Empirical Evaluation of Spelling Boards as a Means of Communication for the Multihandicapped, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 23, 3, 559-566

Account of validation exercise with 17 clients from Danish group described in Johnson, 1988, and Johnson, 1989. A longer account, in Danish, is given in Arendt-Neilsen, 1991 (see Reports).

It is clear from these examinations that none of the patients were able to communicate independently using spelling boards. It is also clear that any appearance of communication during the experiments came from the facilitators rather than the patients.

A paper discussing the concept of literacy as the construction of shared meaning in specific contexts. In classrooms where this concept applies, students with Down syndrome are valued as symbolic beings and engage literacy as a communication tool. This has implications for reconceptualizing Down syndrome.

Researchers have yet to sort out the facilitated communication controversy, but Colleen Madison noted that Lee's progressive
independence with controlled gestures and his ability to express information unknown to the support person served to assure the instructional
team and Lee's family that Lee's typed words were his own.

"Recently, an amalgamation of articles have appeared in a wide range of publications linking together community and school inclusion and facilitated communication research as an unholy trinity of anti-empiricism eroding the disability fields.  The authors of these critiques suggest that there exists a scientific basis for state institutions, segregated learning and a non-critical acceptance of traditional interpretations of expressive ability on the part of people with disabilities.  In this article we expose not science, but an ideology of segregated control behind those claims.  This ideology permeates the disability-related professions and is cloaked in the language of the natural sciences.  We trace this use of the natural sciences to the eugenics movement of the early twentieth century and explore the legacy of the ideology of control as it impacts current understanding of disability."
 

A response to Jacobson, Mulik & Schwartz, 1995 (q.v.).

Kohn, A., 1993, Court refuses to bar method of testifying; standard set for facilitated communication, New York Law Journal, 209, 62, 1, April 2

Report of In The Matter of Luz P., Supreme Court of the State of New York, Appellate Division, unreported case

Koppenhaver, D., Pierce, P., & Yoder, D., 1995, AC, FC and the ABCs: Issues and relationships, _American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology_, 4, 4, 5-15

"The authors suggest that knowledge from the fields of AAC and literacy be integrated into the research and practice of facilitated communication. This article includes an account of the experiences of one of the authors in a summer program for children with autism. Without the use of FC, the author was able to discover literacy skills in all individuals far in excess of what would be expected on the basis of their formal evaluation and school performance."

Krumm, J., 1993, Facilitated Communication - A Family’s Story, New Hampshire Challenge, 5, 4, 1-7

Case study of work with son with Down syndrome.

FC has been both a solution and a new challenge. It has allowed us to peek into the mind of a little boy and discover anew someone we thought we knew very well. By doing so, it calls us to reexamine all our old assumptions...

Reprint of article from New Hampshire Challenge

Kuchich, B., Stewart, S., Davidson, G., McKay, C., & Rowat, E.., 1992, Facilitated Communication; Some thoughts from the field, Communication Exchange, 2, 11-12

Lavin, J., 1993, Breakthrough; The Brilliant Boy Inside, USA Weekend, (July 30-Aug 1) 6-7

Leung, B., & Clark, C., 1995, Reader Response; "I'm Terrified!": One Parent's Perspective on Facilitated Communication, JASH, 20, 2, 161-163

A parent's comments about learning that her son was using FCT.

I was overwhelmed... I was terrified! I also remembered experiencing all the 'original' anguish, guilt and shame about having a child with disabilities. ...strong negative reaction.... Basically, FC made me feel very uncertain about my basis for all my past as well as future decisions for Dusty.

Argues that FC is too risky to be employed except in the unlikely event of its being proven by further validation studies.

Professionals now spending time and energy promoting FC should be encouraged to redirect their energy to validation studies and if these studies continue to yield lack of validity shouls shift the focus of this well-intentioned energy to continued exploration and development of independent augmentative communication strategies...(304)

Response to commentaries.

