In the case of FCT newsletters only extended articles are cited here, and a number of user accounts, tips on techniques, and details of support groups have been omitted.
Change of name from Facilitated Communication News
Winter '95 DiCola, R., and Adams, R., A Different Avenue for Facilitation
Describing facilitated handwriting program for people with cerebral palsy labelled severely mentally retarded.
1,1, 1993 Hightower, J., Teaching with Facilitated Communication
Changes in teaching strategies following introduction of FCT to middle school.
Wolkin, S., Update on the North Metro Psychoeducational Program
Changes in teaching strategies following introduction of FCT to autism teaching program.
A basic resource. Any person engaged in this field should subscribe and purchase back issues.
1,1, 1992 Staff of the Institute, The Right To Communicate
A charter of fundamental communication rights (see Appendix #1)
Biklen, D, Look at the Board
Instructional paper stressing the importance of eye contact.
Borthwick, C., Morton, M., Biklen, D., & Crossley, R., Facilitated Communication and disclosures of abuse
Guidelines and procedures for handling allegations of abuse made through FC.
Morton, M., Court decisions on the use of Facilitated Communication
Summary of American court hearings to start '92.
1, 2, 1993 Chadwick, M., Achieving Independent Typing
Gives guidelines for fading support.
Biklen, D., Notes on Validation Studies of Facilitated Communication
Notes the importance of considering experience, confidence, and word retrieval problems when evaluating validation methodologies.
Sonnenmeier, R., Co-Construction of Messages During Facilitated Communication
Compares interactive elements of spoken and facilitated communication.
Conversations between natural speakers are highly interactive and collaborative, with both participants actively constructing the conversation on-line; this is referred to as co-construction.
Crossley, R., Literacy and Facilitated Communication Training
A reprint of Crossley, R., 1993, Literacy and Facilitated Communication Training, Communicating Together (see Journals)
1, 3, 1993 Shevin, M., Who are our Phyllis Wheatleys?
A comparison between the skepticism shown in the 18th century towards writing said to be coming from black slaves and the scepticism now shown towards communication said to be coming from people with disabilities.
Chatfield, M., Facilitated Communication; Issues for Parents
Discusses family attitudes, validation strategies, facilitation training, and the importance of support.
Sheehan, C., Facilitated Communication Validity; Alternative explorations
Discusses problems with validation exercises, with examples of difficulties encountered in practical experience.
David, who had correctly identified his birthday, could not tell me what he had eaten for lunch, but instead told me specifically what his mother had eaten. Heather... combined the names of her two brothers into an unrecognizable word when I asked her to identify family members in a picture. clearly there are many factors which support and inhibit the communication of the facilitated communication speaker.
Berger, C., Facilitated Communication; As far as the eye can see!
Stresses the importance of visual assessments in FCT use.
Biklen, D, & Schubert, A., Issues of Influence; Some Concerns & Suggestions
Provides practical guidelines aimed at minimizing facilitator influence.
Morton, M., Court Rulings on Individuals using facilitation to testify
Update on recent court decisions.
1, 4, 1993 Williams, B., Speaking Freely
Transcript of an address to the 2nd Syracuse FC Conference in May, 1993.
I know Howard Shane. I know others who genuinely doubt the validity of facilitated communication. They have that right; they have that obligation. We have the right, we have the obligation to prove them wrong. And in validating facilitated communication, I make this simple plea to people from all sides and to the media, and that is; in validating facilitated communication we must not lose sight of, first and foremost, validating the person who relies on facilitated communication.
Drake, S., Interactions of Task Demands, Performance, and Neurology
A neurological interpretation of diminished performance under stress in people with autism.
It cannot be stressed enough that performance of activities that include motoric and cognitive components can prove extremely difficult to users of facilitation for reasons other than presumed intellectual limitations.
Shevin, M., Establishing Reciprocity in Facilitated Communication Interactions
Specific and useful recommendations about guidelines for considering the interactional dynamics of particular FCT interactions.
