TASH RESOLUTION ON FACILITATED COMMUNICATION

Statement of Purpose

Facilitated communication (also referred to as facilitated communication training), is one of many augmentative and alternative communication techniques that is used by some individuals who cannot speak or whose speech is limited and who cannot point reliably. The method involves a communication partner, typically called a facilitator (e.g. teacher, friend, parent) providing physical and emotional support as the person points at pictures, letters, words, or other symbols.

Rationale

The method is controversial. In some research studies, individuals using facilitation have not demonstrated that they were able to convey their own thoughts through the method. Some studies have revealed that individuals could be influenced by or pick up on cues from their facilitators. In other studies, individuals have demonstrated the ability to express their own ideas and to do so without influence or cue seeking. Others have progressed from supported to independent typing.

The question of authorship can become particularly controversial when the subject of what has been communicated concerns sensitive issues. Such topics may include, for example, preferences about living arrangements, allegations of abuse, and selection of personal assistants.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, THAT TASH, an international advocacy association of people with disabilities, their family members, other advocates and people who work in the disability field:

• regards access to alternative means of expression an individual right.*
• encourages its membership to become informed about the complexities of facilitated communication training and practice and to stay informed of new research and practice throughout the facilitated communication training process.
• encourages rigorous and ongoing training for people who decide to become facilitators. encourages careful, reflective use of facilitated communication.
• encourages facilitators to work in collaboration with individuals with severe disabilities to find ways of monitoring authorship when using facilitation. To this end, TASH encourages use of multiple strategies, including, for example; empirical research methods (qualitative and quantitative) and transitioning to independent typing.
• urges that when allegations of abuse or other sensitive communications occur, facilitators and others seek clarification of the communication and work to ensure that users of facilitation are given the same access to legal and other systems that are available to persons without disabilities.

It is important not to silence those who could prove their communication competence while using facilitation or any other method of expression.

* See the TASH "Resolution on the Right to Communicate," revised December, 2000.

ADOPTED DECEMBER, 1994
REVISED December, 2000