Levine, K., & Wharton, R., 1995, Facilitated Communication; What Parents Should Know, Exceptional Parent, 25, 5, 40-51

Warns parents against use of FC. In boxes, testimony of parents in favour, a parent who has been involved in an abuse case, and a staff member who did use FC but has since decided she was mistaken. Some errors; states, for example, that 'no articles opublished in peer-reviewed journals have offered support for FC.'

Lowry. M., 1994, Behavioural Psychology Update - The Need to Validate Facilitated Communication, The Habilitative Mental Healthcare Newsletter, 30-33

A protocol for validation of FC communications; less structured, and therefore less objectionable, than most, but still based on a considerable depth of ignorance.

Makarushka, M., 1991, The Words They Can’t Say, New York Times Magazine, October 6, 32-36, 70

An early account of the introduction of FCT to America.

Marafino, K., 1993, Getting to Know Our Son, Down Syndrome News, 17, 2, 24

Case study of work with son with Down syndrome.

Rick began to type NOW IS THE TIME FOR... I was certain that I knew what he intended to say, and, given the lateness of the hour, I was relieved that the last word was going to be BED. Much to my surprise, Rick completed his message by stating NOW IS THE TIME FOR JUSTICE.

Examines the way in which labelling affects the meaning of integration policy. Focuses on the views of one communication-impaired student using FC.

I really get sad knowing that there are kids who have intelligence like weary olf me. Tasks are made often awfully hard with Apraxia and they are worse when people say I cannot do the,. What I always ask is that we look more at people and less at the worse aspects of their disability.

Case study of boy with autism.

McDonald, A., 1993 , Don't Put the Cart Before the Horse, Communication Outlook, Summer 1993, 10

Ms McDonald is the co-author of Annie's Coming Out (see Monographs) and this article gives an account of her experiences with psychologist's mistaken assessments of her intelligence. Makes a strong plea for communication rights.

Without legally enforceable rights, people without speech will be at the mercy of decision makers who can arbitrarily decide to disallow communication.

Response to Shane, 1993, Facilitated or ‘Factitious’ Communication (see below, Articles). A FC user presents details of the communication validation exercises that she has successfully completed.

These words do not exist. I do not exist. Howard Shane has said that FC is factitious, that no-one using FC has ever validated their communication, and consequently that the personalities presented to the world through FC do not exist. Howard Shane must be right; he is an AAC professional...

McDonald, T., 1993, Communication; More Than Just Words, Network, 3, 1, 37

McLaughlin, E.N & Minnes, P.M. (1996). Attitudes towards persons with autism: Lessons from facilitated communication. International Journal of Psychology, 31, 60.

McLean, J., 1992, Facilitated Communication; Some Thoughts on Biklen and Calculator’s Interaction, American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 1, 2, 25

Comments on articles by Calculator (1992) and Biklen (1992) in American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology.

McNaughton, S., & Lindsay, P., 1992, Facilitated Communication; A good way to travel, a runaway train, or both? Communicating Together, 10, 4, 2

Notes that FCT should be used as a technique within a wider AAC strategy and calls for caution.

McNaughton, S., & Lindsay, P., 1993, Editorial Communicating Together, 11, 4, 2

Calls again for caution.

McPhail, P., 1992, Facilitating Technology with FC, Communicating Together, 10, 4, 17

Describes the use of FCT in computer-aided learning.

Maurer, N, 1995, Facilitated Communication: Can Children with Autism Have a Voice in Court? Maryland Journal of Contemporary Legal Issues, 6, 2, 233-282

A legal study of FCT cases and legal principles.

Given the particular vulnerability of children with autism... the risks of ignoring FC allegations are simply too great.

Minnes, P., 1993, Facilitating Communication about facilitated communication, Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders, 24, 2, 416-419

Letter suggesting that the factual and rational approach taken by skeptical professionals has caused estrangement with parents using FCT.