Rather than reaching toward comforting or controlling the person as a primary objective, the person acting from a position of solidarity is actively engaged in the effort to 'grow together, share power, and become mutually free'.
Olney, M., Musings of a Skeptical Facilitator
Personal reflections on qualitative validation of a person's communication through FCT.
I still have so many questions. However, the content of typed messages, the changes in demeanour, the very real human closeness all provide ample personal evidence of the reality of Marc's communication. Perhaps in my role as facilitator, I am required to learn to live with questions, as I continue to seek answers.
Blumenthal, R., Aaron's Story
Case study of FCT use with a young man with autism.
Lavin, J., Speaking With His Inner Voice
Case study of FCT use with a young man in a mainstream school.
2, 1, 1993 Kochmeister, S., I Deserve to be Heard
An FCT user protests about distortions on the Frontline program (see TV)
Shevin, M., Living in Interesting Times
Janzen-Wilde, L., Oral and Literate Characteristics of Facilitated Communication
A listing of similarities and differences between FCT and spoken communication.
Marcus, G. & Shevin, M., Helping facilitated Communication Speakers Make Friends
A user and a facilitator discuss the issue of friendship.
Schawlow, A., Is Facilitated Communication Real?
A discussion by Nobel prizewinner Schawlow of the scientific errors made by critics of the method.
Hill, R., & Harvith, J., PBS Producer Rejected Data Supporting Facilitated Communication
Criticism of Frontline program (see TV)
Biklen, D., Questions and answers about Facilitated Communication
Biklen corrects misunderstandings displayed in media accounts.
Kleiwer, C., The Communication Portfolio
Advice on developing portfolios of FCT users’ utterances.
Drake, S., Electronic Mail Access to Information on Facilitated Communication
Information on FTP access.
2, 2, 1994 Schubert, A., Keep Learning; Know the Feel of Facilitated Communication
Suggests the use of role-playing in FCT to sensitise facilitators to feedback issues.
Biklen, D, Learning About Independent Typing From People Working to Achieve It
Discusses statements by FCT users on independence issues.
Sabin, L., Empowering the Facilitated Communication Speaker
Discusses physical and verbal supports for FCT users and the decisions taken by facilitators.
2, 3, 1994 Shevin, M., An Exercise in Silencing; The New York OMRDD Model Guidelines on Facilitated Communication
Critiques New York’s official guidelines.
However, besides these positive reasons for creating guidelines, there may be other hidden agendas as well. One use of such guidelines might be to create a situation in which a practice is not prohibited, but in which that practice is made so unwieldy that it has been, for all practical purposes, eliminated.
Kleiwer, C., Preschool Literacy and Facilitated Communication
Discussion of literacy-based communication in the preschool setting.
3, 1, 1994 Crossley, R., Passing the Test
An analysis of recent positive validation test results.
Cardinal, D., & Hanson, D., Research Brief; Preliminary Results of a Validation Study Regarding Facilitated Communication
Report of validation study.
48% of the students were able to pass information correctly to a blind facilitator at least 2 of the 5 times during a session. 33% were able to pass information correctly at least 3 of the 5 times.
Sheehan, C., & Mattuozi, Research Brief; an investigation of the validity of facilitated communication through the disclosure of unknown information
Report of validation study.
Each of the three participants was able to demonstrate genuinely independent communication through disclosure of specific information previously unknown to the facilitator. Each of the participants, however, also failed in other instances to disclose relevant information.
Kochmeister, S., Reflections on a Year of Turmoil and Growth
Report by FC user who is progressing towards independence.
Remington-Gurney, J., Using Discourse Analysis in Facilitator Training
Significant discussion of the nature of the communicative interaction.
I feel we are just beginning to underrstand the roles played by speaking and non-speaking people in varous interactions.
Shevin, M., Proposal for a Practical Shift in Our Language
Suggests that in accepting the rhetoric of validation we risk losing sight of the wishes of FC users.
...we [should] pull back from focusing discussion on 'facilitator influence' and instead shift our focus to the topic of 'cue-seeking' by facilitated communication users.
