Tool promised to help non-verbal people - but did it manipulate them instead?

Tim Chan, a 29-year-old man from Melbourne, Australia, has found a way to communicate despite being unable to speak. He uses a method called facilitated communication, which he describes as a 'lifeline' that allows him to engage in social activities and pursue his PhD studies. Tim, who was diagnosed with autism as a child, recalls a time when people presumed he was incompetent and often ignored him. With the help of his mother, Sarah, who gently guides his hand to point at letters on a keyboard, Tim can express his thoughts and feelings. Over the years, Sarah's support has become less direct, now just a light touch on his shoulder to help him stay focused. While many advocates view facilitated communication as a miraculous tool that gives a voice to those who cannot speak, there is a growing concern among experts and families that the true authorship of the messages may lie with the facilitator rather than the individual. This debate has been fueled by several criminal allegations made by non-verbal individuals using this method, which have been dismissed by courts and investigators. The controversy surrounding facilitated communication has sparked discussions about ableism, the legacies of those involved, and the power dynamics between disabled individuals and their caregivers. Facilitated communication was first introduced in 1977 by Rosemary Crossley, an Australian disability advocate who passed away last year, leaving behind a complicated legacy. While some remember her as a champion for individuals with limited speech, others argue that her invention was misguided and potentially harmful. The first notable user of facilitated communication was Anne McDonald, a young woman with cerebral palsy who was able to communicate by pointing at magnetic letters with Crossley's support. Within weeks, Anne was spelling out full sentences and performing math, despite having no formal education and being institutionalized since the age of three. This sudden ability raised eyebrows among some professionals, including the head pediatrician at the institution, Dr. Dennis Maginn, who questioned the validity of Crossley's communication theory without independent testing. Anne later accused Dr. Maginn of attempting to harm her, but the allegations were dismissed by homicide investigators. Anne's mother, Beverley, expressed her doubts about her daughter's ability to communicate, stating that she never received satisfactory answers when she asked her questions. Marlena Katene, a 33-year-old woman from the Gold Coast, also uses facilitated communication to express herself. She selects words using a keyboard, and her facilitator, Bert, reads them aloud. Marlena finds it frustrating to be constantly tested for validation and believes that communication is more about humanity than science. However, experts have conducted double-blind studies that suggest the facilitator is often the one providing the messages, rather than the non-verbal individual. In over 30 empirical studies, the non-verbal person has ended up typing the prompts that the facilitator was shown, indicating a lack of evidence that the messages originate from the individual with a disability. Howard Shane, an associate professor at Harvard Medical School, emphasizes that the scientific evidence supporting facilitated communication is lacking. Courts have reached similar conclusions, leading to serious legal consequences for parents and caregivers based on allegations made through facilitated communication. One of the most notable cases involved Anna Stubblefield, a university professor who was convicted of aggravated sexual assault against a non-verbal man with severe disabilities. The facilitated communication testimony from the man was deemed unreliable, and although Stubblefield's conviction was later overturned, it raised significant concerns about the method's validity. Many medical organizations worldwide, including the UK's National Autistic Society and the American Psychological Association, oppose facilitated communication, citing it as ineffective and potentially harmful. Clinical psychologist Adrienne Perry warns that non-verbal individuals can become 'screens' for their facilitators' beliefs and biases. Some facilitators have discovered that they were unknowingly the authors of the messages they believed were coming from the individuals they were assisting. Tim Chan expresses concern that criticisms of facilitated communication can be damaging, leading individuals like him to doubt their own abilities. His mother, Sarah, argues that testing can induce anxiety in non-verbal individuals, who process information differently. Despite the ongoing concerns, facilitated communication continues to be practiced in various specialized schools and disability centers around the world. Experts suggest that families need to accept their children for who they are, rather than trying to impose their own expectations on them.