A first step could be for individuals on both sides to consider and explore together the beneficial effects of the process of interaction involved in facilitated communication regardless of the messages being communicated.

An experimental study of seven adults diagnosed as mentally retarded. Detected facilitator influence.

...the clients typed the correct answer only when the facilitator had access to the same information, never typed the correct answer when the facilitator had no information or false information, and typed the picture or activity presented to the facilitator when it was different from the one experienced by the client.

Validation testing organized by Hudson with 8 FCT users employing earphones to give messages to users not heard by facilitators. No positive validations. As successful validation was a condition of being permitted to continue communication in this form, stress was extreme.

Moore, S, Donovan, B., Hudson, A., 1993, Brief report; Facilitator-Suggested Conversational Evaluation of Facilitated Communication, Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders, 23, 3, 531-539

The Moore et al experiment (above) was followed by a follow-up experiment using message-passing tests. This may have been a feasible test procedure if it had occurred first; coming after the previous experiment stress was intolerable. Some ethical questions arise as to the continuing testing of a user who had asked that the test be stopped.

Morton, M, 1992, Not being able to speak doesn’t mean I can’t tell; Facilitated Communication and Disclosures of Abuse, JNRCCSA News, 1, 4, 6 & 12

A discussion of allegations of abuse made through FCT.

Morton, M, 1993, Not being able to speak doesn’t mean I can’t tell; Facilitated Communication and Disclosures of Abuse, ABA Juvenile & Child Welfare Reporter, 12, 42-44

A discussion of allegations of abuse made through FCT.

Mulick, J., Jacobson, J., & Kobe, F., 1993, Anguished Silence and Helping Hands; Autism and Facilitated Communication, Skeptical Inquirer, 17, 3

A complaint that psychologists are not being supported by other professions in their attacks on FC

There has been no adequate controlled veridical support for any of the crucial claims made by FC proponents. We are aware of no demonstration that complex and meaningful linguistic performance, independent of possible facilitator influence, has been obtained from people who had been diagnosed severely or profoundly mentally retarded using valid methods by qualified diagnosticians. ... Very little criticism has been voiced within developmental disability services... Many seem to view FC as the greatest breakthrough of all time... there has not been an aggressive and visible reaction by professional and scientific societies in medicine... and neuroscience...

Myers, J., 1994, The Tendency of the Legal System to Distort Scientific and Clinical Innovations - Facilitated Communication as a case study, Child Abuse & Neglect, 18, 6, 505-513

Children require protection, and every effort should be made to resolve questions about the reliability of facilitated communication. Until those questions are answered, however, FC should remain in the classroom, not the courtroom.

Myles, B., Quinn, C., & Simpson, R., 1994, Student Demonstration of skill acquisition through facilitated communication, Focus on Autistic Behaviour, 9, p.7

Discusses the use of FCT as an instructional technique with students with autism.

Research results suggest that facilitated communication may have potential for developing fundamental academic skills in students with severe disabilities.

Olney, M., 1995, Reading Between the Lines; A Case Study on Facilitated Communication, JASH, 20, 1, 57-65

A qualitative study examining the nature of the communication through facilitation betwen the author and a person with autism who had some disordered speech.

I discovered that typing with facilitation gave Marc the ability to express complex ideas and emotions, something he was unable to do with his soken and nonverbal communication skills.

An account of the use of FCT in a preschool.

Prior, R., & Cummins, M.., 1992, Questions About Facilitated Communication and Autism, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 22, 3, 331

Critique of Australian use of FCT. Overlaps with Cummins & Prior (1992). Misstates fact, attributes to FCT proponents views they do not hold, and fails to consider any data inconsistent with the author's preconceptions.

Prior, R., & Cummins, M.., 1992, Questions About Facilitated Communication and Autism, Communication (UK), 22, 3, 331

Reprint of Prior, R., & Cummins, M.., 1992, above

Regal, R., Rooney, J., & Wandas, T., 1994, Facilitated Communication; an experimental evaluation, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 24, 3, 345-355

Experimental study of 19 subjects assessed as developmentally disabled. All subjects failed to demonstrate communication.