3, 1, 1994 Baladerian, N., Response to the APA Resolution
Critiques APA 1994 resolution on FC..
I would plead with the APA to reverse this strict and cruel stateemnt, and remain open to the possibility of exploring this method.
Hitzing, W., Facilitated Communication and Black Box Psychology
Critiques APA 1994 resolution on FC..
I believe that there's more to the APA's denunciation of FC than simply their concern that there are not enough validation studies. Where were the calls for caution [on aversive therapy]?
Drake, S., Literature Review
Provides abstracts of articles on FCT in Mental Retardation, 32 (4)
Kliewer, C., Issues involved in Facilitated Communication and People with Down Syndrome
Excellent survey of bias and prejudice in writing on FC leads into a study of the analyses of movement disorders in DS and the implications of all of this for studies in FCT.
The evidence which supports the contention that inefficient or ineffective communication is the result of conceptual limitations is found in research which takes the retardation as a "given". If the research literature is examined without such a presupposition, the data more strongly suggests that the performance of people with DS reflects difficulties in initiating then accurately maintaining movements, both simple and complex.
Remington-Gurney, J., Facilitated Communication; The Queensland Approach
Survey of validation project in progress in Queensland. Gives examples of successful content validation.
87% or 21 of the 24 consumers were able to communicate information that was accurate and not previously known to their facilitators.
1, 2, 1992 Yuan, S., A Gradual Miracle
Discussion of the readjustments faced by parents whose children use FCT.
2, 2, 1993 Biklen, D., Notes on Validation Studies of Facilitated Communication
Stresses the part played in test situations by experience, confidence, wordfinding problems, and quality of facilitation, and relates this to published validation studies.
Issues from 1996 onward are available on-line.
Afer Winter 1995 see The Communication Newsletter
Summer 1992 DeVett, D., & Lapos, M., FC; A larger perspective
Facilitated communication is a framework based on supporting people and in turn being supported to think, do and see things that were never seemed possible... for ALL of us, not just the person being facilitated.
Fall 1992 Knoster, T., & Lapos, M., On becoming more human
...the process of facilitation, and the fascination it holds for people, provides an opportunity to break out of the restrictive interpretation of 'disability' and celebrate the important lessons we are learning.
Winter 1993 FC Speakers Who are verbal
Discussion of the use of FCT with people with some speech.
The question here should not be “Is the person verbal?” but “Is he or she meeting the potential of a free and flexible communicator?”
This magazine was originally intended to be twice-yearly, but only the first issue has so far appeared.
1, 1, 1991 Crossley, R., Unexpected Communication Attainments by Persons Diagnosed as Autistic and Intellectually Impaired
Article based on address at ISAAC Conference, Anaheim, 1988 (see Conference Papers).
Johnson, I., When the Pen is Mightier than the Word
Reprint of Johnson, I., 1988 (see Journal Articles)
1, 1, 1992 Ashe, W., Will changes really happen?
...we are probably looking at many thousands of individuals who are a lot smarter than we thought they were. If, however, there persons' life quality does not correspondingly change... then facilitation might at the same time become an innovative and exciting procedure and a dismal failure.
Kurz, A., On testing for validity
Discusses the problems caused in validation studies by the need to maintain the confidence of the subject in the face of a methodology based around skepticism.
Are people so sensitive to our expectations that their abilities could be so dramatically affected by skepticism? I believe that they are.
1, 2, 1992 Shevin, M., The facilitator as midwife
A comparison between the mother/midwife relationship and the FC user/facilitator.relationship.
Bardossi, M., Using facilitated communication in program planning meetings
Practical guidelines for the use of FCT in planning processes.
Kurz, A., Validity, Part II
Case studies in content validation.
1, 3, 1992 Waite, D., Paper Wings
Moving account of FCT by a user.
Paper wings I think are the freedom of speech, only in my case the wing is the freedom to facilitate.
Mulley, L., Demystifying Reading; or, Will Johnny Ever Learn to Read
Detailed discussion of FCT outcomes in the light of research into reading acquisition.
