Validation of Facilitated Communication

Abstract

This study reports the results of an attempt to validate a young adult's use of facilitated communication. The individual, Philip, had made allegations of sexual abuse against his father. These allegations were conveyed to two facilitators, one a special education teacher and the other an instructional aide. A comprehensive battery of procedures was developed and then administered to examine the likelihood that Philip could have authored the allegations. Results of the assessment failed to support Philip's possessing the necessary communication skills to have authored the allegations. Charges against his father were subsequently dismissed. While findings of this investigation cannot be generalized beyond Philip, the procedures and accompanying rationale may be useful to other examiners who are engaged in validation activities with facilitated communicators. Implications and proposed guidelines for testing the validation of this method of communication are presented.