Results failed to validate facilittaed communication for the group as a whole, any individual facilitator, or any of the subjects. ....extraordinary caution [should] be accorded any claims of communication that are the sole product of FC.

An interview with Crossley on practice points.

Remington-Gurney, J., 1991, Facilitated Communication in Mainstream Schools, Australian Communication Quarterly, Vol. 6, Winter 1991

Remington-Gurney, J., 1992, Katie’s Story, Communicating Together, 10, 4, 16

Case study of one autistic girl's use of FCT.

Immediately Katie's negative behaviours diminished and only reappeared once or twice in really difficult situations — personal or otherwise.

Account of FCT project in Queensland, Australia.

It is unfortunate that some FC users who have successfully completed validation tasks in naturalistic and semiformal settings are viewed with considerable scepticism in their residential and educational settings and are denied access to facilitated communication. Cultural attitudes qand media portrayal of negative aspects of FC undoubtably contribute to such outcomes.

Rosenbloom, L., 1997, A Neurological Commentary, European Journal of Disorders in Communication, 32, 1, 81-83

Commentary on Crossley, 1997. Suggests that while case study subject used to have neurological problems these must have been resolved prior to her using FC, which then provided a psychological prompt. See also Crossley, 1997 (2) in response.

Sabin, L., & Donellan, A., 1993, An Ethnographic Study of the Process of Facilitated Communication, Journal of the Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps, 18, 3, 200-211

Description of the use of qualitative research methods to investigate FCT as used with two students in a mainstream school.

The need at this point in time is for continued effort in understanding what the process of facilitated communication involves and the mechanisms that explain its success.

Brief (and inaccurate) mention of FCT in an article on autism.

Facilitated communication... is based on the notion that if the hand or arm of a nonverbal autistic child is supported by a ‘facilitator,’ the child may then be able to communicate by typing, or using an electronic communication or letter board. This technique was originally used, with considerable success, in children with cerebral palsy, in whom motor dificulties may make it imposible to speak. But autism is not simply a motor problem, like cerebral palsy; it is infinitely more complex. And yet the most extravagant claims have ben made for the powers of FC in autistic people, too (that previously nonlinguistic chilren, for instance, have written entire autobiographies) and its proponents range from enthusiastic to evangelical. But rigorous testing suggests that, while F.C. can be useful for children with cerebral palsy or juvenile parkinsoniansim, its use with autistic children is far more dubious, and that in many cases the facilitator unconsiously guides the child’s hand. ... It is possible that even such methods such as F.C. may provide the child with a huge amount of attention and structure that may be helpful.

Schneiderman, H , 1994, Letter to the editor: _Personal experiences with facilitative communication_, Journal of Child Neurology, 9, (3).

A father/pediatrician recounts his own experiences in being a facilitator for his son and the conversations they have had together. Includes some fascinating uses of archaic expressions by the author's son.

Schopler, E., 1991 , Informal evaluation of Crosley’s [sic] facilitated communication, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 21, 563

Schopler (editor of JADD) reacted to Biklen's 1990 article not by approaching either Biklen or Crossley (whose name is in fact misspelt throughout) but by asking the opinion of an Australian speech therapist working in an adjoining state to DEAL. The therapist reported on the case of Anne McDonald (see Crossley & McDonald, 1980, Monographs), saying incorrectly that there was no evidence of Anne's communication. .

Schopler, E., 1991, Correction to previous evaluation of facilitated communication, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 22, 4, 451

Ms McDonald having contacted the therapist to tell her of the evidence, the therapist wrote to retract her comments on Ms McDonald. The exchange demonstrates an unprofessional eagerness on Schopler's part to publish without prior checking derogatory material about a named person with disabilities.