In the end, we may discover that illiteracy is less related to individual capacity than to environmental opportunity. As the 21st century approaches, we have the opportunity to extend the right to acquire literacy to people who may be most in need of it.
1, 4, 1992 Ashe, W., Finding the Time to Facilitate
We think that the basic conceptual framework for answering the question “How do we find the time?” is found within the constitutional protection afforded to us all.
1, 5, 1993 Starkey, T, FC and the Design of Behaviour Support Plans
The advantages and limitations of FC in managing behavioural problems.
Lockyer, J., People Think I Don't Understand Your World, But You Don't Understand My World
Case study of integration of adolescent into mainstream school using FCT.
Stockwell, S., Meaning and Validity
Determining the meaning of the messages gained through facilitation.
One of the dificulties in facilitated communication is that we tend to regard it as an inviolable text, and fail to ask the questions that might clarify meaning. ... We still have many people who are conditioned to always say 'yes' to figures in authority.
2,4, 1994 Cravedi-Cheng, P., Quality of Facilitated Communication
A management approach to best practice in FCT.
2,1, 1993 McNabb, W., Effective Use of Assessment Information
Discussion of skills assessment using FCT.
Sheehan, M. & Sheehan, K., Inadvertent Facilitator Influences
Discussion of how to minimize facilitator influence with untrained facilitators.
The precautions for unknowing facilitator responding are the same as for inadvertent cuing. Facilitators need to be conscious of the possibility of unintended influence and guard against it.
1,2, 1992 Finney, R., How Facilitated Communication Has Changed My Life
Report by FC user.
Is it so hard to believe that there is more to us than our bodies and behaviours?
Fenderson, B., Good Intentions - Dumb decisions, A mother's view of facilitation
It is not perfect. There are many frustrating moments. The most dificult is that facilitated communication does not always go as well for us, his loved ones, as it does with other facilitators.
Material on FCT has also appeared in these other specialist newsletters.
May/June 1993 Green, G. 1993, What does research tell us about Facilitated Communication?
Extended note in Questions & Answers Column. Covers all negative studies, ignores positive findings (except Calculator & Singer, 1992, which is criticized for lack of reliability measures).
May/June 1993 Mulick, J., 1993, What is the balance of proof for or against facilitated communication? 6, 3, 1-5
March/April 1995 Taylor, S., APA's Resolution on Facilitated Communication is Out of Character for the APA
Winter 1990-91 Surprising Thoughts Revealed When Communication Facilitated
(Brief extract from Biklen, 1990, Harvard Educational Review, see Journal Articles)
Spring 1991 Ask the Experts" talks with Douglas Biklen
(Interview with Biklen)
Fall 1992 Berger, C., Experiences with Facilitated Communication; The Breakthrough
(Reprint of Berger, C, 1992, Communication Outlook, see above)
Hunter, D., My Son's 'Private Consultation'
A skeptical account of an FCT assessment.
Larsen, N., Experiences with Facilitated Communication
Article on the poetry written by Neils Larsen using facilitated communication.
Winter 1992, McDonald, A., I’ve Only Got One Life
Powerful complaint at Schopler's personal attack (see Schopler, 1991, Journals) as reprinted by Autism Association.
Can’t people please let us talk how we like? I’ve only got one life, and I don’t want to spend it all proving I exist. ... I have listed the validation tests that I was given. I did not do those tests willingly. I was outraged at having my existence as a person called into question. I felt insulted, humiliated and demeaned by being put through test after test when I felt that I had already proved myself adequately. Now, thirteen years after I established my abilities in court for what I thought would be the very last time, I am once again having my communication doubted by people who have never taken the trouble to inform themselves of the facts on the public record.
Schwartz, I., A Parent’s Perspective on Facilitated Communication
Wheeler, D., Facilitated Communication Under the Microscope
Spring, 1993 Bauman, M., An Interview with Margaret Bauman
A very interesting discussion about FCT with a pediatric neurologist.
The advent of FC has raised many questions about autism and has forced me to rethink some of my previous ideas about the disorder and what the brain may be doing. As we learn more about FC and have increasing opportunities to work with children and adults using this technique, we may be able to answer some of our questions and hopefully better understand on a neurobiologic level how the brain handles information.
