Newsgroups: bit.listserv.autism
Date:         Mon, 5 Oct 1992 11:25:28 EDT
              <AUTISM@SJUVM.BITNET>
From:         RJKOPP@SUVM.BITNET
Subject:      Re: Facilitated Communication Question

Carolyn,
   I have to be somewhat brief but I'll try to answer as much as I can.
Also I guess I should say that my thoughts on how some tests are handled
maybe are a little biased too.  Too often I have seen people try to use
certain tests with my daughter and get absolutly no-where.  When we suggest
that they try such and such instead, it was always put in the context that
if we have to alter the administration of the test it means that she can't
do it in the "normal sense" and we can't count it.  I guess I can all too
easily imagine some one saying well if the child can't do it in this atmosphere
then we can't say that they can do it, because the atmosphere they can do
it in is not restrictive enough to provide adequate test results and prevent
influence from other stimulii in the room.  I think that much of what I
have read on this list from other people's opinions on testing is that the
test could be done in a non-intrusive, comfortable atmosphere.  I hope that
is the way it's going to be done, so that it has half a chance.

  Now for your questions, Facilitation is the use of another person to
support a child in typing.  It usually involves the facilitator holding
the arm or hand of the person typing in such a way that it provides a base
for the wrist to move or the fingers so that the facilitator is providing
some control to prevent extraneous movements and direct a childs hand toward
a keyboard of some kind.  It does not mean that the facilitator directs the
typist to a particular key, just the direction of the keyboard so that
the typist can choose the key.  Outsiders may not realize this is the
case but the facilitators can definitly feel the difference.  The amount
and placement of support (hand or arm or shirtsleeve) depends on the
typists other physical involvement.  If the typist is someone who cannot
control of arm movements or hand movements, they may need support at the
upper arm or elbow and the hand.  If they have good control of wrist but
lack some control of arm the support may only need to be at the arm.
There are also some who just seem to need the hold on the sleeve.  What
this is actually doing may be hard to tell.  The support usually starts
off with more control and then as typing becomes more fluent, the support
is backed off, moving the support back from the hand and up the arm, to the
shoulder with the ultimate idea being to eventually withdraw all support
so that the child is typing on thier own.

The facilitators will probably get some kind of training.  I don't think
it needs to be extensive, particularly in the cases of parents and friends
of the typist, although it does seem to be common that the person has
a hard time typing with parents.  Those that do facilitate can probably
teach those that want to.  Other lessons are probably always a help.

I would think that a child who already has the childs confidence would
have an easier time starting facilitation.  The only thing that comes
with this is something similar to the parent thing.  One proposed reason
I heard was that the child already has built up some language or method
of communication with these people, so they may not really see the need
or be willing to change their mode of communication.

Cost of facilitation Equipment:  This depends somewhat on what the child is
capable of typing with.  My daughter Shawna cannot always control her hand
movement enough to isolate keys, therefore she uses a Canon because it
has a key guard.  Other children who do not have the same problems have
typed on portable word processors and typewritters.  The word Processors
and typewriters are about equal in price ~$150 to $200 American!  I have
also heard that there may even be key guards for these to prevent hitting
two keys at once.  The Canon original model was about $350.  Then they pulled
it off the market and remodelled it and I beleive the price is closer to
$700, someone please correct me if they have more current info.  I have the
old model.  The keyboard layout of the Canon is a unique layout, 5 rows of
5 letters except one row with 6.  The others are like a regular keyboard
layout.  The cost issue becomes one of a few issues.  One are districts
willing to spend that much on several kids?   2 how many parents can afford
it.  Many of the Special Needs kids in my area come from very poor areas
and they would not be able to afford it.  Therefore their contact with it
may be only in school.  Oh one other method which is the cheapest if the
child can use it is a printed letter board in the format of the canon.
Because of my daughters difficulty with hand control these don't work
real well for her.  Other kids it's fine though.

As for reading before FC.  I'm not quite sure how it is approached now that
it is accepted in several schools in my area.  What was found when it was
first introduced was that many kids already knew how to spell and read.
They assume that they taught themselves, maybe because so many autistic
children have always had such an interest in books.

Well I hope that answers some questions.

Thanks,
Ray Kopp
Syracuse, New York
Internet:rjkopp@mailbox.syr.edu
Bitnet:RJKOPP@SUVM.BITNET
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.autism