Schopler, E., 1992, Editorial Commentary, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 22, 337

...it appears that "Facilitated Communication" has the potential of becoming a useful though not new technique for some people with autism...If the rhetoric and media hype promoting "Facilitated Communication" continues, it may well succeed in setting autism services back 40 years.

Brief mention of FC.

A good example of an unsubstantiated ideology is the recent Facilitated Communication (FC) phenomenon...

Discussion of 3 FC studies published in the same issue.

Schubert A, 1997, "I want to talk like everyone": on the use of multiple means of communication, Ment Retard 1997 Oct;35(5):347-354

[Abstract] This qualitative case study is a description of a young man with autism who communicated using speech, sign language, facilitated communication, body language, and his mother's conversational supports. Participant observation, interviews, and review of records were used to explore his current and past communication practices. These practices illustrate his preference for speaking and the complexity of choosing among communication means on an ongoing basis. Although the young man and his mother differed in their thinking about communication, they revealed a common goal: for Michael to participate in ordinary life activities as a member with a voice.

Account of English work with FCT.

....facilitated communication is here and I believe it is a human rights issue. People have the right to communicate and say what they want.

Short follow-up to previous Scrivener article.

Imagine how frustrating it must be for non-verbal people in adult literacy classes being taught how to write their name for years on end, and hiow to count to ten, when in fact their linguistic abilities could easily match the tutor's.

Shane, H., 1993 , The Unpopular Position on Facilitated Communication, Down Syndrome News, May, 47

What proponents of FC would describe as a miracle, a breakthrough, and a triumph, I do not characterize as legitimate communication at all.

Shane, H., 1993, The dark side of facilitated communication, Topics in Language Disorders, 13, 4, ix-xv

Attack on FCT as a misallocation of resources and misdirection of individual programs. Cites a number of cases of misuse of FC, including one involving communication with god. Cites a number of unsuccessful legal cases mounted on the basis of FCT (and has in this area been overtaken by events).

Shane, H., 1993, Facilitated or ‘Factitious’ Communication, Communicating Together, 11, 2, 11-13

Criticism of FCT from an AAC perspective.

Not one alleged competent user of the technique has come forward to prove the technique is genuine.

Shane, H., 1993, A Response to Anne McDonald, Communicating Together, 11, 4, 22

An evasive answer to McDonald, 1993, I’ve Only Got One Life and I Don’t Want to Spend It All Proving I Exist, Communicating Together.

In light of my conclusions in the paper FC; Facilitated or ‘Factitious’ Communication, it would be illogical to direct a response to Anne McDonald.

Report of validation study with one subject. The subject was unable to validate communication through facilitation.

...many persons with no actual coursework or practicum experience in communication disorders are taking responsibility for communication instruction. This practice sets an unacceptable standard for ASHA...

Study of three subjects undertaking message-passing validation. All three validated through providing information unknown to facilitators.

Out of 720 communicative interactions, participants disclosed 77 incidents of unknown information. ... all were able to demonstrate genuinely independent communication through disclosure of specific information previously unknown to a facilitator, although much inconsistency was noted. Results suggest that a phenomenon as complex as facilitated communication eludes a cursory explanation.

A father/pediatrician recounts his own experiences of being a facilitator for his son and the conversations they have had together. Includes some fascinating uses of archaic expressions by the author's son.

Siegel, B., 1995, Brief Report: Assessing Allegations of Sexual Molestation Made Through Facilitated Communication, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 25, 5, 319-326

Experimental validation study of two cases where people with severe communication impairment were said to have alleged abuse using FC. Concludes no valid communication.

The claim that virtually all autistic and mentally retarded children who are exposed to FC can learn to communicate at levels above the level of their prior adaptive functioning spuriously implies that the concept of mental retardation as it is presently understood does not actually exist.