March-April, 1994
Ward, G., To Facilitate or Not to Facilitate
Account by parent of a non-FCT user who responds to touch.
If this light touch will enable my son to swim, walk at a normal pace, and climb stairs, why would it not help a person communicate by pointing to letters on a board?
Schawlow, A., Is Facilitated Communication Real?
Reprint of Schawlow, 1993
Rosen, J., Letter to PBS
Open letter complaining about bias in Frontline Program (see Other Media)
January 1995 Crossley, R., & Graham, H., Too Many Tests, Not Enough Teachers
Report on FCT with some coverage of validation issues.
7,4, 1994 Blackstone, S., Pointing, Poetry and Protection
Extended coverage of validation issues. Supports Shane and Green position.
15, 1, 1992 Rydell, P, Facilitated Communication - A Reason for Cautious Optimism
(Raises a number of queries and calls for more research).
...without validation of FC techniques and outcomes across populations, a healthy scepticism should remain. This in no way implies that we should abstain from using FC until all the data is in; quite the contrary. Investigators and practitioners alike should put aside theoretical biases in an effort to reseach and implement facilitated communication with open minds.
10, 2, 1, 1991, Duncan, J., Morton, M., & Lehr, S., Facilitated Communication; Talking Through Typing
Brief report on FCT for Canadian audience.
10, 4, 1, 1992, Hopper, D., Autistic Chloe communicates and wins nation-wide media attention
Brief report on use of FCT by Canadian girl.
10, 4, 6, 1992, Unsigned, Disturbing news about facilitated communication
Brief report on Canadian case of sexual abuse charge.
10, 4, 6, 1992, Unsigned, Facilitated communication raises questions
Brief report on FCT in Canada.
4, 4, 1990 Rimland, B., Surprising success reported with facilitated communication
Report of Biklen, 1990, Harvard Educational Review.
5, 1, 1991 Rimland, B., Facilitated Communication Reports generate heated controversy
Report of Cummins & Prior 1992 Harvard Educational Review piece; Rimland would appear to have read it in draft format and thus not at the time read Biklen's rebuttal, and accepts Cummins & Prior's claims unquestioningly.
5, 2, 1991 Crossley, R., Facilitated communication
Letter correcting Cummins/Prior statements.
5, 4, 1991 Rimland, B., Facilitated Communication: Problems, Puzzles and Paradoxes
We oldtimers in the field of autism had known about, and talked about, autistic people who could communicate only in writing since the 1960s, but it seems the time was not right. Thanks to the diligent efforts of Rosemary Crossley of Australia and Douglas Biklen of Syracuse University, recognition of FC has finally arrived — with a bang. .... There are many questions that require answers before the ultimate promise of FC can be realised.
6, 1, 1992 Rimland, B., A facilitated communication 'horror story'
Report of Sunday Age <Melbourne> coverage of guardianship hearing of Carla'.
Rimland, B., Facilitated communication; now the bad news
Having a somewhat paternal interest in F/C, I am delighted at the way F/C has captured the attention of the autism world. I feel that F/C should be given a good solid try with every autistic person who has difficulty in communicating. ... Now the bad news; while F/C has provided a thrilling breakthrough to some families, it has led to disaster for others. .... In case after case, poorly-trained, over-zealous facilitators have uncovered, they believe, evidence of child molestation by family members. They report the parents to the authorities and the nightmare begins.
6, 2, 1992.. Rimland, B., Editor's note
F/C is clearly a tool that may help many handicapped people. It is also a weapon that may do irreparable harm to many innocent people.
6, 3, 1992 Rimland, B., Facilitated communication; courts say 'no'
Report of In The Matter of M. Z. , et al. and In The Matter of DSS a/b/o/ Jenny S. v. Mark and Laura S. - see Court Cases, above. A particularly misleading account, giving the impression that the cases were dismissed after evidence was heard and the cases were dismissed on the basis of the facts, when in both cases the judges' rulings were on the preliminary legal point that FC was not capable of being employed in court. Gives some details of the defences' claims in each case.
