Communication Commons^™

An Investigation Into Attitudes Surrounding Facilitated Communication, Jessica N. Peregoy

Theses & Honors Papers

This qualitative study investigated facilitators' opinions regarding facilitated communication (FC). Six individuals who have experience and/or training in the use of this method were interviewed. Issues discussed included FC's effectiveness for individuals other than those with autism, training prior to using the method, need for modifications in the method, and validity of the communication arising from the use of FC. Recurring themes were constructed from comments made during the course of the interviews. Each theme was supported by comments made by at least half of the facilitators. These themes were dissatisfaction with formal training, application to other populations, acknowledgement of …