Ms Sienkiewiecz-Mercer 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, reprints section from Ms Sienkiewiecz-Mercer’s book I Raise My Eyes To Say Yes dealing with help she got from Howard Shane (then regarded as a ‘progressive’).

Silberfield, M., Corber, W., Madigan, K., & Checkland, D., in press, Assessment of Financial Competence in an Adult with Autism, Canada’s Mental Health

Case study of an FC user with autism being assessed for competence to manage a financial inheritance. The person was found financially competent.

Silliman, E., 1992, Three perspectives of facilitated communication; Unexpected literacy, Clever Hans, or enigma? Topics in Language Disorders, 12, 4, 60

Neutral discussion of the possible explanatioons for early FC reports. Calls for more research.

Silliman, E., 1995, Issues raised by Facilitated Communication for Theorizing and Research on Autism; Comments on Duchan's (1993) Tutorial, Journal of Speech and Hearing Research, 38, 1, 202-206

Analyses and cautions about controlled experiment methodologies.

Two erroneous assumptions seem to be operating in task selection [in Wheeler et al, 1993]. The first is that naming a series of pictures is a simple activity, when, in fact, it is not. ... The second questionable assumption concerns defintiton of the social context of the activity.

Commentary on Wheeler et al (1996).

Simon, E., Toll, D., & Whitehair, P., 1994, A naturalistic approach to the validation of facilitated communication, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 24, 5, 647-657

Small partially successful experimental validation. Stresses negatives, but recognises positives.

All 7 students were purported at the start of the study to be communicating via facilitation at levels far above what was previously thought possible given their level of intellectual ability. A large degree of facilitator guiding was revealed for each of the 4 facilitators. Minimal evidence of facilitation was found for 4 of the 7 students. One of the 7 students demonstrated validated facilitated communication on two trials.

Suggests oversight procedure for FC. Qualifies findings in Simon, Toll and Whitehair (1994) by suggesting that previous success was due to 'olefactory cues'.

Simon, E., Whitehair, P., & Toll, D., 1996, A Case Study: Follow-Up Assessment of Facilitated Communication, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 26, 1, 9-18

Follow-up study of student who validated communication in Simon, Toll, & Whitehair, 1994. Found no further validated FC. For no good reason the authors regard this as disproving the previous study.

It is imperative that repeated validation of any communicative mode be performed routinely.

Extensive discussion of qualitative/quantitative arguments around FCT.

We are convinced that facilitated communication is not a miraculous phenomenon or a cure for disabilities. Nonetheless, it may be a potentially useful communication tool for some individuals with disabilities.

Study of 18 young people with autism:

Nine of the students revealed literacy and communication potential... However, five of these nine students were known to posess these abilities prior to the study. Date revealed that students appeared to acquire skills over time.

Hostile letter from Finland.

The FC scandal threatens to undermine the credibility of the entire autism field.

An account of a completely fatuous attempt to use FCT with 8 subjects using a training technique specifically condemned by all proponents of the method..

Trainers of facilitated communication recommend an error prevention procedure of 'helping the student not to make mistakes. by pulling the student's hand back from a clearly wrong selection.' Since facilitators in this study could not distinguish between errors and random responding, subjects were not prevented from striking keys to which they pointed.

Smith, M. & Belcher, R., 1994, Facilitated communication and autism; separating fact from fiction, Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 4, 66-74

Smith, M, Haas, P., & Belcher, R., 1994, Facilitated Communication - The effects of facilitator knowledge and level of assistance on output, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 24, 3, 357-367

qq

Spake, A., 1992, It Is Like Wishing I Could Be Normal, Washington Post Magazine, 31 May, 16-22, 26-28

Account of use of FCT in Washington schools.

Spake, A., 1992, Breaking the silence, Teacher Magazine, 3, 9, 14-21

Spelman, J., 1992, Facilitated Communication; the other side of the coin, The Newsletter of Western Center for Microcomputers in Special Education, Inc.