Rimland, B., F/C proponents, skeptics face off
(account of comments by Biklen, Schopler, etc.)
6, 4, 1992 Letters to the Editor
7, 1, 1993 Rimland, B., FC Under Siege
Reprints Gina Green chart of failed validations from Shriver Center presentation - see Conference Papers, above.
7, 2, 1993 Rimland, B., Controlled Evaluations of Facilitated Communication - II
Update of Gina Green chart.
7, 3, 1993 Rimland, B., Facilitated Communication; a light at the end of the tunnel?
Suggests that FC advocates are reducing their claimed success rate. Based on a misunderstanding of both the original material and the later article.
Rimland, B., The four-object method of validating facilitated communication
Suggests a particular form of message-passing test.
Rimland, B., Controlled Evaluations of Facilitated Communication - III
Third instalment of Gina Green list.
7, 4, 1993 Rimland, B., F/C Update; critical PBS program adds to controversy
Report of 1993 Frontline program.
Rimland, B., Controlled Evaluations of Facilitated Communication - IV
Fourth instalment of Gina Green list.
8, 1, 1993 Rimland, B., Update on FC
Reports further suits against Biklen. Reports misreading by Howard Shane of Crossley article as evidence of inconsistency with Biklen.
8, 4, 1994 Rimland, B., Facilitated Communication Update
Reports 5 professional associations condemning FC.
1994 (22, 3, 33-47)
Caputo, J., & Doman, J., Facilitated Communication
Short account of FC accompanied by 10 case studies from America, France, Germany, Italy, UK)
Spring, 1992 Weisz, C., Facilitated Communication and Rett Syndrome
Case study of child with Rett syndrome using FCT.
What if Rett syndrome really is just a movement/communication disorder? What if the reason so many parents say "She looks like she knows something I don't." is because she does — she knows she's smart?
Fall, 1993, Bynum, S., One Family’s Success with Facilitated Communication
Case study of child with Rett syndrome using FCT.
Sewell, L., A Teacher’s Perspective
Case study of child with Rett syndrome using FCT.
19, 5, 1993, Biklen, D., Controversy Over Facilitated Communication
Borthwick, C., Morton, M., Biklen, D., & Crossley, R., Severe Communication Impairment, Facilitated Communication, and Disclosures of Abuse
20, 11, 1993, 12-14
Biklen, D., The World of Facilitated Communication
A reply to allegations made in the television program Frontline in October 1993
21/22, 12/1, 1993/4, 13-14
TASH Targets Media Bias With CPB Complaint
A group of disability organizations protest against distortions in 1993 public television Frontline program.
20, 10, 1994, 8-10
Shevin, M., The "Regulation-to-Oblivion' of facilitated Communication
Discusses problems with regulation of FC use in several states.
Who that now uses FC would have been permitted to do so if these procedures were in place? Unfortunately, the clear answer is 'Nobody!'
21, 10, 1995, 7
Taylor, S., 1995, Time to Speak Out on the FC Controversy
Opposes attempts to limit access to FCT.
During the past year, the Centre [on Human Policy ; Syracuse] decided to step into the fray. We did not do so to argue the merits of FC; research and the practical experience of people with disabilities and their families will eventually sort out whether, for whom, and under what conditions FC is a valid communication approach. However, we have become deeply concerned over the efforts by some opponents of FC to limit access to this approach by people with disabilities or to prevent parents or guardians from choosing FC for their children.
1992, 4, 2, 1 Lahey, M & Derry, L., Facilitated Communication; One Family's Experience
Case study of one boy's use of FCT.
For the first time in his life Michael is able to communicate with other people and show the world that he is an intelligent little boy. After only a month of using facilitated communication, there has been a notable decrease in his aggressive behaviour and his eating habits have improved.
1992, 12, 2&3, 39-46
Wolfensberger, W., The facilitated communication craze; The cold fusion
of human services
Condemnation of FCT as the latest in a series of crazes in human services.
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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