Free From Physical Touch? | Facilitated Communication | Syracuse University | Inside the Edge

This educational video is intended to draw attention to the problem of facilitator cuing in a technique called Facilitated Communication (FC). FC is also known as supported typing, spelling to communicate, and rapid prompting method (among others).
In this video, we explore the Facilitated Communication Institute of Syracuse University's claims of typing that is "free from physical touch," as depicted in their documentary "Inside the Edge: A Journey to Using Speech Through Typing." At the time of the documentary, student Jamie Burke had been subjected to FC for 10 years.
Also referenced in the critique is this article:
Broderick, A., and Kasa-Hendrickson, C. (2001). "Say Just One Word at First": The Emergence of Reliable Speech in a Student Labeled with Autism. JASH. Vol 26 (1), 13-24.
To date, there is no reliably controlled evidence to prove proponent claims of independent communication. In fact, the research shows that facilitators, not their clients, are controlling the typing by providing physical, visual, and auditory cues.
Many organizations, including the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) oppose its use due to prompt dependency, facilitator influence, lack of scientific evidence, and potential harms (e.g., false allegations of abuse).
FMI: wwwfacilitatedcommunication.org