Spitz, H., 1996, Comment on Donellan's Review of Shane's (1994) "Facilitated Communication; The Clinical and Social Phenomenon, AMJR, 101, 1, 96-100

Objects to Donellan having been selected as reviewer; criticises Donellan's work, criticises Donellan's review.

Stafford, L., 1993, Communication of the Facilitated Kind, Network, 3, 1, 19

Starr, E., 1994, Facilitated Communication - A Response by Child Protection, Child Abuse & Neglect, 18, 6, 515-527

A partial review of the experimental studies. Had access to JADD; cites IDRP, but refers to 3 tests only and so must be relying on Cummins & Prior.

...Why is it that the abuse alleged through FC always seems to be sexual in nature?

The mounting evidence against FC is convincing... On the other hand, it is critical that FC is not dismissed out of hand as a possible augmentative communication system for some nonverbal clients. It is equally critical, however, that enthusiasm for the method be tempered with professional judgement, knowledge of the literature, and verification that true communication is in fact taking place...

Sometimes known as Oneida study. Validation experiment with 23 people; message-passing format. None of the participants demonstrated valid communication. One of the major experimental supports of the 'facilitator influence' school. Suffers from failure to consider effects of stress on word-finding problems.

Taylor, S., 1994, Editor's introduction to the exchange of opinion on the risks and benefits of facilitated communication, Mental Retardation, 32, 4, 299-300

Introduction to series of articles in MR.

Thios, S., 1993, Facilitated Communication Update; the paradox continues, Psychology in Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, 19, 9-10

Thompson, T., 1993, A reign of error; Facilitated communication, JFK Center Newsletter, Nashville

Throughout the United States, many thousands of costly educational hours are being invested in Facilitated Communication rather than focusing on procedures of proven effectiveness <sic> for developing skills that young people with autism badly need.

Review of Biklen, D., Communication Unbound

This book is a political tract, not a scholarly research monograph.

Vázquez, C., 1993, Facilitated Communication; A multi-task controlled evaluation, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 24, 3, 369-379

An important validation study involving two individuals with autism. Demonstrates extreme variability of responses to testing, each subject validating communication in only one out of four testing sessions.

Using a variety of tasks, this study provides evidence for genuinely independent communication from these particular subjects, as well as strong evidence for direct cueing between subject and facilitator.

Experimental study with 3 autistic children.

...the failure to validate these subjects’ literacy is assumed to be the result of generalized deficits in language and cognition... rather than perceptual problems or narriowly defined difficulties in specific word retrieval.

An AAC professional points out some of the complicating factors in investigations of the validity of FC communication.

I do not have an emotional investment in FCT... My motive, instead, is to share some information about autism and to suggest that as AAC professionals we need to ask additional questions and to explore certain areas before we make pro-con decisions about FCT.

Verslag wordt gedaan van 'facilitated communication' wat in de V.s. wordt toegepast. Dit is een methode voor mensen die niet in staat zijn normaal te communiceren.

Von Tetzchner, S., 1992, Facilitation and Facilitators, Communicating Together, 10, 4, 8

An examination of FCT from a purely theoretical standpoint.

If a number of cases of facilitated communication turn out to be automatic writing by facilitators, which seems to be a plausible hypothesis... analyses of the thoughts they attribute to the disabled individuals ... may be a way to gain new insight into the people who work with severely disabled people.

Unsighted

Von Tetzchner, S., 1997, Historical issues in intervention research: hidden knowledge and facilitating techniques in Denmark, European Journal of Disorders in Communication, 32, 1, 1-18

Historical account of early facilitation techniques in Scananavia, taken as interesting examples of distorted thinking by care workers. Interesting historical material covering the work of pioneering work of Else Hansen.  Von Tetzchner overlooks the possibility that the discovery of 'facilitating techniques' may have occurred indeendently a number of times because it in fact offers efficacious communication.

The context for interpreting the results of 'facilitating techniques' as facilitated communication when it is in fact automatic writing does not spread easily.

