What's Wrong with Facilitated Communication?

Facilitated Communication (FC) is a topic that raises many questions for parents and educators developing communication programs for their children with autism who exhibit complex communication needs. Guest speakers discussed FC (e.g., history, resurgence, issues around its use), and also Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) options and ways to distinguish between evidence-based and non-evidence-based interventions.
Panelist Bios:
Ralf Schlosser, Ph.D, Professor in Communication Sciences and Disorders at Northeastern University
Howard C. Shane, Ph.D., Director of the Autism Language Program in the Department of Otolaryngology and Communication Enhancement at Boston Children’s Hospital.
James T. Todd, Ph.D, professor of psychology at Eastern Michigan University.
Janyce L. Boynton, M.Ed., B.S. is a former FC practitioner who educates people about the dangers of FC and other facilitator-influenced techniques.
NCSAutism.org

[@privatepile762]

Jim Todd is the foremost authority in the world on facilitated communication. His decades long following of FC and intricate knowledge of various proponents is incredible. We should be grateful for his tireless dedication to victims like the Wendrows and exposing this sham.

[@smithdawn1]

He saved Mr Wendrows life. Not just with his knowledge concerning FC, but by being in the court room and pointing out that the headphones David Gorcyca proposed the facilitator wear during the “test” of FC that he said would prevent the facilitator from hearing the answer to the test questions, were in fact headphones for the hearing impaired that cancelled background noise and made it easier to hear speech. I read Prof Todd literally stood up during the hearing and spoke out, exposing the truth about the headphones, which caused the judge to send the facilitator out of the room during the time the answers were given, rather than sit there actually hearing the answers beforehand. Prof Todd is a hero. So happy to read your comment and see him recognized for the consummate professional he is.

[@liveyouryoga]

#GoScience# #ScienceUpFirst#

[@biodivers5294]

If you came to believe that your child has more ability then ‘the world’ realized before, it’s hard to step back…
If you are a facilitator who does the magic, and have to admit you probably fooled people without knowing, also very hard…

[@slidegirl6005]

Mel Baggs, a liar who falsely claimed to have autism, said that her best fc facilitator was her cat. Sh was also featured on CNN, to give you an idea of how good their autism reporting is.

[@slidegirl6005]

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mel_Baggs