A report of Doug Biklen and Rosemary Crossley's presentation at the Fourth Symposium on Autism, 1992, hosted by the Geneva Centre.

I see FC as just another technique which will allow some individuals to communicate their true selves. As with any technique, the observations made cannot be generalized to all speech and language impaired people. Instead, it should be seen as just another tool.

Study of boy with autism. Demonstrated valid communication through FC.

This case study adds to the small but growing number of demonstrations that FC can sometimes be a valid method for at least some individuals with developmental disabilities.

Discussion of implications of FCT for work in the area of autism.

Wheeler, D., Jacobson, J., Paglieri, R., and Schwartz, A., 1993, An Experimental Assessment of Facilitated Communication, Mental Retardation, 31, 1, 49-60

Also known as O. D. Heck study. Account of validation testing carried out with 12 people using FCT. FC users identified pictures only when the facilitator could see the same picture; conclusion drawn that communication was coming from facilitators. One of the major experimental supports of the 'facilitator influence' school. See also analysis by Crossley in Crossley, R., 1993, Flying High on Paper Wings

Wheeler, D., Jacobson, J., Schwartz, A., & Paglieri, R., 1996, Issues in Facilitated Communication - A response to Silliman (1995), Journal of Speech and Hearing Research, 39, 1, 217-219

A response to Silliman (1995). Contains futher details about experimental method used in Wheeler et al (1993).

Whitehurst, G., & Crone, D., 1994, Social Constructivism, Positivism, and Facilitated Communication, JASH, 19, 3, 191-195

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

..people who call what they are doing science but who do not comport themselves in a manner that conforms with that system of belief and practice should expect to be treated as any infidel in the temple.

Discussion of evaluation procedures. Response to Bligh, Kupperman & Klco, 1994

We do need to be both open-minded and especially careful when evaluating FC.

Williams, D., 1994, In the Real World, JASH, 19, 3, 196-199

Commentary on JASH articles by Biklen & Duchan, 1994, & Green & Shane, 1994. One of the remarkably few comments by people with autism on the procedure. A powerful and perceptive analysis of communication in autism and the possible difficulties in testing for it.

It is true that FC may forge new pathways where there had been a shadow or permanent forfeit. It is true that FC may build awareness through visual feedback of what is expressed automatically or quicken the shifts in self-other awareness necessary for a semblance of social or communicative interaction. It is true that FC may help improve word-finding difficulties and other functional weaknesses in various other systems.

Discussion of different communication pathways in autism.

I don't know that I can say that I support FC but I can say that I support typing and that I support cuing and prompting where it assists straying minds.

An account of FCT from the physical therapy perspective (Clinical Management is the magazine of the American Physical Therapy Association).

Woods, E., 1992, Michael's Road to Communication, Clinical Management, 12, 3, 38-42

Case study of FCT use with a child with developmental delay.

Yoder, P., 1995, Validity of Facilitated Communication Intervention; Response to Duchan, Journal of Speech and Hearing Research, 38, 1, 202-204

Response to Duchan, 1993. Discusses qualitative and quantitative modes of evidence, favouring the latter.

Zangari, C., Lloyd, L., & Vicker, B., 1994, Augmentative and Alternative Communication; An Historic Perspective, AAC Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 10, 27-59

Historical survey of AAC. Covers FCT as a professional controversy of the 1990s, and gives a number of references. Cautious.

It may take several years to determine the value of FC and whether FC will play an important role within the existing AAC armamentarium.

(Abstract from Internet) The case of Michael C., a 16-year-old autistic, is chronicled to demonstrate the conflicts inherent in the use of facilitated communication (FC) to report child abuse.

John T. P. Callahan v. Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit No. 13, 22 IDELR 104 (E.D. Pa. 1994)..... Because the case was decided on a motion for summary judgment, the facts are presented here in the light most favorable to the plaintiff parents.

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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